Treatment for Patella Tendinitis

[Milkey]

Hey guys,

I've got tendinitis in my ® knee. It developed from a few years of soccer,injuring it and then when it settled playing on it again.

I used to love doing legs in the gym,squats,lunges etc. But with this I haven't experienced that kind of feeling for years.

I've had physio, not much success, a cortisone injection into the tendon, something that was not very pleasant and a waste of time IMO. The orthopaedic surgeon said surgery is really the only option with a 50% success rate and very long recovery time........sheesh!!

Has anyone heard of any other treatment for such conditions? It's a nasty thing to have and wouldn't wish it on anyone. It's slowed me down a fair bit and hs stopped me doing things I like, like running and heavy leg workouts.

It's the same thing Rafael Nadal has got.

Any ideas or info is very welcome

[ThePman]

What kind of work has your physio done on it? Basic muscle strengthening stuff, or has there been any kind of manual soft-tissue work on the tendon itself?

Are you still training (running + weights) on top of that, or have you backed off it?

[cantygirl]

Got the same thing, on the medial tendon. Mine came about through thrashing the outside running leading up to comps. Overuse injury I believe and being the shady side of 40 doesnt help. I can still do leg press with good form (single legs are great) also leg extension sitting bolt upright and keeping ROM lowish. Its pretty much trial and error. I had a mean as session with my trainer doing squats and it was fine. Can't run at all, raced down to mailbox 60metres and came back hobbling but can do other indoor cardio no probs.

[Milkey]

Physio had me doing eccentric work like body weight squats on a decline. Tried to do one leg squats but my knee didnt want a bar of it haha.

Acupuncture has also been used, bodytalk and massage.

On the weekend I played paintball and was hobbling around for a couple of days.

Today I went for a jog on the treadmill which is ok.

I've just had enough of not being able to break into a run whenever I want, do whatever I want.

Any unstable enviroment is out of the question. I am back doing some light squats and icing after the workout.

I was just wondering if anyone has had any joy with some sort of treatment.

I've heard of taking blood, centrifuging it and injecting back into site. Its has all the healing properties left in it. Also glucose injections similar to what Shane Bond is using in his back......all very left of field stuff.

[ThePman]

The eccentric work the physio had you do is usually good for tendinitis - did it not really help?

You can do some manual deep-tissue work on it by putting some oil over the area and taking the narrow end of a spoon or fork longways over the tendon (the oil is so the metal will slide). Another option is to get a golf ball and work the area.

You'll have to put pressure on it and it will hurt, but it does tend to help sort out connective tissue problems.

[Milkey]

I was always under the impression that when it comes to injuries that pain isn't a good thing. For example if exercising an affected muscle/tendon etc and it hurts then stop and find something else to work it.

The guilty tendon is the one that ties in directly to the bottom of the knee cap.

I guess the massaging would break down scar tissue,increase blood flow to heal it??

Anyone got a spare knee? haha. Oh by the way,the doc says I've got good cartilage. Hope that wasnt his come on line