has anyone tried it for persistant IT band syndrome or patella tendonitis? I know it’s shunned, but does anyone have a success story?
Silky -
It is a big no no. I understand that the cortisone drys out the tendon and it is just generally bad. It used to be a somewhat standard initial treatment in like the 80s. Fixing ITBS is all about getting to the root of the problem (e.g. inflexibility, muscle imbalances, weak glutes/core). There is not quick fix. And don’t even think about getting a pat-strap or any other shit like that. I suggest getting a foam roller and a PT massage ball and going to town on yourself. Making the acquaintance of your local yoga instructor might help too.
Find a PT or a chiropractor in your area that is working with lasers… new technology that does wonders for getting you back on the road!!!
Look into the TP Massage products for working the knots out of the tight areas. They may seem expensive or too good to be true, but they work (!!) and that’s what you are looking for! These products are excellent for both injuries that you mention.
Train your glutes with walking lunges, straight-legged dead lifts (not too heavy) and the whole hip region, including abductors and adductors! It will change the way your ITB tracks.
Have your stride and shoes checked out. You may be pronating or suppinating, which could cause either injury. A new (different) pair of shoes and/or over-the-counter inserts may do the trick.
Stretch the heck out of your entire legs and lower back.
Ray
i’ve had two cortisone shots for ITBS and i am furious that my doctor gave them to me – he didn’t explain any of the adverse affects, including the fact that the next day my knee swelled up and got so painful that I was hobbling around and it hurt to walk, pull on pants, sit down, etc. once that wore off, my ITB pain was better for a few weeks, then came right back, b/c as another poster said, cortisone does not address the root of the problem.
needless to say i have never been back to that doctor. what a wanker!
Cotizone----don’t go there.
I can’t believe no one ever mentions ionto here. See if you can find a PT who does iontophoresis. It’s an antinflammatory that is attached to an electrode thing that gets the med to go through your skin. Painless and feels great after. This is what got rid of lingering inflamation in my bursa from ITBS— a few years ago. Put the ionto patch right on the side of your knee at the bursa—where I presume you’re getting pain. They also have a new type of ionto which is portable. It just sticks onto your leg and you can go to work —you leave it on for a few hours.
ps I love your name!
Ah, iontophoresis and a “cortisone” (more properly corticosteroid like triamcinolone, betamethasone, dexamethasone, etc.) injection do the SAME THING. When I write an Rx for PT to do iontophoresis, I give a script out for topical dexamethasone. This is then “driven” into the skin via iontophoresis to the affected area. The injection puts the SAME medicine in the area via needle. Now, obviously the needle hurts more then into, but is quicker deliever. Same ultimate set of side effects though (thinning of the skin, possible (but rare and unlikely) tendon degeneration, pigmentation changes, etc.)
Definitely didn’t know that… although I haven’t had problems using ionto (knock on wood). Are you saying that the med in ionto is always a corticosteroid?
I can’t agree with this post enough. I had some bad ITB problems in 2004 when training for and doing IMMoo. My left knee pretty much locked up at mile 11 of the marathon and I didn’t run again until 2005.
Anyways, get to a weight room. After doing weighted lunges (front, back, diagonal), adductors, abductors, etc. for just a few months I noticed a difference in my ITB. A year of lifting later, and ITB is a distant and very painful memory.
Also pick up a foam roller and a tennis ball (for your hips) and roll around on it until you’re bored silly. Get rid of those adhesions and knots and the ITB will heal faster.
Yup - that is why it helped your inflammation 
It is a great modality for sure.
you guys are being too hard on steroid injections. For the Patella tendon NEVER, but for ITB that fails all else it can be really helpful and is really not dangerous if you use a water soluble (not fat soluble) steroid.
I recently was training for an IM and 3.5 weeks from race day was doing my last long run when my ITB flared up and I was hardley able to walk.
My Phyiso treated as usual but knew that It would not recover in time for the IM.
I had the jab, it was on the advice of one of the most prominant sport doctors in the country(OZ).
Followed his advise and kept off it. Raced the IM and still ran close to expected time. I actually broke my frame and rode the best part of the last 40km standing. I was getting cramps & this slowed me down but the ITB was fine.
Cheers and good luck
BBBazza