I wanted to put a post together talking about my experience with runner’s knee.
It is now Tuesday and I am running the Chicago marathon on Sunday. This will be my first marathon.
A few weeks ago I came down with runners knee at about mile 20 of a 22 mile run.
I had run 2 other 20 mile runs with zero pain.
And now I am consistently getting pain in my knee. Although, last week I ran 8.5 miles one day and 4.5 miles with no pain. But they felt so good that I ran the 4.5 mile run too fast. I think that brought back the pain.
There seem to be a lot of great resources on the internet for this topic. But there are still a lot of different views. For what it’s worth, this is what I’m doing.
I’m doing leg lift exercises on a machine at the gym. I’m icing the knee as often as possible. I’m doing an exercise where I sit on the floor with my back against the couch, a pillow under my leg and then tighten my thigh and lift my foot off the floor. I’m taking Advil for anti-inflammation. Although, my wife has an anti-inflammatory drug that I might take the next few days.
I’m not going to run any more this week. I ran today about 4 miles with some walking in the middle. The pain didn’t come back during today’s run. But I felt that if I had run much more it would have.
I ran a half marathon 2 weeks ago. The pain was bad at mile 8,9,10. But went away at mile 12.
I’m not clear if I am doing damage with this or not. I’ve seen people recommend a cortisone shot. Others seem to think that I could be causing long-term damage.
Right or wrong, I’m going to run this marathon. I will push through this race as long as I’m able to stand.
I have no races planned after this race. So, I am willing to take a long break to let my knee rest.
I bought a Dr. Scholls insert that is supposed to relieve knee pain. My shoe guy told me that my foot doesn’t need that. He said my foot has the opposite problem. I’m conflicted about that advice. I think the insert worked.
I also bought a new pair of shoes this week that I ran my 4 miles on today. I think my old shoes were getting squishy. I’m worried I only have 4 miles on these shoes. But I think a new shoe will help.
So, I’m not running any more this week, praying my shoes don’t cause any unforeseen blisters. Continue my strength training through Friday. I’ll do none on Saturday.
I’m icing all week long.
I’m really torn about these inserts. As I write this, I’m thinking I’ll put them in.
Did I mention that I have a patella band? I’m not really sure if it’s helping or not. I tried taping the top of my knee today. I don’t know if that helped or not. I guess it didn’t hurt. I think I will do that on Sunday.
My training was going so incredibly well. This runner’s knee was not in my plans. But I guess it makes the process more interesting. It’s been a real psychological challenge. I just wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t have a plan.
But now I’ve got a plan.
…just those inserts. I’m about 65% in favor of using them.
I’ll follow up with how my marathon went next week.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting read and like the site. Nice random pics and wondering what place you came in the marathon?
Thanks! Way at the end
I’m having the same issue and I’m about to run Marine Corp Marathon (my first) in DC in two weeks. Were you in a lot of pain during the race?
TONS of pain. I think the first marathon just pushes your body way hard.
I ended up doing the marathon and then I went to the doctor afterward. He told me to stop running for a month and gave me some exercises to do. That fixed it. It never came back after that. I’ve now finished my third marathon and am having intense heal pain. I haven’t run for about 2 weeks. …always something, it seems. Although, my second marathon had no pain whatsoever.
I’m not sure what to tell you. In my case, I think I made the right choice to run the marathon. But you might have something else that is causing the pain & consequently could cause serious damage.
Good luck!
Also dealing with same issue and running the Army 10 this weekend (Morgan – good luck in the Marine Corps!)
Got it back in 2008 training for a marathon (also hit on my 20 miler) that I didn’t end up running. Got better for awhile with rest & PT, but started up again recently.
I’m planning on taking some time off after this weekend, but curious as to what exercises helped you the most?
