I do not know what is wrong, but you may try a poultice or fomentation with Comfrey Root. You can also drink some Comfrey Leaf Tea, and make sure you clean up your liver and colon too (try burdock and yellow dock root, they are gentle). Turmeric is also awesome for joints.

change sports

try biking, or dance and do cross training

no one can ever just stop running well ok mayeb a few can, bu tI couldn't . I still do once in awhile.

But cross training will help dramatically. As will reducign sugar and coffee adn makign sure to get vitamin e and fish oils in diet.

namaste
Cathy

I have thought a great deal about your knee problems lately.. Several factors come to mind. There are many parts of the knee that can be affected by running. The soreness means there is difficulty with in the knee itself.. However, it makes a difference as to what part of the knee is affected prior to treating.

If its a torn miniscus then yes I would recommend comfrey or glucosomine and condroitin if you can take them. If its a torn ACL then that is cartilage as well and there are several herbs that can be used in reconstructing process. The difficulty is that during the reconstructing process, it is best not to continue to agravate the knee as that defeats the healing process.

If its actually in the bone area that adresses another factor and requires different herbs to aid in the healing process as well. The herbs recommended on this thread are some really beneficial ones however it depends strictly on your body as to what types of herbs your body can and cannot accept.

Any time herbs are taken or recommended it becomes conflictive if the person is on any type of pharmacutical medication. There is definite conflict between certain plants due to the chemical constituents and specific pharmacutical drugs.

Also, one very important thing to remember is the IT Band. (Iliotibial band) It shortens with use, like running. Then it pulls the knee upward, tightening it and causing tension and pain. Often times this is the source of knee pain. If not treated with easy stretching via rolling, it can cause more severe knee problems.

At physical therapists offices and many gyms, there are styrofoam cylinders that are used to "roll" a variety of body parts on. You can roll on anything about 6 inches around or buy a roller at a sports store. I would highly suggest the MSM/Chondroitin/Glucosamine mix in addition to daily stretching and rolling inparticular, of the side of your leg.

Just below where the hip meets the leg, lying on your side, supporting yourself on the floor with your arm, let the weight of your leg fall onto the foam cylinder as you roll downwards to right above the outside of the knee. Being careful not to roll the actual lateral knee itself. You might find the first few times you do this you experience pain, which means you need to be rolling. (You also get a massaging action so the more toxins you have in your legs, and they do build up there with cardio use, the more you're squeezing them out when you apply the pressure, which can initially cause discomfort) If there's pain, ease the weight off the leg and place more weight on your supporting arm. The pain will dramatically go away each day that you roll.

I competed in triathlons for three years, up to the 1/2 Iron Man level. Rolling along with ice baths SAVED my body and kept it working properly. Also, foods rich in antioxidant / anti-inflammatory properties are great. : ) For people who run, it really is a different kind of release then almost anything else provides. Finding a substitute can prove difficult. If you take care of your body and allow resting periods for tired joints to rejuvenate and sore ligaments to heal, a person who doesn't have genetic musculoskeletal issues should be able to run for a long time. It's the die hard runners that have an obsessive relationship w running who become injured. It's easy to do, especially for those who are prone to a more addictive nature. (I was that person. I had to really watch myself and give a lot of space to take time off or else I'd take training and even just running to an extreme, resulting in injury)

Be well ad take care of your body that takes care of you!

: )

I theorize that getting someone to pull on the leg is what helps the knee thing. A specific pressure while pulling that dosen't hurt the ankle. Finding someone who could do this, well, I'm working on it.

I have degenerative arthritis and an Elder, a healer person told me to take baby or smaller maple leaves, should I say and rub them on the affected joint with the shiny side down/veins up until the leaves wilt and the pain would be gone. Gotta say it works!

Yes, I think it is really important to find out what is causing the pain and try to illiminate any further strain. I also experience pain in my knees from time to time. I use a product which is available at most health food stores. It is called Stopain. It is a roll on substance of glucasamine, MSM, boswella, eucalyptus, menthol, and peppermint. It is amazing! It feels really wild on your skin and takes away most pain from joints to muscles. The process of rolling it on also gives you a massage. It is much more effective and direct than taking these supplements internally.

Depending on what other herbs you may want to use... DMSO gel is a substance that allows things to penetrate deep into your skin without causing cell damage. DMSO use for health care is controversial so you should do your own research to decide if it is something you would want to use.

Be Well.