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Knee Issue pre-OCS

fatathaland

fatathaland

Moderator
When my recruiter called me to tell me my OCS class date the very last thing he said was, "keep in shape and don't get injured"

So I kept on running to stay in shape, 5-6 days/week. Then about two weeks ago I was running and my knee started to hurt. It hurt more and more until I had to stop. It was agonizing even to walk on.

I went to the doctor and he said its most likely an inflamed Iliotibial Band (ITB), an overuse injury. He said to take it easy and to take Ibuprofen.

I took it easy, didn't run for over a week. Ran the other day, 1.5 miles, and would have done more but it began to hurt again and I didn't want to hurt it more. I ran today and had to stop at a mile because the pain had returned.

My class date is 3 Nov. I don't know what to do in this situation. I was in peak shape and now I can't run more than a mile without the pain returning, and I'm afraid to press it past that in fear that I won't be able to walk on it or that I'll inflame it more.

What should I do, not train at all and hope it goes away, then go to OCS? Keep on training when I can, and possibly end up in H Pool due to knee injury and wait it out? Request a later OCS class (if I can even do that?) and explain all of this to my recruiter?

Right now I really just want to train and get going. I would just tought it out, I tried to, but I just inflamed it to the point where I absolutely couldn't run.

What would you do in this situation? Am I going to lose my pro-rec if I change class dates? Should I go to OCS and gamble on this knee?
 
P

phrogpilot73

Well-Known Member
I have issues with ITB as well...

Forget Ibuprofen - use Naproxen, it's better for ITB.

STRETCH... The ones in the article are good...

DON'T RUN until your class date. It will clear up, just don't do anything other than focus on rehab...

For what it's worth, I got it during TBS and I ignored it until it reared it's ugly head during movement to contact. My knee completely locked up. After several weeks of intensive physical therapy (they have a physical therapist assigned to TBS with liberal hours) I was fine.
 
Lonestar155

Lonestar155

is good to go
Exact same thing happened to me, prior to shipping out to Marine OCS. Two weeks prior I could not even walk up the stairs. I went anyways. First I recommend that you buy a knee band.
http://www.kneeshop.com/proddetail.asp?prod=79-80322
Went to OCS with it and saw the Navy Docs. Right away they said it was good to go. Second drink lots and lots of water!! I also learned to stretch my knee cap. It is weird, but the doc told me to extend my leg and push on the inside of the knee cap; to the left or right(depending on what knee hurts).
Lastly do not run anymore. In fact I didn't run for 2 weeks. Ended up having one of my fastest PFT run times. My knee never bothered me again.
 
badger16

badger16

Well-Known Member
None
I've had overuse issues with trainning for marathons and I can echo what was said in the above comments...DON'T RUN TILL OCS. If it was me i'd streach at least 3-4, 5 if you can times a day. Really focus on getting that thing loose. Also i'd throw in some ice and maybe a hot pad now and again. To stay in some sort of shape I'd do low impact work outs, like a Bike or something. You still get the Cardio but you don't have to worry about it banging away on your legs. Good luck to you.
 
FLYTPAY

FLYTPAY

Pro-Rec Fighter Pilot
pilot
None
You are inside a month....rest up, eat right and do what feels right for your body.
 
skim

skim

Teaching MIDN how to drift a BB
None
Contributor
I have not had your issue, but I did get shin splints pretty bad when I began my training for my first PRT. In order to stay in cardio shape while I healed, I took to swimming and the bike. Now that I am getting ready for OCS, I mix running (avoiding concrete and pavement as much as possible) and swimming and biking. It helps, and so far I am shin splint free. Dont let your cardio get away from from you...Good luck!
 
feddoc

feddoc

Really old guy
Contributor
IF it is the ITB , the gouge here is good.

I suggest you get a non-internet diagnosis.
 
Creatre

Creatre

BDCP Hopeful
I agree with everyone else. The IT band is a quite serious injury that can come from running. My father had this about 5 years ago when he was training for a marathon. He ended up trying to fight through it, but ended up having it for over a year and a half until he decided to give biking a shot. He now mixes both, and has no issues. I would suggest biking, or swimming until OCS, but both very light if you can. The less you can put stress on the injury the better. :)
 
fatathaland

fatathaland

Moderator
Ok so it's settled. I will absolutely not run on it and I'll start hardcore on the exercise bike; stretch every moment I get as well. I didn't even know you could stretch the Iliotibial Band, actually I never heard of the ITB until this happened. I'm also gonna get one of those knee bands today.

It's a big relief that so many of you have experienced this same pain and were able to heal up pretty fast. What happened to phrog is what I feared: ignore it then your knee locks up.

So you guys who have experience with those kneee bands...is that a preventative measure or does it actually relieve symptoms as well? The literature says they put pressure on the tendon. Are you able to maintain full/adequate mobility with that on?

Finally, if I show up to OCS packin a knee band do you think the docs will let me wear it or will they send me home? How would you even approach the subject with them?
 
feddoc

feddoc

Really old guy
Contributor
WVUBetaHornet said:
:)
Click to expand...

PPRC on my part. A beer for you when you come to Fallon.

What I should have said was....the gouge you have been passed is good....assuming the original diagnosis was correct. It probably was, but, this is (possibly) your career you are talking about. A quick visit to a sports medicine doc is well worth the investment. WRT the knee band v. OCS....with the prescription from an orthopod, that should be a non-issue.
 
BACONATOR

BACONATOR

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
fatathaland said:
Finally, if I show up to OCS packin a knee band do you think the docs will let me wear it or will they send me home? How would you even approach the subject with them?
Click to expand...


If you show up with it and make it clear you have it and need to wear it, it can probably be arranged. The only people who had issues were those in the midst of training who went and bought one at the NEX and began wearing it without asking permission. Once the staff found out.....they got to wear them, but they got REALLY sweaty first.:)
 
AJB37

AJB37

Well-Known Member
fatathaland said:
So you guys who have experience with those kneee bands...is that a preventative measure or does it actually relieve symptoms as well? The literature says they put pressure on the tendon. Are you able to maintain full/adequate mobility with that on?
Click to expand...

I started using the knee bands half way through my lacrosse season to relieve the symptoms then kept wearing them as a preventative measure. I've had no problems with mobility or anything like that, so I wouldn't worry about the band having an effect on your running.
 
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