About a year and a half ago I started having pains in my right hip, directly in the joint as if the bones were rubbing together. I was in the process of taking 6-8 weeks off for a foot fracture, and the pain increased for my hip during this time. It was a horrible sharp pain when I would walk, and dull aching at times when I would not move for long periods of time, especially in the driving position while driving. the pain seemed to radiate down my leg and eventually, i started having knee pains. They started out as just a once in a while thing, and then gradually got worse and worse. Typically, after and during a run (while doing about 25-30 miles a week) it made everything on my leg feel really good. It was typically after that I started getting the pains, or the next day. I went to see a specialist that typically caters to univeristy athletes at my college. I actually went in for both problems, but ended up having an X-ray and an MRI of my right knee. The only problem that they came across was a small abrasion on the back of my patella (knee cap?). She proceeded to tell me this wasn't the source of the pain. I wasn't a very avid stretcher at all (and though now I wish I had been) and I have EXTREMELY tight hamstrings. I also have little muscle on the inner left of my knee caps to keep my patella aligned. It seems the tracking was slightly to the right from my view point. I had about 6 months of physical theropy 2-3 days a week in which I did paletes as she said it would help my flexibility AND strengthing. It seemed for the most part to help with my hip pain and SOME of my knee pain. I did many ham string stretches and still do at this point. The pain in my hip has basically for the most part disappeared while the pain in my knee has only gotten worse. During the time I had the theropy I wasn't instructed to not stop running, so I continued. I took it down to about 10 miles a week as a precaution and it seems the pain only has gotten worse. There are 2 distinct pains I am having, one is just to the left side of the knee cap of the right leg which only happens occasional, and its a sharp, pinpointed pain. The MAJOR problem I am having is my ENTIRE knee just aches. Almost as if I have arthritis. Typically moving it and working the leg makes it feel better, but after sitting for extended periods of time it begins to ache. I guess my question is has anyone had any simliar problems, and could the actual lack of the muscle around my knee cause this type of dull aching pain? I guess to me it just doesn't seem to add up. She stated when I went to see her the second time that she could "already see early changes" in my knee from running. I don't want to stop for good, and I am willing to cross train to save myself from the misery 20 years from now. But what would you guys recommened my course of action be? Any helpful advice, similar stories, to run or not to run, and thoughts about the type of pain i am having would be greatly appreciated. I am running out of people to consult about this.

Thanks, Mark.

http://This message has been edited by 91SCRacer (edited Mar-26-2007).