chondramalacia patella

[Sunonface]

About 6 weeks ago, I got a diagnosis of chondramalacia patella / mal tracking patella. I suffer with anterior knee pain after or during HIIT or loaded lower limb sessions. And some tenderness around front of knee when going up and down stairs. I suspect some arthritis.

I felt it was getting better, i've done shitloads of rehab exercises - and I've still exercised in classes, but not done lunges/loaded squats etc.

But today in a class with quite a lot of fast, knee moves - where of course, I did lots of adjustments to avoid this, I felt really frustrated. It felt particularly sore this am, so I was very careful. But now I worry that my cardio fitness is really suffering.

Just wanted to hear from anyone who had this and how long it took to repair?

I was diagnosed with chondromalacia patellae as a result of work during archaeological digs as a student. The acute phase of mine continued for a couple of years, because it is a loss of cartilage, so bone in bone is painful. I’ve never since been free of pain going up and down stairs because of the loss of the protective cartilage in my knees. Is your diagnosis of both chondromalacia AND maltracking, or is someone hedging their bets until you have diagnostic imaging?

I had to rest quite a lot and cut right down on exercise in the early days, so I wonder if you’d be better just sticking to the rehab exercises for now and not adding in your usual routine, which sounds quite tough on knees.

Thirty years later, I do now also have early onset arthritis in both knees, possibly as a result of the chondromalacia early in adulthood, as I have been without a lot of cartilage for such a long time.

Diagnosis is of both - which, of course, could be because I've not had an MRI

Sorry to hear you've had it young. I'm 53 so I guess I'm age appropriate!

Thanks for the response.

I was diagnosed at 17, so over 40 years ago.

was told as a child never to kneel - if I do, I am in agony for weeks.

both knees dislocate.

Yep, it put paid to my career as a digging archaeologist!

Yes, I was 20 when diagnosed, and now at 52 I’ve had the start of arthritis for 10 years or so. I hope yours is less problematic!

I was diagnosed at about 20 too. I avoid high impact workouts, building up slowly to even run, I don't wear heels, and I built up all the muscles in my legs around the knee cap. Not to any advanced state just a healthy amount but more than I had before. I'm 36 now and only have a problem on steep downhill hikes.