Popping under Knee after workout - Slight Sprain?

JWaldz · 05-23-2012, 08:31 PM

I don't know if there are any health or medical guru's in here but doesn't hurt to ask.

First a little background info. I've always been active up until the past couple years. Ran track and field as well as cross country in high school and college. Approx. 7 years in all. I've never had any knee issues other than my "osgood-schlatter" below my left knee. In long distance it would start to bother me a little bit. Never any problems with my right knee though.

I recently decided that I wanted to get back in shape and training for the goal to lose some weight. I started the Insanity program and I am in the middle of my 2nd week. On Saturday (the 19th) I noticed that my right knee was slightly popping in the leg, under the knee (ligament/tendon?) It didn't really bother me and there was no swelling so I figured it would go away. Which brings me today, it is still popping and I've noticed it causing some soreness. Only when the knee is slowly bent then extended do I truly notice it. If I'm running or doing it in a hurried fashion it doesn't bother me much (ex: doing a workout doesn't hurt). There is no swelling nor is there any black/blue around the knee. I will add though that it does effect the range in some exercises and the knee is sore afterwards.

My question is, did I maybe sprain a ligament or tendon in one of my workouts? I'd hate to sit out a day or two in the program because it would make me get behind but I don't want it to get worse. Should I start icing it or put a heat pad to it? I took an ice bath yesterday for about 10 min and have iced it in hopes it would help but haven't noticed it getting any better. What gives??

Thanks for any responses/answers.

-J

1990dlx · 05-25-2012, 09:12 AM

Sounds like the joint is inflamed. Ice, rest, ibuprofen.

I am not sure what the "insanity" program is, but you should have worked into any program slowly if you were out of shape....

ynot · 05-27-2012, 09:39 PM

I've had 3 knee surgeries all the same knee. Been athletic my whole life and seems like my knee is falling apart. I have put a ton of strain on my knee, baseball, football when I was younger and surfing and skateboarding my whole life. I'm 36. Most recently the knee was cracking and popping a lot. Got an MRI and somehow had torn the meniscus. After they got in there, I had torn the meniscus, BUT also had a hole in the cartlidge, so they did a micro fracture of the trochlear and also had some debris in my knee. They said that was causing the cracking and popping. You should get an MRI, shop around to find where you can get a cheap one. Believe it or not they do vary on price and its all the same shit. Google about knees, and you'll see that your leg muscles being strong will help your knee out a lot. Good luck.

partyman66 · 05-27-2012, 10:25 PM

Sounds like you should seek some professional opinions from a doctor. It's tough for anyone to really give you sound advice over the internet without actually seeing the knee, and even then.. most of us probably aren't qualified to do so.

I've been a runner since I was 13 years old and I'm 34 now. I usually do between 25 and 45 miles a week and (knock on wood) haven't had any knee problems yet, or any injuries at all related to running. I try to do as many of my workouts as possible off of roads... in the woods and on softer surfaces so that it's less abusive to my joints and also so that it builds up the stabilizer muscles in the legs and joints and also so that every strike of the foot is not exactly the same and it disperses the impact a bit.

You mentioned that you're trying to lose weight.... that could have something to do with the soreness too. How much do you weigh now in comparison to what you used to way 7/8 years ago when you were regularly working out? You might want to try to ease your way back into working out rather than doing a program like "Insanity" which sounds like it's probably more of a shock-treatment type of program. I always ease my new runners into a program rather than trying to force them to overdo it in the beginning, both because it scares them off from the sport and also because it can lead to injuries.

What's your running shoe situation? You should make sure you're wearing shoes that fit your pronation/running style and may want to look for a shoe with more cushioning if you're a heavier runner. Make sure your shoes are fresh too and not some beat up old shoes with a ton of miles on them. Stay away from those BS marketing scheme shoes like the Nike Shox or FreeRun and the Reebok ZigTech, etc.

hytenor · 05-28-2012, 01:10 AM

yup, go see an Orthopedist for this one. My guess from past experience...torn meniscus.

WallyP226 · 05-28-2012, 03:48 PM

It "could" be a lot of things. As mentioned above, arm chair diagnosing, without a quality physical assessment and an MRI and professional opinion, who knows?

If it is a torn meniscus and you try avoid getting a knee arthroscopy, you can permanently damage your articular surfaces (cartilage) and that is not a good thing.

I have seen people in their mid 40s, early 50s getting total knee replacements from active life styles and not getting things fixed. Even physicians!

I am in the same boat...... jacked up meniscus thankfully not a bucket handle tear. I had the arthropod suck 60cc of fluid off my knee, inject it with steroids to calm down the inflammation. Now...... I need to go ahead and get it scoped, cleaned up so that I don't do more damage to the articular surfaces. :roll eyes:

Wally

JWaldz · 05-29-2012, 07:05 AM

I'm guessing it is a torn meniscus.. I haven't gone to the Dr. yet but with it being over a week and still bothering me I'm going to make an appointment. There is no swelling that I can tell of. It's just sore and uncomfortable. By the end of the day if I've been on my feet most the day my knees just feel like giving out, especially my right one.