Pain under kneecap

Question
Hi Nick, I have been running for 2 years and 2 or 3 months ago my knee seemed to change. It never hurt while running or after but did start to hurt if it was bumped in the right spot below the kneecap. By bumped I mean leaning over a coffee table and hitting below the patella. no pain after the "bump" either. The other thing that happened was the look of my knee changed. It seems to stick out a bit at the bottom of the cap. I really didn't focus on the problem right away as it didn't hurt often. Then 6 weeks ago I started to notice I was"bumping" it more often and realized I have a problem. I did keep running but started icing and stretching before and after every run. (I did not stretch regularly before) also decreased distance. ( normally I run about 22miles a week so decreased about half) then 2 weeks ago I stopped running to help the healing process and started swimming. What I am noticing is that my knee hurts more now....not just when it is bumped but feels weak after swimming and hurts to touch below the kneecap. (it didn't hurt to touch or push before just bumping it or taping the kneecap)I should also mention I changed my shoes 6 months before The problem first showed up. (I went back to my original brand of shoes recently. I did have an assessment at a running store to find my first shoe type but not the second)

Also, my knee never hurt going up or down stairs or doing activity, just when it is bumped...until now since swimming. Now feels weak and tender in the same place below the kneecap.

Hope that's enough information.

Thanks so much for your time considering my problem. I miss Running!!

Jenny

Answer
Jenny, I'm really sorry to hear your troubles.  I have a number of suggestions for you about strengthening your hips and changing your foot strike, but I would be negligent if I didn't send you to a physiotherapist or your primary physician first.  They will be able to make sure that there is no major problem.  There is a small chance of having more than just a bruise and neither you or I want to take a chance of having more of a problem than just a bruise.  If it is a bruise the physiotherapist will be able to do some things for you to facilitate the healing and you should only have to go 1-4 times.  Once you've been to see a physiotherapist or your primary physician I'd be more than happy to help you run without pain, but we need to make sure that nothing more is happening inside your knee than meets the eye.

Does that sound alright?  Please let me know if you need anymore direction before you see a health care provider.