Who to see (knee related)

[Helga]

Hey all,

 

As I mentioned in my intro thread I posted, I have struggled with a persistent ITB injury over the past 4 or 5 years. I have seen a few physio's, bio's and 2 different knee specialists here in Jhb with no success as yet.

 

Having done a little searching on here there seems to be 2 guys who's credentials stand out. Daan in PTA and Jeroen in CPT. I suspect the issue may have something to do with a less than ideal bike setup, or perhaps a foot problem I am unaware of.

 

I am considering packing my bike and going down to see Jeroen and having the full exam, bike setup and MRI done to properly assess what may be wrong with my knee, or other areas which could affect it.

 

I have also seen and read alot of posts on here recommending bike setups by Specialised and a few other guys which makes the decision of who to go with difficult. I would assume that each fitter has their own ways/means of deriving the final fit on the bike based on their experiences. I am leaning toward the fitting by Jeroen at this point, but I wanted to hear what other bikers experiences have been like with the various guys in SA

[AndreZA]

You can also go and see a chiropractor. After many years of docters, physios, biokineticist, deep tissue massages, body stress management sessions and even an orthroscopy (sp?), it was 4 sessions with a chiro that fixed me. R1200 after I've spend about R35 000 (okay medical aid did).

[Helga]

You can also go and see a chiropractor. After many years of docters, physios, biokineticist, deep tissue massages, body stress management sessions and even an orthroscopy (sp?), it was 4 sessions with a chiro that fixed me. R1200 after I've spend about R35 000 (okay medical aid did).

 

I don't know all that much about Chiro's so who would you recommend in the Jhb area?

[Stray Cat]

hey Helga

 

Maybe give Dr Barrow at Suninghill hospital a call. There are three of them,i think(Pops and his 2 sons - talk about a family of over achievers) all of whom are specialist orthopeadic surgeons! Andrew sorted out my wrist last year and his boet helped me with my fractured sternum and a few of my mates have gone to the Barrows to sort out their Knee injuries!

 

They really are a good doctors and a quality bunch of guys, all a bunch of sports fanatics, so maybe give them a go before you fork out the cash to go vist the docs in Cape Town

 

Good luck though, hope you come right

[AndreZA]

I don't know all that much about Chiro's so who would you recommend in the Jhb area?

 

I go to Dr. Jennifer Mitchell. She is in Roodepoort on the cnr of Ontdekkers and Mouton road 011 7603-061. If you ever cycled on Ontdekkers you have gone past her practice.

[FrancoisC]

Ponky Firer or Peter Johnson.

No better ortho's on JHB.

Firer first choice.

Best knee guy around.

[IMan777]

Best Knee Specialist = Dr. Spike Erasmus in Stellenboch.

[Underachiever]

1st go to Cyclelab or other to get your set-up confirmed. That is the most important step imho.

 

Don't know how you train, but I battled with ITB too. Wrong set-up and wrong training regime. Hadn't had a lot of training time back then, so I ONLY did high intensity, without a proper base. This, with the wrong set-up, was bound to give problems.

 

Fixed the set-up, made time for a proper base - never had a problem since.

Edited March 11, 2011 by Underachiever

[Me-rider]

Lots and lots of stretching can help too. I have battled with knee problems for a while and mild forms of ITB. Over the past year I have been doing a lot of stretching and have found it to help.

 

Not just standard quad stretch we all used to do during U14 Rugby practise but also focus on hamstrings, glutes, back, groin and calves. Your body works as a unit a very often tightness in muscles can cause refer pain (in ways that do not seem logical unless you are an ortho!). Just get into habbit of stretching when you watch tv.

 

I am guessing it will take a combination of things to cure it completely and this is just one piece of the puzzle.

[Helga]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

I think ill make the trip to CT and see Jeroen and have the setup done. I am hoping the MRI will reveal something the other guys have missed with their exams and x-rays, etc.

 

Ponky Firer or Peter Johnson.

No better ortho's on JHB.

Firer first choice.

Best knee guy around.

 

Saw Ponky in Jan, he told me there is nothing wrong with my knee and recommended phsio. Physio has helped to releive the pain but I still can't do more than 8 to 12km offroad without the knee starting to niggle!

[FrancoisC]

Thanks for all the replies guys.

 

I think ill make the trip to CT and see Jeroen and have the setup done. I am hoping the MRI will reveal something the other guys have missed with their exams and x-rays, etc.

