Patella chondromalacia

[crispy92 14]

After visiting the orthopedist, I have been diagnosed with Patella chondromalacia (femoral pain syndrome). I have been going to physical therapy for 2 weeks prior for what my therapist thought was a minor acl tear. Luckily the the muscles that need to be strengthened are virtually the same for both injuries. <br /><br />I was told to do PT for 6 weeks and if the pain goes away go on an enjoy myself. My question is for anyone who has dealt with this before, does this ever really go away? Also has anyone used a brace to help get over the pain. I've looked into it and I've seen single knee straps, double knee straps and Patella tracking braces, all of which are supposed to help with this problem. <br /><br />Any other tips from someone who has been through this or knows what it is. Thanks

[SydNap 25]

What does your vastus medialis look like? Smaller than normal? Same on both legs? Assuming your patella tracks laterally...

[Chadd 916]

I was diagnosed with it in high school, it still hurts whenever I do a lot of running, walking, etc.... Over the short term I'm fine, it's only when I do a lot of anything like that.

[crispy92 14]

Im not much of a runner but mine hurts doing mostly explosive movements. Sprinting, jumping, landing, squatting, stairs etc. Which is what originally led to the original diagnosis of acl problem

[Harkonnen87 10]

I got it (patella femoral pain sydrome) while in the military a couple of years ago. Mine only really acts up when I do a lot of running/skating (1+ hours straight) or weight bearing (heavy backpack etc). So to answer your question it goes away but it's easy to aggravate again. The big things that helped was the strengthening exercises, but you got keep up with it because if you don't there is a chance the muscles will weaken again. The brace defninitely helps to keep the patella tracking properly, I wear one every time I'm on the ice. Also making sure once it has recovered to continue to properly warm-up and cool down before and after a game respectively, but everyone is different so what works for me may not work as well for you. Biggest advice though is listen to your doctor and follow the recovery plan to the letter.

[crispy92 14]

I have to say after reading more about it, I question if it is what I have. Mine doesn't seem to be something that comes and goes. It's more like something that is always there but only shows symptoms in the cases I mentioned above. Originally I experienced it last year playing hockey. I felt a shooting pain as I pushed of my right leg from a start then played an entire season of lacrosse and then hockey with no pain ever. Come this October I played in open hockey. Same scenario, I felt the pain only this time it has lasted since.

[badger_14 601]

I have this, and of course everyone's experience will be different, depending on body type, age, mitigating factors, etc. PT was very good for me - not just the actual PT sessions, but the home exercises I was taught. I still do some of them before games and practices. I found the knee straps helped, but didn't make it entirely better. I've tried a couple of other drug-store knee braces but they never fit right under my gear. Swimming a lot was very helpful because it strengthened the muscles and tissue around the knee but was low impact, not like jogging, for example. I was told to try and avoid sports with a lot of torquing movements on the knee, like soccer and basketball. It is better for me, after a couple rounds of PT, and a lot of swimming, than it was before, but my knees (joints in general) have never been quite right and probably never will be; this is probably not the case for you.

Basically listen to the PT, maybe cut back on skating if you do it a lot, find some exercise easier on the joints for a while.

[crispy92 14]

Ya so far I've only skated once after being diagnosed. No basketball, no sports really at all. In terms of Leg exercise, I've only done the exercises they've told me at home and 30 minutes on the bike before working out. I don't have access to a pool right now. <br /><br />Any recommendations on other things I could do to help. I was thinking of starting just doing basic body weight squats and then working my way into low weighted squats and deadlifts

[hunterphfr 12]

I've had it for a year now. Began to notice pain aggravated by stairs and running. I figured it was a result of having played lacrosse, hockey, having been in the military and being a firefighter, combined with my age. I just kind of lived with it and decreased my running. Ironically skating did not seem to aggravate it. I became extremely concerned when it began to click audibly and hurt simply going up stairs. Fearing a tear I went to see the ortho and I was diagnosed with Patella Condromalacea. The audible clicking was my patella mistracking across the knee joint.

[chrisk 1]

I just got diagnosed with this. I should probably put this in the rant and rave section. I have always had problems with my knee. My kneecap is tilted and it is prone to subluxation, which is basically a partial dislocation. I'm getting older, (40) so it has gotten progressively worse. I have gone through 4/5 physical therapy sessions over the years which were a couple of times a week and ultimately the doctor recommended that I undergo surgery to basically loosen my reniculum (sic), which holds the kneecap in place. I did it. It worked great and then I guess scar tissue formed and re-tightened the tendons causing my patella to retilt. Now I'm back at PT. I do a lot of foam rolling but I guess it hasn't help. I do crossfit as well to stay in shape and keep mobile. Now my doctor is recommending a ttt- tibial tubercle transfer, which is sort of major. 6 months recovery and probably a year off from hockey. Hockey is a way of life. You invest so much time in hockey, watching games, bringing my five year old to hockey 3 times a week and playing myself 3 times a week in beer league, it is a major blow. Anyone have this surgery? Any recommendations? I guess the years of having my knee cap tilted has cause significant arthritis, so I'm not really even supposed to run/jog. So, in the long run the doctor thinks that by doing this surgery, I might be able to prevent a total knee replacement or atleast prolong the time until I need one. I tried braces, I think they help on a mental level but when it comes down to it they wont hold my knee cap in place. F&$%ing brutal.

[crispy92 14]

As far as I know mine is caused by a weak vastis medialis oblique(sp) which is one of the 4 muscles in the quad. Since that one muscle is weak, the other 3 muscles will pull on the Patella more so then the VMO causing it to be pulled off track. This explains why I first got the pain after about an hour of hockey. I'm not 100% sure why that one muscle is weaker then the others and to be honest I find it slightly strange.

[hunterphfr 12]

As far as I know mine is caused by a weak vastis medialis oblique(sp) which is one of the 4 muscles in the quad. Since that one muscle is weak, the other 3 muscles will pull on the Patella more so then the VMO causing it to be pulled off track. This explains why I first got the pain after about an hour of hockey. I'm not 100% sure why that one muscle is weaker then the others and to be honest I find it slightly strange.

This is how it was explained to me as well.