knee pain got the physio's baffeled

[centerdash]

just wondering if anyone has a clue what this knee pains about?in aug i had my custom made orthotics adjusted and started pre season training the same week,within a couple of wks ideveloped sciatic pain i went to a physio who done hip mobilisation which seemed to help but the pain returned so i went back to my podiatrist but he gave the ortho's the ok, i was then seen by the club physio who done dry needles for trigger points in my posterior thighs,i managed to play on and off but had to stop when i couldn't spriint,i could run 3/4 pace but when i tried to go flat out i feel a pull behind my knee,i returned to the first physio who done nerve mobilisation(he thought i had scar tissue on a nerve and it was catching in its sheath)but i have no knee injury history,i can do heel raisesx25 with no pain,i can go flat out on a treadmill and it dosen't seem to pull . i tried running without the orthos but allthough i didn't have the same pain i found it differcult to go flat out as iv'e had the orthos for 6yrs,i have a slight muscle enlargement 1-2inches above the site of the pain which is directly behind my kneecap,just lately it feels like sciatic type pain(thigh/hip area)from what iv'e read it seems like piriformis or tibial nerve but 2 physios an accapunturist & the podiatrist are mystified. any idea's? mike

[jess]

Sometimes a small amount of fluid in the knee, say from minor lining cartilage damage behind the kneecap, can give swelling behind the knee and pain in the reason you have described

[Hards]

I've had similar problems with what's been described recently as piriformis syndrome. I've seen 18 doctors/physios/surgeons since 2000, none of which have been able to completely diagnose my problem, however from what i've read on piriformis that seems to be the answer.

When I first went to the doc in 2000 it was for a knee problem, later diagnosed as refered pain from my back, which was later diagnosed as refered pain from my hip. I get thigh and groin pain as well on my right side (bad side), as well as knee back and a tightness behind the knee when I run.

My advice Mike, no matter what the problem is, don't stop exercising in some form, even if it's just light stuff. With piriformis type stuff the worst thing you can do is stop. I was advised to do this by a surgeon for 6 months in 2000 and it's ruined me.

Good luck mate.