Treatment for flat feet causing long term knee pain?
I've had knee pain for 4 years and about 7 months after it started I saw a consultant who moved my leg around a bit and said I had chondromalacia, just told me to rest and that was it. It didn't get better so last year I went to my doctor about it and they referred me for physiotherapy, again my leg was moved around a bit and my knee cap was taped, which did relieve the pain for the first day or two.
I then discharged myself from this because I was offered physiotherapy at a musculoskeletal centre. I went for a consultation in December and it was quite thorough, I said about my previous diagnosis of chondromalacia but she said it would not be that now as I am 20. After this meeting I received a letter which said I had anterior knee pain, medial knee pain, maltracking of patella on both knees, patella irritation of the patella femoral joint, pronated feet, valgus calcaneal tendon and lumbosacral pain.
I've had 2 physio sessions since then, during these I have been given 3 different types of exercises to strengthen the muscles in my thigh. When I went back for the second appointment in January the physio said there was no improvement and to continue with them for another month. I have my third appointment next week and there is still no improvement. I don't see how strengthening my thigh muscles is going to treat the other issues of valgus calcaneal tendon and pronated feet, and I also think the exercises I have been given are going to take a long time to see if they work.
Is there anything I can do in the short term? I have read that the knee pain can be caused by the problems I have with my feet, so even if I get better control over my leg muscles I'm still going to have the issues of feet and ankles that are sending my kneecap off track.
It's been going on for too long and I guess I do want a quick fix, but as there has been no injury to my knees and I do have these underlying issues with my feet surely I should be given treatment for this and not just exercises?
Public Comments
1. Hello. Your flat feet misalign your lower extremities, knees included. Problems are execrated if you over-pronate. As your foot rolls in, so do bones on your legs. This causes friction between the bones and your knees causing pain and, subsequently, damage. You will likely need physical therapy to repair the damage to your knees, so keep following up on that. Now, I'd like to extend to you the opportunity to correct your flat feet. Doing so will not permit your problems from progressing and, possibly, developing the myriad others those afflicted with your condition face. I've successfully helped many individuals correct their feet by having them consistently perform several exercises to strengthen the ligaments, tendons and muscle which sustain the arches. If you wish to learn more, email me, k.sordo@gmail.com. There is no fee involved.2. So you go to a fancy place with all the answers and you feel that you have nothing but pain from it. Welcome to the club. I agree with you that strengthening muscles hardly goes to the heart of knee pain.
What I have found for knee pain is that over time you can get the tendons to shorten up on the kneecap which then pulls the kneecap up on and into the knee. Once it is there it is going to be binding and painful to move. To get rid of the pain is to release the kneecap tendon. btw, tendons tend to shorten up under trauma, such as bumping the knee, falling on it, or just twisting it wrong when you turn sideways. Once released those problems should be a thing of the past for you. Here is how to release your kneecap:
Kneecaps:
Do while sitting on a chair with no front cross braces.
While sitting have your leg resting in a stretched mode. Place both your thumbs, side by side, about 2 inches behind the kneecap and press down into your leg and then redirect the pressure a little towards the kneecap. After 30 seconds, slowly slide your foot back and under your chair as far as it will go, release the pressure but hold your foot there for another 30 seconds.
If you have trouble with this taking the first time you try it just do it over. The leg muscle is also releasing while doing this and can make the pressure lessen on your tendon unless you are careful to catch it as it is happening. One person said third time was the cure. If you would like to talk about other foot problems contact me and I'll try to help.
