Osgood-Schlatters Disease?

[Robert V]

I've had knee pain for the last month. I have a very tender knot where the patellar tendon inserts on the tibia. I went to two physicians. One said it was a little inflamed from overuse and to stop squatting and the other was shocked :shock: ... He said it looked like Osgood-Schlatters Disease, but it's only common in youths. He suggested I go to a knee specialist.

This has been an oddity. It only hurts going upstairs. I don't have time for another surgery :x .

Does this seem familiar to anyone?

[Robert V]

Oh, I've done nothing out of the norm. No trauma. No pain behind the patella. The pain is below the patella, right on the bony protrusion.

[Jarlo Ilano]

Robert,

Tenderness to palpation at the tibial tuberosity is an indicator of Osgood Schlatter's....

And yes its usually seen in adolescents. The whole growth spurt deal.

But it could happen in older people (I haven't personally seen it in anyone that wasn't a teenager....).

You could go to a knee guy.... I doubt if he would recommend surgery though.

Get really warm (FlowFit!!), and work on lengthening your quads and hip flexors. You can also cross friction massage the area for 5 to 10 minutes. Then Ice massage for five minutes at the site. Try this a few times a day. Lay off the squatting and stooping movements.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[Doc]

By definition, OSD only occurs in adolescents. It sounds like you have a patellar tendinitis as Jarlo suggests. You may have had OSD as a youngster and therefore have the bony changes associated with it. Any current tendinitis may have nothing to do with that. I agree with Jarlo's advice. Relative rest and Ice is key during the acute phase.

[Joseph David]

Just to chime in a little. Robert, When you get transverse friction on the patella tendon, I would be more effctive whe the quads are actvated. If you imagine an X over the tuberosity there are two specific directions to talk to all the fibers. See that the therapist does a medial to lateral, and a lateral to medial intent on the friction massage.

I would also look at the relationship between the lateral quad and the medial. Often the lateral becomes dominate and the medial become inhibated. Look for trigger points on the quad attachments at the orgin on the femur as well. For functional opposites you have the poplital, gastrocs, hamstrings and illiopsoas. You may have a contralateral relationship to the opposite elbow as well.

I often think of pain as the indicator or the syptom. Sometimes it is caused by a local stress, but often it is a compensation for an inhibition elsewhere in the structure. Look deeper so as you not treat the syptom but l find the cause and correct that.

Let us know how you process is going :)

[Kathryn Woodall]

Hi Robert,
Did either of the docs take an xray of the knee? You didn't mention if the knot is new or has always been there, but if it is new, I would certainly think that an x-ray would be useful to your docs for obtaining a more certain diagnosis than inflammation. You no doubt have inflammation, but why it is occuring in one knee and not the other would be a useful question to have answered.

Take care and let us know how things evolve.

[Robert V]

I feel bad for having this "obstacle", but tremendously fortunate for having all of these excellent resources. You guys are a wealth of knowledge. thanks!

One doctor did an X-ray, the one who mentioned Osgood-Schlatters Disease. It was negative. They both said my attachments were in good condition and my quads were strong.

The quad feels great, the knee and patella feels great, but it's the area of my upper tibia that is painful and that tender knot ( tibial tuberosity). I've always had the knots, but the problem knee is obviously bigger.

I did my research and I don't have seem many symtoms of patella problems. I'm not sure.

But most suggest exactly what you stated, ice, little to not squatting and rest.

This problem with the left knee corresponded with problems with my right wrist, which I've never had before.

This is quite embarassing, leading classes in which I've preached the joint benefits of the class, yet I'm wearing a knee and wrist brace. Obviously overuse and not enough rest.

Thanks!

[JasonE]

Robert -

Have you tried the Cross Fiber Frictioning yet? It's a pain to do yourself, but possible. You may want to have a competent massage therapist do it for you, especially since symptoms are ongoing.

[Robert V]

Jason,

I didn't forget. I have an appointment this weekend. One of my classes is in a wellness center and half my class comprise massage therapist. They will take care of me and hopefully show me how to do it myself.

Thanks!

[Robert V]

the cross friction was great. thanks!

[JasonE]

Good to hear it, Robert! :D