I honestly think the biggest help was not running for a month. I also took some anti-inflamatory that helped. There is one stretch I still like. I stand on the sore leg. I cross my good leg in front & while holding onto something, I gently push my good leg into my bad leg. It slightly pushes my bad leg out a bit. I don’t know why but I really like the feeling of that. Also, if you come across the KT Tape people before your run, tell them your issue. They’ll tape you up. That feels good too.
did your knee have any swelling after the marathon?
Not any that I could see. However, my doctor did give me some sort of anti-inflammatory that seemed to help.
Thanks for sharing your experience Sage. Its Wednesday today and I am running a Half Marathon this Sunday. I developed runners knee couple of weeks back (Did the mistake of running downhill on a banked surface). I have been off running since then hoping the knee would heel itself but the pain resurfaces everytime I climb/get down the stairs. I was not sure of doing the run, but after going through your post have decided to go ahead with it and will see what happens next. Dont want to visit a Doctor now, since I know what the answer would be !!
Hi GM,
Obviously, I should state that I’m not a doctor and you should take everything I say here with a grain of salt. It’s just my experience.
But I will say, if I had not run that first marathon because of the intense pain in my knee, I probably would not have run 3 marathons (which is where I’m at now).
When training for that first marathon, there were a couple runs that the pain was so intense my body actually stopped me from running. I suddenly found myself walking even though every fiber in my brain was telling me to keep running.
Again, I’m not a doctor and don’t know anything other than my own experiences. But it seemed to me that when things are REALLY bad your body will just take over for you.
Good luck!
Sage
Hello Sage,
I am in the exact same situation you were before you first marathon. Yesterday, I ran 15 miles and I experienced some pain around my knee but not too much that stopped me from running. I was running with a knee band. However, my marathon is in two weeks. I am scared of running 26 miles and permanently damaging my knee!
I am planning to ice it and take anti-inflammatory medications, as well as wear brace during the marathon. What do you think? How bad was your knee after your first marathon, were you able to walk at least without pain?
I am consulting with a physiotherapist this week, to see if he has any recommendations!
Hi there!
I definitely love talking about this topic. But please be aware: I don’t know anything other than my own experience.
That said, I ran my marathon, went to the doctor. He told me I had an over-use injury. I stopped running for a month. But could walk fine. I started running slowly after that month off.
I “think” a lot of first time marathoners get this. It just makes sense. But on the other hand you don’t want to be running on something that will totally blow out your knee.
If I had it to do over again, I think I would have gone to the doctor before my race. He would have confirmed that it was an overuse thing. Then I could have felt a little safer pounding through the marathon.
But I guarantee your doctor will tell you to stop running.
For me this was a life goal. I came to the conclusion that if I was going to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair because of this I was ok with it.
I’ve since run a total of 3 marathons. The overuse thing has never really come back.
Good luck!
This is helping me decide I need to call a doctor first thing next week. I’m running my first marathon (MCM) on Oct. 30, and experienced pain at mile 11 of what was supposed to be a 14 mile run last Saturday. I did 18 the week before without any pain, but during my 11 miles last week, I think I went too fast. Did your knee hurt when you walked around, Sage? Mine doesn’t–just after I run for a while (10 minutes on Tuesday, 20 minutes today…) Until then, I will heed your advice and ice, ibuprof, and rest. Thanks.
Talking to your doctor is probably the best answer. I mean, if he says it’s an overuse injury and you shouldn’t run you can decide for yourself what you should do. But if you have caused some real damage then you might make a different decision.
I believe it only hurt during running. During my last couple runs (including the marathon) it would start to hurt at a certain point and then the pain seemed to give up. It would actually stop hurting after a while.
Good luck!
Sage
Same thing for me. Just went to get prolotherapy on my knee and see how that helps. Today is day one! The inflamation caused by the treatment is allmost gone, and no pain at all.
Very cool!
Good luck
Hi Sage,
thanks for bringing this topic up. I have runners knee and due to do the NYC Maratho in 2 weeks. Could you please tell when in the race your pain started and when the pain wore off/went numb? (would be great to have some mental markers during the race. Thanks a million!!!