Patella Chrondomalacia

[FitGirlTrainer]

I'm sure this has been posted on, but I was hoping you all could give me some insight/assistance. I was just diagnosed with this problem today. I am 41/female and have always been an exercise nut (since about 15). When I should have been doing more weights (when I was still young) I didn't. I was all cardio. I decide at 40 to start lifting not only more, but heavier. I guess I should have known something was going to come around to bite me in the butt, and so it did. About 5 to 6 weeks ago I started noticing that my knees were hurting. I attributed it to all the exercise I did. I was also doing two sessions of leg work a week, when you should really stick to one. But me - who sometimes thinks she knows it all - decides she knows better than all the bodybuilders and exercise gurus out there and so I do 2 session of legs a week, thinking I was all right putting a few days (rather than a full week) in between sessions - and I never go easy on myself.

Anyway, I am pretty sure (though not positive, could just be old age catching up) that is what caused the knee problem. About 2 to 3 weeks ago the problem got much worse, even though I had already started to do some cutting back on the leg work. Moreover, I basically stopped all squats, lunges - anything that had my knees bending (and this was hard for me to do because I'm an exercise fanatic). I was surprised when it seemed to not only NOT be getting better, but worse. I cut back even more. The past week and a half I'm doing an 1/8 of my normal daily routines.

I guess the whole thing is getting me very worried. Only the thought of not being able to do anything, mostly exercise, has forced to cut back. I keep telling myself I have to, because the last thing I want is to not be able to do anything.

Well, now I feel so paranoid (didn't help that at the same time I pulled a back muscle, which cause extreme pain for about a week, also got a bone spur on my left heel, and must have pinched a nerve because I have numbness in my right shin and numbness and an occasional shooting pain in my left thigh). Nice, huh?

Anyway, I was hoping some of you could help me figure out what to do. I understand I have to cut back on the exercise. But is there anything I can do to improve the situation? Any exercises (not to belabor the point) or any things I should absolutely avoid or supplements I should take? I just started back using glucosamine/condroitin (which also has hyaluronic acid and MSM in it).

Many thanks,
FGT

[Patty0513]

FGT,

Chondromalacia is a symptom, not a diagnosis.  You need to find out what is causing the softening of the cartilage and correct that problem.  It can be due to a maltracking patella.....which is often caused by the VMO (inner quad muscle) being weaker than the outer muscle, or it can be caused by a tilted patella.  Were you diagnosed with chondromalacia by an OS?  If not, see an OS and have him determine the cause.......then you can work on the solution. 

Good luck,
Patty

[FitGirlTrainer]

Thanks Patty. That's interesting, about Chondromalacia being only a symptom. I can't stand doctors these days. You don't get any HELP. You get rushed in and rushed out and a lot of shoulder shrugging and general disinterest. I'm old enough now (40) to remember a different time, when you got a smile and polite hello and some service. All I was told was that what I had was patella chondromalacia.

I'm an avid exerciser - and assume that is probably a big part of the problem (heavy leg lifting, doing it twice a week when I should have been doing it no more than once a week).

Anyway, how do I get the *correct* answer from my doctor. All he said - after I told him (he didn't bother asking) about all my exercise. So he told me not to do any squats or lunges for a while, and when and if I finally got back to it, to do lighter weights. That's it.

FGT,

Chondromalacia is a symptom, not a diagnosis.  You need to find out what is causing the softening of the cartilage and correct that problem.  It can be due to a maltracking patella.....which is often caused by the VMO (inner quad muscle) being weaker than the outer muscle, or it can be caused by a tilted patella.  Were you diagnosed with chondromalacia by an OS?  If not, see an OS and have him determine the cause.......then you can work on the solution. 

Good luck,
Patty