The Knee

Well, those of you who remember my story from last year, knee problems stopped me from finishing my first triathlon, so I had to try again this year.

Only, now, I love it. The prep work, the working out, the biking, swimming... all of it.

This year again, knee problems bothered me, but I forged on through and finished.

The problem, is that if my knees keep having problems, I won't be able to do more triathlons. Mostly, it is as the knee loads up; It does not happen while I bike, but it happens on the run. I don't have any pain when I am not running, and have no problems going up and down stairs, although if it is tender, I am cautious going down stairs.

A good friend of mine who is doing his clinicals to become an MD checked out my knee, and told me of a common overtraining type of injury where the thigh normally kind of helps the patella (kneecap) retract straight back so that the knee can bend, instead let's it move at a very slight angle. Considering that my knees stay slightly bent on the bike, that would explain how it doesn't hurt normally biking, but it starts to hurt on the run. It is a fairly easy fix, but to still go see a specialist.

So I went to see Dr. Daley, at Hinsdale Orthopedics. He is a long long time family friend, but he is most famous for being the doctor who replaced Bo Jackson's hip when he (Bo) played for the Chicago White Sox.

Some x-rays, some manipulation, and the good Doctor said "If this is any indication of the kind of doctor your friend will be, then he will be very good indeed; he described exactly what is going on in your knee."

He showed my on the x-rays how the kneecap was very slightly off when my knee was flexed, and then described how we take care of the problem.

Good physical therapy, maybe modify the way you run a little bit, and a brace for support for your kneecap when you are exercising. Simple, or as I heard a second person say in 2 days, "Easy Peasey."

So, here is my leg in its brace... kind of bionic man-looking, but the advantage is that for the most part, I can continue exercising, although long distances are out for a little bit. Plus, I don't need surgery as of yet...  (and should not...) that is always a big plus!!!

So far so good!!!!

Cheers!

Scott