Saturday I did my alternate week 10 mile LSD, and for the 2nd long walk in a row now, I had knee problems. Only this time…it was much worse.
I’m assuming it’s ITBS , but having never experienced this type of injury before, I can’t say for sure. All I know is that pain develops after about 7 miles into a walk, and seems to be located on the outside of my knee about 2 inches below the joint . When I press there , I can feel either a muscle or a tendon bulging out. I don’t have any pain above my knee or along my thigh, but the lateral shin muscles are sore.
Could it be some sort of shin splint or compartmental syndrome? My calf and shin muscles are over developed,but I haven’t had any problems with circulation of tingling in the toes.
I’m sure I didn’t help matters by racewalking on it after it was already hurting, but I was breathing well that day and I just couldn’t resist racewalking a few hundred feet every now and then.
Anyways, after I drove home I had a hard time bending my leg to get out of the car. I had to literally use my hands to pick up my leg, so I could get out. That can’t be good!
When I got into the house I immediately iced it and took motrin for the pain. As the day went on it continued to hurt and by later that night it was so bad I couldn’t sleep.
After two days it’s much better now, but it still aches when I bend my knee too much or lock it straight out.
So, does this sound like an ITB problem?? If it is, will I be able to continue with my LSDs without making things worse? ( I still have an 18 and a 20 miler I have to do before Portland, which is only 7 weeks away) OR should I skip one of those longer walks to rest my leg?
Because I’m only walking the marathon , I’m hoping that leg will hold out. Then again, being a walker, I’ll be on that leg twice as long ! I’m a little confused as what to do.
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It definitely sounds like ITBS. Stretching all the muscles in my leg has helped me (calves, hamstrings, quads), but you have to be diligent about it. Also you might want to consider a foam roller. I have this industrial grade one that’s only a foot long but it works really well. You might also want to consider ART if you have access to it.
I had ITB issues, but not so far below the knee. That makes me think it’s something else. My pain was typically between the knee joint and the hip – always starting at the outside of the knee joint. But, the fact that you can’t bend your knee sounds ITB-like. I would rest it for a bit and if it still hurts, get it checked out! I ran on mine too long and it just got worse. Better to catch it early. Stretch, ice, etc. Remember to stretch everything – not just the knee area because a lot of times the pain is compensation for tightness somewhere else! (For me it’s the hip.)
I’ve never heard of IT pain below the knee, usually up by the hip or above the knee. However the IT Band does go past the knee and attaches below it. There’s definitely some kind of inflammation going on. I would recommend seeing a sports physician. With Portland coming up you need some definite answers quickly on what the problem is. Soreness after two days is not a good sign.
hmmm not as smart as the above comments, just wishing u a speedy recovery my friend
I’ve never had ITBS, but the pain sounds too low. I’ve had some soreness around that area before, and it was just some sort of shin splint issue.
Here’s to it going away!