Hello,
after 3-4 hours of moderate cycling my right knee suddenly becomes extremely painful and inflammed, I have to stop cycling and even have difficulties walking. Climbing and particularly descending stairs is extremely painful for a few hours. Strangely I can soon (24hrs) get back on the bike and start cycling again, but the pain comes back suddenly and fiercely 2-3 hrs into the ride. I should say that ive been cycling for a few years and a 3 hr ride is easily within my limits.
Now what I've noticed is that I have a tightness BEHIND this right knee. This tightness is always there, is at the top of the calf directly behind the knee and seems to become more noticeable when I cycle. Feels like a little tugging/tightness behind the knee as I cycle. My knee hurts a little if I do any sort of back kick type movement eg doing leg curls in the gym, or even just kicking off my shoes. Its very noticeable indeed if i sit on the floor, on my butt with my legs straight out in front and then lift my body off the floor so that all thats touching the floor are my two hands (at my side near my butt) and the heel of my right foot ; the right knee hurts alot if I do this. If i swap to left heel then no pain at all around the left knee. I also seem to have a tight right butt which hurts if when I sit on a hard chair.
Ive seen phyios and had MR scans and everyone keeps telling me to strengthen vmo muscles, inner quads, stretch, standard text-book stuff. But this has never really helped and i'm left wondering if it's this niggling tight muscle/tendon at the back of the knee which is the real cause. Whatever it is, its been there for about one year!
Anyone had similar symptoms? Thought I'd give the forum a try...