Knee Pain Above and Inside the Knee Caps in a 16 year old softball pitcher

by Caela

Hi,


I am a 16 year old female and, within the past year or so, been having knee pains. I get aching pains within my knees and above the kneecap whenever I walk too much, sit for too long, run, kneel, sit crossed leg etc.

If I press right above the knee where the pain is, it relieves it for about a second and then continues to hurt. It may be helpful to include that I am a softball pitcher and I believe that is how it all started.

As I'm sure you've seen softball pitchers before, we get a pretty large leap during our windup and when we land on our front foot all of our weight is on that leg. It is also a very sudden stop.

I first started noticing the knee pain after maybe the third game that week. I had been playing for two teams at the time, so I was pitching a lot. I didn't really notice it while pitching, but after the inning ended I limped off the field practically in tears.

My knee was shaking uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do and the only one that noticed was my catcher. I decided not to say anything and continue with the game, although my catcher told me to tell her if it got worse. Well, once pitching again I didn't feel it, but once I stopped it was even worse.

At the end of the game I was in tears and iced it when I got home, but it hasn't really gone away since.

I don't know what the problem could be besides that. I'm not overweight or anything... I'm 5'7" and 115 pounds... I haven't seen a doctor
about it yet, I was going to wait until my next physical...any ideas please?

Thanks!



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Joshua Answers:


Hi Caela.

Thanks for all the info. That's a great start.

Let's investigate.


Questions:

1. You said 'pain for over a year', but you also said '3 games that week'.

Please create a specific linear timeline for me. When did it first start, how did it progress, what made it worse, when was that knee shaking episode, etc. Tell me the ups and downs too.


2. Describe the pain in greater detail. Sharp? Dull? Constant? Hurts and night? When you're on it, when you're off it? Does icing help? Does a weekend off it help?


3. Where exactly does it hurt? Same/different in both legs?


4. Elaborate on the 'tightness/stiffness'. Can you hear a squeaking sound if you bend/straighten you knee?


5. How much do you think 'growing pains' might be playing in this?


6. Do you wear sun screen when you're out playing and such?


7. How's your overall health? Digestion? Energy levels?


8. Previous knee injury? Car injury? etc?


9. How long have you been playing softball/pitching?


10. Anything else that would be interesting/helpful to me?




Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
www.TendonitisExpert.com
















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Comments for Knee Pain Above and Inside the Knee Caps in a 16 year old softball pitcher

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Jan 11, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		PART 2 - reply - Knee Pain Above and Inside the Knee Caps in a 16 year old softball pitcher
by: Caela

1. It started when I was about 15, when I started pitching more, for my school and such. Whenever I pitched after that it would shake uncontrollably, even if I was just practicing with my dad or coach.

Now when I sit in class my knee starts hurting, starting off as a dull aching pain and starts getting worse. Usually I try to just stretch my leg out or get up, but it doesn't help. I just end up limping up the hallway.

Its gotten worse since it first started. At first it would only be after I pitched, but now it's almost all the time.


2. It is a pretty much constant pain, kind of like a dull aching pain. It hurts day and night, whether I'm doing a sport, sitting in class, or on the couch at home. Icing helps a little, but not very much. A weekend off doesn't really help at all.


3. It is in the same location in both legs, only more constant in my left leg (my landing/ planting leg in softball)


4. Sometimes, but not all the time can I hear squeaking when I bend my knee. Often when I run though, especially over a mile, I feel as if something is moving around in my knee.


5. Honestly, I'm not sure, but I don't think that large of a role is played by 'growing pains'


6. Quite often, yes, but sometimes I won't get the chance to apply, or re-apply it.


7. My overall health, I would say, is very well. I don't get sick often and my digestion is good. I have high energy levels most of the time, which I need with my busy schedule.


8. I've had no previous knee injuries.


9. I started pitching in the 7th grade, I would say around 12 is when I became really serious, meeting with a private coach about twice a week.


10. I don't believe so...

thanks so much!


Jan 12, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		PART 3 - Knee Pain Above and Inside the Knee Caps in a 16 year old softball pitcher
by: The Tendonitis Expert

Joshua Comments:


Ok, thanks for those answers. That paints a clearer picture for me.

There's probably a few things at play, but let's hit the main two I can think of first, and see what happens.

1. Supplement with Magnesium for Tendonitis as described on the
Magnesium Dosage page.

Magnesium shortage is definitely at play. Don't know how much, but it's a cheap and safe and healthy option that I suspect will make a big difference in the constant pain/shaking.

Essentially, your muscles are TIGHT and spastic, meaning firing constantly. THis uses up a lot of magnesium, and results in more tightness and being stuck firing.


Read the pages the above two links go to, and relate it to your hip/leg/knee structures.


2. Get this ebook about hip tightness and muscle balance and how it relates with patellar femoral syndrome.

It's HIGHLY possible this issue stems from hip muscle weakness/imbalance. My KERRI was a VERY active lady, and up until a couple years ago (she's 38 and has had knee pain for a LONG time) she did some hip strengthening exercises and now she has no knee pain.

It's possible that you've injured your knee joint (feels like something is floating around in there) but let's wait on that one. If that's the case, it's a function of whatever is causing all the knee/leg pain, so we need to deal with that anyway. (I don't think you're injured at this point, I think your knee is tracking POORLY).

If you're out of whack, and stuck out of whack, then your body is constantly thinking you're in pain, and your symptoms fit this scenario.

**also, for the squeak, get some peanut oil and slather that on liberally a couple times a day. I had squeaky knee when I was in high school and I'll be dam*ed but the squeak went away after two days of oiling it. Also, squeaky knee is/can be a function of patellar femoral syndrome.


Get the ebook today, start the mag today and find your tolerance level as soon as possible.

Try the peanut oil, just for fun.

Check back in a couple days of doing that and let me know what's what.
Jul 10, 2014
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starstarstarstarstar 		softball pitcher with painful knees
by: Cassie

Hi, My name is Cassie. I played softball for almost twenty years. Most years I played on two teams.

I am now 30 years old and my left knee is killing me still. I've had MRS's done physical therapy, medications and nothing helps. I strengthen it and it just hurts. the more I use it the more it hurts.

Any ideas what it could be? or any ideas that might help?


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Joshua Comments:

Hi Cassie.

Two main causes.

The muscles and connective tissue from hip to toe are too tight. This compresses the knee, restricts ROM, makes you work harder, etc.

Open up too tight tissue for benefit.

The other main cause still revolves around muscle tightness.

The tighter a muscle is, the less strength potential it has, and the less force it absorbs.

A muscle's job is to absorb force. To the extent that it doesn't, that force still has to go somewhere, usually to place that aren't designed to absorb it (thus rips, tears, joint injury, etc).

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