Knee pain; outside edge

[jmvar]

Both my girlfriend and I suffer from occasional knee pain not specifically in the knee but in the area that runs along the outside of the knee area.

I got mine after 2 days of hiking long and strenous 8 hour hikes with a heavy pack. She got hers after running for a week straight every day.

We both suffer from a lack of flexability in our lower bodies and I was wondering if this was a result of that?

Any one else ever experience this pain? Any suggestions?

[tjharris311]

What you described with both you and your girlfriend sounds like an overuse injury there are many ligaments that run down your patella that connect to both your fibula/tibia and femur. As well ligaments that connect your tib/fib to your femur. From how you described your location of pain it sounds like you could have put some strain on your fibular collataral ligament. There isn't much else to do except give your legs some rest, use some anti inflammitory medication. IE. Ibuprophen, Naproxen(OTC) You can use ice packs or ice and some compresses(wrap your knee with an ace wrap) and keep your leg elevated whenever possible. If in a week or two your pain has not subsided or if it gets worse see a doctor.

[elmcse]

It could also be your iliotibial (IT) band

http://www.itbs.info/

[kathyfit]

It could also be your iliotibial (IT) band

http://www.itbs.info/

Definately sounds like IT band problems. I'm not a doc, but I have had problems with this....stretching it everyday helps a ton. A couple of streches include putting your foot on a step, not straight forward, but more across your body and lean forward, sticking your streched hip out. Another one is lying on your side with the affected leg on top. Kick your leg behind you and let your foot drop to the floor without rolling your hips...keep them "stacked." Hope this helps...