 

 

 

Saw Ponky in Jan, he told me there is nothing wrong with my knee and recommended phsio. Physio has helped to releive the pain but I still can't do more than 8 to 12km offroad without the knee starting to niggle!

Drink some wet cement and harden up!

Pussy.

[The expat cyclist]

The problem with injuries is that we all want them just to go away. And then when they eventually do, we do little to figure out what caused the injury in the first place. So the injury will repeat itself and so on.

 

With my wife being a physio n'oll, I know what it is like. You go to a physio and you want everything fixed in the first treatment. And if it is not fixed, the physio is k@k. And you go somewhere else. And so on...

 

When I had my knee op, it was the toughest 8 weeks of my life. And I only got the message (STAY OF YOUR FEET DURING THE DAY!) when my wife went to go sleep on the coach - I could not sit still even with crutches...And then at night my leg was just killing me!!! And then I could not sleep...

 

Moral of the story - Yes, you do get bad and good medical staff...But it is what YOU do that matters most.

 

A physio can only do that much - If you don't listen, and it is best to flipping listen 'cause they know what they are on about, you will pay the price and blaim the doctor/physio/you mamma...

[Guest agteros]

Hey all,

 

As I mentioned in my intro thread I posted, I have struggled with a persistent ITB injury over the past 4 or 5 years. I have seen a few physio's, bio's and 2 different knee specialists here in Jhb with no success as yet.

 

Having done a little searching on here there seems to be 2 guys who's credentials stand out. Daan in PTA and Jeroen in CPT. I suspect the issue may have something to do with a less than ideal bike setup, or perhaps a foot problem I am unaware of.

 

I am considering packing my bike and going down to see Jeroen and having the full exam, bike setup and MRI done to properly assess what may be wrong with my knee, or other areas which could affect it.

 

I have also seen and read alot of posts on here recommending bike setups by Specialised and a few other guys which makes the decision of who to go with difficult. I would assume that each fitter has their own ways/means of deriving the final fit on the bike based on their experiences. I am leaning toward the fitting by Jeroen at this point, but I wanted to hear what other bikers experiences have been like with the various guys in SA

 

So you've religiously stretched / foam rolled your ITB, and did all the strength exercises for your quad muscles and no improvement?

[Musashi]

I've been to Jeroen twice. He solved my first knee problem after the first visit but then I developed a new problem, basically problems with my pedalling technique. I'm working on that problem.

 

His ErgoFit bike set-up system works, I can really recommend that.

 

However, it may be worthwhile giving him a call and ask who he'll recommend in your area before coming down to CT. Follow-up visits will be difficult given the distance and he may know someone who can help you.

[Me-rider]

So you've religiously stretched / foam rolled your ITB, and did all the strength exercises for your quad muscles and no improvement?

 

Haha, those damn rehab and stretching exercises. I have done hours of those things mainly because I would do it for a week and a bit, feel a bit better and then stop. Needless to say the problem came back.

 

It takes hard work to stay committed to them, but they really make a difference. Finally I got to the point where it was surgery was becoming inevitable, which motivated me to do the exercises and stretching.

 

I have no medical experience so can't present an informed opinion but I would recommend trying a proper rehab course before resorting to surgery.

[henco]

I also battled with ITB. Went to a physio, got some stretching exercises (and PAIN!), did the "rolling on noodle" thing, done it for months with no improvement at all!

 

I then stopped all stretching, and did the following on the indoor trainer:

 

Warm up, then take turns and cycle with one leg (unclip the other, can put your unclipped foot on the indoor trainer, but just be careful not to put it between the spokes!). Try to cycle smoothly (pedal in circles). Do it for 1 minute per leg then cycle easy for 5 minutes with both legs. You can do this in between other intervals, but try to do 3x sets in one session. Start with lower resistance and increase it as your legs get stronger.

I also tried to keep my cycling sessions shorter than 1 hour for a few weeks. If you have an indoor trainer, try this, it is anyway good for your pedal stroke and it will improve your "weaker" leg. With the ITB I could not cycle for 1 hour without feeling the pain in my knee, now I can do 3 hours with no problems:)

 

There are so many causes for ITB, so probably better to go to someone who really knows the causes & treatment. Good luck, hope you get a solution so that you can enjoy cycling again soon