Why Should I Listen To You?
Fragmented observations of a fractured lifestyle.
May 28, 2003 Low Impact

25 mins/41:57 (bike, inc 10x30-30 intervals from Monday)

The doctor yesterday said I seem to have mild sinovitis in my knee. Well, he poked and prodded the muscles and bones all up and down my leg and found nothing which hurt, which basically left sinovitis! He also tried to move my knee around and couldn't, which he said was a Good Sign because it means that it's basically very stable because of the large muscles around it. So, that's encouraging.

I also liked the word "mild".

The treatment is actually more or less what I've been doing already, which is stretching and ice, along with two important additions: less running and taking anti-inflammatories. Less running should have been obvious really, but I can be very pig-headed about running when maybe I shouldn't... I don't like to fall behind on the training plan, but from what I can gather it is alright to drop out for a short time since it takes a while for the body to really lose conditioning. The suggestion is to halve the mileage but make up some of the difference with cross-training.

Hence today I did bike work. I skipped the weights I usually do on a Wednesday but lobbed in the intervals I should have done on Monday to boost the cardio component. I also took a small dose of ibuprofen first thing which has helped - I'm usually very resistant to pain killers during training because they can mask out information that you should be taking note of, but if it helps the healing process then this is acceptable in the short term at least.

I'll be following this regime for a week to ten days, and then I'll try and get back into the running again. Saturday's long run will be a bit shorter for me this week (which I'm disappointed about, because it would have been Terwilliger again and I do like hills) but I should be back on the horse for the 12 miler in a couple of weeks.

Posted by Dunx at May 28, 2003 03:11 PM
Comments

Im glad to hear you are going to take it slow for a while. I am 18 and havent run in 2 years because of the pain in my knee it causes. I have sinovitis but in a more severe form. I had an opperation late last year and while I have lost alot of my movement I am getting better now. I was at the physio on the treadmill and actually jogged yesterday! 2 years with no running! Im very excited, although it will be a long time befor I can do anywhere near the running you can do. Take it easy for a while and listen to your body, your knee will tell you when you have done too much. Good Luck!

Posted by: Nina on April 5, 2005 10:18 PM

Thanks, you have a great site. So you will be the best!!!

Posted by: John on December 12, 2005 06:45 PM

Just wanting to learn what sinovitis is exactly.I have had three r-knee surgerys since 1999. I have patellofemoral arthritis,patella tendinitis and alot of swelling that has never went away. I'm twenty eight and very flustrated. This knee doc. wich is the third seems to be petrified to operate on me again. I just want it to be cleaned out again. I live in texas any doctor suggestions!!!!

Posted by: Chris Kerr on July 26, 2006 10:03 PM

Not sure I can help since the sinovitis turned out to be a misdiagnosis. The treatment plan didn't work, so the doctor had another poke around and X-rayed my knees to find out that my knee caps were not riding straight in the femoral channel - my oversized outer quads (from mucho cycling) were pulling them out of alignment.

My interpretation of sinovitis is still "inflammation of the joint we can't explain any other way".

Posted by: Dunx on July 27, 2006 06:30 AM