After 20+ years of running and biking, I’m finally starting to suffer pain in in one of my knees. It usually wakes me up at night, and I notice it most when my knee is bent. My knee feels locked and it is extremely painful to straighten my leg. As soon as I am able to extend my leg, I fall asleep and usually have no more problems for the remainder of the night. My knees feel fine in the morning, as if I dreamt about the pain. I may have ramped up my miles to quickly to prepare for a spring marathon. Other than that, I’m not sure what the problem would be. Should I see an orthopedist right away?
Pain is on outside of the knee, along the side. I sleep on my side, but the pain is there regardless of what side I’m sleeping on. I guess it feels like a tendon is tightening up after my leg is in that position for a period of time. Then, a soon as I go to move it, the excruciating pain occurs.
“sounds” kinda’ like ITB Iliotibial Band Syndrome, as this can occur on the outside of the hip down to the outside of the knee. Search posts under ITB for previous threads on subject…as far as sleeping at night, try NOT to sleep of the AFFECTED side and if you sleep on the UNAFFECTED side, put a pillow between knees so as to not pull excessively on the ITB…If pain is keeping you from sleeping well might consider short term use of antiinflammatories while your doing other things to help the ITB syndrome…