About you
As a 40-year-old, I work in software where I'm constantly sat at a desk with rarely any activity, so I like to unwind by regularly running during my lunch breaks or doing some CV work at the gym.

The problem before treatment
I'm quite used to running regularly and sometimes very long distances, but I started noticing a pain in one of my knees. It was so painful that I couldn't run or barely walk, which naturally affected me physically and mentally. I stupidly thought it was just my age and that it would eventually wear off, but gradually the pain began affecting me even during rest, such as lying in bed.

What made you seek help
After a couple of weeks, I booked an appointment with my doctor when I realised it wasn't easing, and they referred me straight away to Surrey Physio. Whilst I was waiting for my appointment, I started noticing the same type of pain in my other knee and couldn't even drive properly without there being pain.

Your treatment and rehabilitation journey
My physio was fantastic. He immediately identified it as tendonitis and we started off with very basic exercises like rolling my feet on a tennis ball and extending my legs in and out to help stretch. He gave me paperwork each week with different exercises I could do and advised me on what I could buy to help, such as tennis balls and a resistance band. Each week I would show the exercises I had done at home and he would help with my technique and how to increase the level.

After explaining how I live my life, what also helped was being told clearly why I had the tendonitis and how the type of running I was doing was affecting me. This helped me learn what I needed to adapt to ensure it didn't happen again.

The results and progress
I started noticing that the exercises I was given, along with all the advice, really did work. The pain began to ease quite dramatically and doing the exercises became part of my day‑to‑day routine. I remember when I started, the aim was to get me running 1k after the first month, which was perfect — and then three months later, after building up my fitness, I ran a half marathon without any pain at all.

Where you are now
My life now is exactly as it was before the pain; the only difference is I regularly do the exercises as a precaution, which I enjoy, and I also use them as a warm‑up or warm‑down for my runs — something I was terrible at doing before.

Your message to others
I think the first thing I'd say is if you notice an abnormal pain that you're not used to and you feel it's muscular, physio is an incredible way to help resolve it. Definitely contact Surrey Physio, who were fantastic with me. Get it checked as soon as possible and don't wait like I did — I truly believe my second knee pain developed because of the strain I placed on it to compensate for the other knee.

Thanks
Mark