Quad/ITB injury - need help and advice!
199
Member
597 days
Nobody posted 1 year ago.
I'm going through what you're going through, only it's not so bad and I don't have as many symptoms. A couple months ago I started feeling tight in the IT band area...from glute to knee. It'd get sore on the bike, then would be painful (sharp pain) on the outside part of the knee during the run. I went into rest mode and it got a little better, but as I increased the miles it got worse.
I readjusted my position on the bike (lowered seat a little, turned toes out a little on pedals). This helped, but the prob. still persisted.
Went to the Dr. (a sports physician). Diagnosis: IT Band issues + Sciatica.
Went to PT he recommended--did not like. She was giving me a bunch of exercises to strengthen the weak muscles that were causing/contributing to this--not what I needed a month before my 1st Ironman (would have helped 4 months ago). Talked to Tri friend, who recommended a diff. PT. Went in to see him this morning. He's competed in a few IMs and knows his stuff. He basically rolf'd the hell out of my leg and it feels better already.
Basically--keep going to new places until you find someone who is very familiar with Tri training / tri injuries who makes you feel better physically w/in a very short time. I broke a bunch of fingers in my hand a few years ago and continued to go to the same PT....three years later I still only have about 30% use of my fingers.
Additionally, find a Dr. who will prescribe steroids and/or cortizone shots. At least you can have that as an option if you do want to go that route. I haven't opt'd for the drugs yet, but I've heard of some first-hand great results from people who were prescribed roids for the treatment of some impossible-to-treat muscle/ligament symptoms w/achilles, bells palsy, etc.
Don't give up....get a second and third and fourth opinion if you have to.
Greatness is only achieved by those who perpetually raise the expectations of themselves to the point where it ruins their life.
Just a warning, this may be somewhat long, but if you have the time to read and share any ideas or experiences or suggestions, I would be very grateful.
It started off with a 30 mile bike ride with some hills, but fairly easy pace, medium length for me. My left cleat came loose on my shoe, so I was essentially still attached to the pedal, but sliding around on it. At this point in time I was in recovery mode, running 20 miles a week all easy runs, some easy swimming and biking, so a decrease in training volume for 3 weeks prior. I felt fine on the bike ride and went to a dinner party that evening, after about 3-4 hours of being seated, I stood up and had pain so bad that I couldn't bend my knee to walk.
The pain was on the lateral side of my knee cap and pretty high up, not where you typically would point to IT pain (not in my experience with the other leg at least). I saw a ortho after a week of limping around, two minutes later with minimal discussion I had a prescription for Celebrex for 6 days and he was sure it was IT pain; I still wasn't. The pain went away upon walking within 3 hours of taking the first pill and I still haven't had pain when walking since.
I've been in PT and we're doing a lot of stretching, TFL, quads, calves, hamstrings, etc. I am making no progress. Biking didn't hurt, but I stopped biking as well because I wanted to recover ASAP. Now I've getting "theater signs", patellofemoral pain when sitting and aching on the insides on both my knees because I've lost so my quad strength from not doing anything and my PT is just having me strengthen my glute medius.
8 weeks later of nothing but rest, icing, stretching, PT, active release massages once a week and I can't run 3 minutes without some type of pain. Now I'm getting probably patellofemoral pain on the outside of my knee but slightly under the lower portion of my patella when I try to run. The original injury is still there, but I feel it when my hips are open or hyper extending and I flex my knee (ie lunges with the leg that is back underneath me hurting); and I feel the pain where it seems that the Vastus Lateralis attaches to the bottom of my femur. There is also a knot at the bottom of my vastus lateralis that my massage therapist thinks is out of place and is more like scar tissue than muscle tightness.
I'm getting second opinions from other people this week, but I don't trust my PT anymore and the place I'm going to is the good sports place in town, but I don't know how to ask to switch to another therapist there because they don't seem to want to "get in the middle of something".
I just am looking to see if anyone has any ideas, similar experiences or resources to look at. This is too long to be hurt and getting worse with rest. Thanks for your help!