Knee Pain-unusual symptoms??

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Help!?
I have been suffering from knee pain, on and off again, for the past 2 yrs that seems to have been triggered by my cycling.
About 2 yrs ago I got back into riding (mostly XC MTB) and I developed some general knee pain that I wrote off as over-usage related. (I hadn't been riding regularly for the 2 yrs prior)
I definitely trained too hard, too fast, and did all the wrong things. I laid off, rested and did the "R.I.C.E." thing for a week or two. My knee pain just got worse. It got so bad that I ended up seeing an orthopedics doc, had MRI's on both knees, x-rays, exams, consults....and- nothing. A hint of necrosis was all he could come up with in my left knee. (both knees hurt)
Disgusted, I stopped almost all activity for close to six months! My knees actually started to come around to feeling better after almost a year. (I'll get to the symptoms in a sec.)
This year, I started riding again, but taking it easy, and working my way up in effort and mileage. I was training on my road bike and just "riding" on my MTB. I had been riding for about 3 months now. All was going wonderfully until about a week ago. I rode fairly hard out on the trail and felt great immediately afterwards. The next day, I cringed at an old familiar feeling. My left knee was starting to give me bad feedback. It worsened over the nexe day or two, and I started R.I.C.E. again. It's been getting steadily worse ever since.

Both of my bikes have been professionaly fitted, and I use Time MTB pedals, and Speed-Play on my road. I don't think the problems is there.

My symptoms are (frustrating!) sharp pains throughout the entire knee joint which flare up even while lying, or sitting, as well as a generalized "dull" pain throughout the knee joint which is constant. Also, I'm experiencing significant pain along the upper portion of my tibia just below my knee. I have full range of motion in the knee, with a little discomfort when fully flexed. I don't have any real weakness, or instability in the knee.
It's just nagging pain, that's getting worse with each day.

Well, I'll stop now...ANY suggestions or feedback is appreciated...
thanks,
Chris:( :(

[QUOTE]Originally posted by criffus
Help!?
I have been suffering from knee pain, on and off again, for the past 2 yrs that seems to have been triggered by my cycling.
About 2 yrs ago I got back into riding (mostly XC MTB) and I developed some general knee pain that I wrote off as over-usage related. (I hadn't been riding regularly for the 2 yrs prior)
I definitely trained too hard, too fast, and did all the wrong things. I laid off, rested and did the "R.I.C.E." thing for a week or two. My knee pain just got worse. It got so bad that I ended up seeing an orthopedics doc, had MRI's on both knees, x-rays, exams, consults....and- nothing. A hint of necrosis was all he could come up with in my left knee. (both knees hurt)

I've been having right knee pain too...and it didnt start till I went back to cycling a few months ago (aftyer a 22 yr lapse).

The first time I got it, it was ilio-tibial band syndrome (pain on the outside of the knee.) This is cause by jumping back into cycling too quickly, and esp. by doing uphill climbs before you're ready.

Right now I have pain which seems to feel like a tight rubber band around my entire right knee, even in the back. It goes away while I am cycling, but comes back after I stop (maybe a half hr after). I also have some soreness above my kneecap.

I feel VERY frustrated esp. now, because I'm now in the burbs and I need my bike to get around (I dont drive a car.) I use my bikes for groceries (limitd stuff, I have baskets on one of my bikes), and to get other places.

Have you investigated meniscal degeneration? The menisci are like teflon washers that separate the femur from the tibia and provide some shock absorptive qualities.

This was suggested to me in the past. If I remember correctly, the ortho guy I saw ruled it out based on the MRI results. Thanks though.
I'm currently reading up on "tendonosis vs. tendonitis".
A trip to a good sports med clinic is at hand I think. The area where I live is full of orthopedics docs who run geriatric turn-styles...
BTW- the page I'm looking at for tendonosis is: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2000/05_00/khan.htm

thanks again

Possibilities are:
1. chondromalacia patella where the kneecap rubs abnormally within the patellar groove, located between the medial and lateral femoral condyles. Otherwise the problem could arise from a whole host of ligaments and tendons located therein.