Why Does My Knee Hurt?

It was August before I knew it.  I had been continuing to build mileage despite my ailments. After completing the Striders 18-mile buildup run in mid-August, I was psyched and looking forward to the 20-mile buildup run a week later. Completing a 20-mile run would be such a confidence booster and give me experience in managing long runs. 

The day before the 20-mile buildup, a Friday, was a strength training day for me.  During that workout I started to experience severe pain in my left knee when performing certain exercises.  So much so, that I had to modify or skip some single leg weight bearing motions.  I didn’t panic, aches and pains come and go.  I’m sure it will be fine by tomorrow morning.

 

It was still painful with certain motions Friday night.  I was intent on doing that 20-miler.  I took some ibuprofen hoping it was just some inflammation and went to bed.  I got up Saturday morning and went through my normal rituals, packed up my stuff and headed down to the Milwaukee Lakefront to join the Striders.  After parking, I got out of the car and started to jog over to the restrooms.  OUCH!  I could not sustain a running motion without severe pain in my left knee.  There was no way I could even start a 20-mile run.  I sheepishly walked back to my car, waited for all the runners to start off, then drove home.

 

Upon reaching home, I immediately opened my medical library, YouTube, and searched for knee pain.  I quickly narrowed down my pain to either osteoarthritis (from being old) or runner’s knee (patellofemoral pain).  Either self-diagnosis was good news, no damage, just wear and tear that should be expected from long distance running.  Since runner’s knee was the more promising to resolve, I focused on that.  I found some sensible treatment advice that focused on massage, rolling, and gentle manipulation … and rest of course. 

 

I also found a “return to running with runner’s knee” video that offered sensible advice on how to ease back into running while monitoring discomfort level.  By Monday, two days after my aborted 20-miler, I was running again.  But now I had this lingering concern that my knee could act up at any time.  One more thing to cast doubt on my ability to complete Dopey.