Pain behind knee - any more answers

adrian knight

Hi

I've already pretty much explained my problem in a previous mail but I'm hoping some new insights might lead to discovering my problem.

The pain is deep in the top of the left calf. There is an exercise that aggravates the problem even though it is very subtle movement.
If I lie on my back with my leg straight and repeatedly drag my heel so that my knee raises off the floor a couple of inches (heel doesn't move), while not having any inidcation of a problem whilst doing it, my upper calf will ache deep (almost feels like the bone aching) within a couple of hours after the exercise and for a long time after. This is the same sort of movement as pulling on the pedals (which I am now unable to do). Is this chronic tendinosis. It started years ago as an injury caused (I think) by overtraining and has never gone away. Massage seems to alleviate the pain briefly.

Has anyone got any ideas what it is or how to fix it ???

Skoorb

Are you sure it's not your lower hamstring where it wraps around the inside of the knee and connects to the top of the tibia? In any case, have you seen a highly competent physical therapist about it? He may have an idea of flexibility or strength issues that could be aggrivating it.

pistole

- hi , sorry to hear about your pain.

- I developed some pain behind my right knee as well. Boiled down to my having my saddle too high.

- hope this helps.
.

adrian knight

Thanks, sounds sensible. Do you know of anyone else who has had a similar problem?

adrian knight

Self diagnosed semitendinosis tendon tear brought about by muscle strength increasing more rapidly than tendon strength after returning back to training after 18mth lay off. Don't think there's much I can do to fix this....any one wanna buy a bike, boohoo!!

Skoorb

You are quitting cycling? Cannot your tendon recover and catch up?

benkoostra

Lower your seat.

Devinci75

Hey everyone, I too just started road biking again (for about 2 weeks now) and had my Devinci Silverstone fit and set up to my body. I am finding that the following day after a 50+km ride the tendons on the left and right side at the back of the knee are sore or inflamed. This last for only a day to 2 days and isn't painful but I notice it though. I told the people who set my bike up and they thought my seat was up too high as well. So they asked me to get on the bike so they could see my leg and it was right where it should be. There was no over extension so my question would be.... could this be like when you go work out at a gym after a long layaway from lifting weights and all your tendons get stretched from not being used in that way for so long? Would it be only a matter of time until your body "should" adjust to the mechanical movements? Or maybe when I am climbing hills off my seat I am hyper-extending my leg and that could be causeing the pain afterwards. Any thoughts from the grizzled veterans and know-it-all. This humble Canadian would like to hear what you have to say. Thanks.

Skoorb

I am sure it could definitely be that. Many new activites will have with them a pain that just has to work itself out. I've had these from running (more) and also from cycling. It could be encouraged (the pain) by hill climbing, but I doubt you're overextending too much. If it is hamstring pain, then they simply have to catch up, but I wouldn't press the matter too much; if the pain gets more than mild, then lay back and consider seeing somebody, but almost anybody who starts an endurance sport after some time off is going to have acclimation pains, from muscles to joints and everywhere in between to some varying degree!

robertjtaylor

I certainly consider the possibility of hamstring tedonosis, I am not a medical professional, but it appears that this could be a contributing factor to your problem.

I found a webpage that seems to describe your condition. It is found at http://www.aidyourhamstring.com/ham...-tendonitis.php

hamstring tendonosis refers to the inflammation in one or more hamstring tendons located around the ischial tuberosity, just below the knee. You state you are suffering the discomfort in your upper calf, so this theory may correspond.

It is worth further investigation.

adrian knight

My advice is only do mild stretches before your ride and only after doing something to warm up first - 10 mins walking for example. It sounds like you're overdoing it (I know all about this!!!). Take it easy and monitor the situation.

Ade

adrian knight

Been trying for years. Pretty much convinced nothing will fix it now.

adrian knight

I have actually bought one of these devices. Unfortunately, it just made my leg ache even more. I have put this down to it increasing blood flow to the area but don't want to make things any worse so have stopped.

robertjtaylor

If one is experiencing inflammation at a particular time, then utilzing any treatment method that increases blood flow would not be recommended, generally speaking. This is possibly what happened in your case. Heat therapies, such as ultrasound, are usually effective, but only after swelling has subsided and the recovery process is underway.

Robert