My knees makes me feel like i'm just not meant to run :-(

I'm so sad right now I really could just cry.

I've just come in from a 3 mile run, one I completed quite happily last month before all the snow happened. I had to walk most of it after getting 'the pain' as I call it after about 2 miles. It made the last mile impossible to run due to the pain.

The History: In 2009 I decided to teach myself how to run in an attempt to lose some weight for my wedding. I entered a race for life and went from being able to only run lampost to lampost up to about the mile stage non stop. I didn't train enough though and my race for life wasn't a quick one, loads of speed walking breaks but I was ok with that.

I then just stopped running, got married, got lazy, weight crept back on and then noticed that sometimes whilst walking that my knee would suddenly screach in pain. It felt like the outer cap on the side was the problem. This happened a few times, again whilst walking, on one occasion I climbed Snowdon with hubby which was hard work going up!! Going downhill was even worse though!!!! Going down the steps at the top of the hill, again, my knee just 'went' and I had to walk sideways most of the way down, it was a long trip down but fortunately there was snow at the top and it came in very handy! I noticed the pain a few more times, especially going down stairs.

Fast forward to today, I started running on the treadmill last year, worked back up from nothing to running 30minutes non stop. I then started following a 10k training programme and completed it, slowly but pain free. Ive entered the bupa 10k and messed around with my training over Xmas  but I really wanted to start again. I went on the treadmill, did a few 2-3 miles and then one day just went outside, I LOVED it! I ran about 3.6 miles non stop, up 2 massive hills and I just felt amazing when I got home. My next run however was back on the treadmil and I tried some interval training, I had a lot of pain the next day, I couldn't barely walk up and down stairs, it was awful! It took days to recover and my next run on the treadmill led to pain after about the 5 mile mark and I was desperate to do the 10k so walked the last mile. I then ran a 3 mile and again, at the 2 mile the pain started and I walked the last mile.

I have been to see someone about my knees, they didn't really find anything wrong but suggested I should go to the sports guy but i didn't go back as I really can't afford it. They did say that I could do with some knee support as I have a lot of space around the joints, I cant remember the actual diagnosis.

What do I do next? I wanted to give up half an hour ago and just take up something else but I love running and i've got this 10k coming up...

Do I go the doctors? Dp I rest for a bit and start from scratch on the treadmill?

God, sorry for the essay, I'm just down in the dumps. I do stretch after my run and I always walk first to warm up. The pain is bit like a stabbing which is gradually getting worse to the point that I have to stop, it goes immediately and I can walk fine.

My experience of injuries are that during the 'repair' stage, you start an exercise and then at some stage during the exercise the area of damage starts to complain and continues to do so until the moment you stop. At which stage it can just disappear.

Next time out the 'pain' stage may come on later and less so.

Eventually you find you've finished your run before it happens.

However, if you go far enough it will 'wake up' again.

I've areas that don't exist until I've been running for over two hours. So I don't,

Its an injury. But its getting better. It just grizzles about doing so.

If this injury has been going on for more than a couple of months then go and see your GP.  

I've had similar sounding issues with one of my knees. A good physio that specialises in treating runners can really really really help. I only had to pay for two sessions when I saw mine as he was more interested in helping me help myself. Not sure where you are based, but ask around for some recommendations and get some proper advice from someone who knows what they're talking about.

I now have two or three short exercises I do each day, and my knee pain is much much better after years of trying to sort it out.

Your GP may even be able to refer you to a physio on the NHS.

Good luck.

P.S. I find running on the dreadmill exacerbates any niggles I have far more than running outside, but that might just be me!

Would agree with the comments above but while you are resting/physio' ing your knees have a read of 'Born to Run' and/or 'The Art of Running Faster'. They are great motivational books and explain how to run and that the body is designed to run, we just do not use it properly. Don't give up! Some people say running is bad for you so you should give up and take up cycling instead, but I get knee pain whilst cycling but not running. Injuries are soul destroying you just feel all that hard won fitness draining away; hopefully you can get through this and on to the next challenge

LUCY Mason 3 wrote (see)

Thanks sideburns, woke to minimal muscle ache but pain on the outer knee cap on my right knee this morning, particularly going downstairs. I've been seeing my doctor about headaches and he was brilliant, that was only 2 weeks ago and I'm still getting them but not as bad, bet hell be suck if seeing me when I go about my knees! Actually feeling quite positive about going to see him, I should of sorted this ages ago.

In my experience Dr's get fed up with people coming to see them for help and advice and then not taking that help and advice. Alternatively come with a pre-conceived plan for treatment (researched on Wikipaedia). I am not prepared to vouch for all Dr's but they are normally good and patient. As above you are going to see him/her to help yourself get fitter and healthier. Listening to people complaining about their breathing when you know they smoke 40 per day; that sucks!

Dunno! I would probably be heading down the swimming pool... I hate swimming; but as an excercise that will help me to run better it is just about bearable!

do you heel strike?

i started running about 5 months ago, but had damaged my knees through playing squash in my early 20's. when i started to run, i was heel striking. this sent shocks through my knees and hips. i changed to forefoot running (i now only run in vibram 5 fingers), using a very vertical stance and have not had any problems with the knees since.

when i first started, i was using regular running trainers which 'allowed' me to heel strike. these would still give me knee woes. changing from heel to fore / mid foot was the magic bullet as far as my knees were concerned. the calves weren't too happy for a few months though

We had a sports physio give a talk at our running club and he said it's not always best to rest. He said a lot of people self diagnose then rest when sometimes keeping moving albeit at a slower pace can help. ( I am not suggesting this is the case for you)

The key is to get a diagnosis and the GP is not always the best person as it takes time to get referred. I am lucky that I have a local sports physio who is quite good.

Good luck.

Common problem - runners knee - patello femoral syndrome

The outer sides of your quad muscles are much stronger than the muscles on the inner side so pulling your kneecap over slightly when u run

I cured mine with hard cycling twice a week to build up quad strength.

I struggle with my knees on the outer side of the knee cap - my physio (and very good friend) told me to use a rolling pin on the muscular areas for 30 seconds each on the back and front of the thigh and calf - this releases the muscle tightness and relaxes the strain on your knee cap - works for me, might be worth a try.  I warn you though, it can be quite painful, but is beneficial afterwards.

Best of luck.

What does your knee feel like when you are resting? Is it at all numb?