Two and a half yrs ago I suffered a very nasty injury where my tibial plateau had been fractured completely through. After spending a yr on crutches and then having an op and intensive physio to regain the use of my knee in effect, I'm only just getting back into training.
As an MTBer I, more often than not, spend most of my time on trails and this is where my problems begin. Ever since the injury, I've had constant pain (which I can cope with), it's the major lack of strength and stability in the leg that is my concern. After my last scan, I was told that I have a 'step' in the back of my patella that should cause no problem. However, I feel that this may be where my problem lies, as when I try to train hard my knee feels unstable and is agony afterwards.
I desparately want to be able to train as 2 and a half yrs away from the bike is driving me mad! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

I had my left knee rebuilt following a bad horse riding accident as a teenager and had to learn to walk again as my kneecap had to be relocated (it was that or lose it). To regain the strength in mine I spent 2 months at a residential rehab place. Lessons involved 2 sessions in the hydro pool, 2 leg lessons working on nothing but quads, 1 lesson in learning to trust your injured knee which is all psycho stuff but really worked and 1 lesson on a gym session of your choice. The only biking allowed was static.

Maybe your trying to get back to the trails too early. It took me a year of really hard intensive work but eventually the unstable feeling lessened as my quads improved. Don't rush your recovery even though it is very frustrating, work on getting all the muscles in your leg to support everything else, then ride. The pool is good place to begin, try walking waist deep rather than swimming - the resistance works a treat. It is a long slow process but if you don't look after it now you will suffer as an aged wrinkly.

Thanks for the advice Lisa.
Been in touch with my physio again at work and also a sports injury therapist at my local gym, and both of them have joined forces with my consultant to try and get things sorted.
The result of the combined effort being that i'm to go back to the intensive hydrotherapy regime i had over a yr ago and receive some ultrasound treatments on the ligaments too. Kneecap problem may still need an op, but we're gonne give the other stuff a try first.

Thanx :o)

I really hope that your new plan of attack works. Theres nothing worse than not being allowed to do the things you want. One thing I have found over the years though is that if I don't keep up with the quad work I lose it really fast and it can cause tendenitis. Good luck.

Some Physios feel that taping the patella(knee cap) can benefit its tracking (the way it slides up and down) as the knee bends and extends. It can also make the knee feel 'stronger' Its quite simple to do, cheap and non invasive- worth a go!