My VMO Has Been Numb For 5 Days?

[Steve Ericson]

Long story short. I have patellar tracking disorder from an under developed VMO (vastus medialis oblique) and an overdeveloped VL (vastus lateralis). Well while doing TKE's about 5 weeks ago for rehab purposes I was unknowingly hyper extending my knee and thus developed a nice bout of patellar tendonitis to go along with the original problem. Well I have still been doing my rehab exercises and ALOT of stretching even though the tendonitis is still annoying me.

Now for the part that has me puzzled, over the last 5 days my VMO on my right leg has been numb? No pain at all and the numbness gets "worse" and better sporadically but has always been there? I took a couple days off and did nothing thinking it would go away but it didn't. So for the last few days I have just gone back to my rehab/stretching program and it hasn't gotten worse or better - just there.

I am thinking it may be slightly inflamed (though I can't tell visually) and be numb from a lack of blood flow? Or maybe it just isn't used to being stimulated so much? Any Ideas?

[Steven Low]

When you hyperextended it, if it dislocated or stretched the nerves too far they can break which may lead to numbness. However, they SHOULD regrow given some time. One would hope.

Massage the area + obviously rehab to get blood flowing to the area to help speed up healing. Might want to do some myofascial in the area to see if it's just an impingement or something.

Also, I'd talk to your PT if you can... see if they know if anything could be up. This is my best non-medical, non-PT guess.

[Steve Ericson]

Sounds good Steven, thanks for the advice I'll give it a go.