Thanks for responding, Connie. Yes, the pain runs along the outside of my leg,
from the knee joint up to the hip. In the past, I have had pain around the
outside of the knee joint. I remember having that on and off for years! Now
the pain kind of shoots down my leg from the hip down towards the knee. I
really haven't changed anything that I'm doing exercise-wise, or even the way I
use my muscles. I have an idea to what might have caused it, but it is a long
shot. I have slight scoliosis, and one leg is "shorter" than another. I have
custom orthotics, and I usually wear tennis shoes with the orthotics inserted.
In the summer-time (we live in Ohio), I unearth my sandals. Sometimes it seems
so hot for shoes, so I'll wear my sandals instead. I think I might have worn my
sandals too many days in a row and might have aggravated my IT band. I did
something similar in the winter. AHA! I often wear boots instead of tennis
shoes, and the orthotics do not fit in them.

I have a tendency to get painful muscle knots, and used to go twice a month for
a deep massage, performed by a medical massage therapist. (As most of you know,
this is quite different from having just a pleasant back rub, etc.) I suspect
that I might have Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, or Myofascial Pain Disorder,
however I have never received that as an official diagnosis. But when I was
going for regular massages, sometimes the therapist would press on a certain
spot (that I didn't even know was a sore spot!), and I would just about shoot
through the roof! Yeeeooww!!

I should probably begin the massage therapy again. (I stopped due to my MT
changing professions, and also due to the expense.)

I don't have a Patt strap, but I do have a band that seems similar, that is
adjustable and made to be worn above or below the knee. Do you think I should
try that, or does the Patt Strap work more effectively than similar brands?

My chiropractor also suggested stretching, so I have begun a stretching program.
However, he wants me to stretch about 4 times a day. It sort of bothers me that
I need to stop what I'm doing and stretch these muscles. (Just whining here.)
I mean, how many people do we know who have to stop what they're doing and take
an IT band muscle stretch break?

I don't have a foam roller. I do have a small, hand held massager, made by
Homedics. The rubbery ball thing on the end vibrates, and I will sometimes rub
this up and down the band, increasing pressure until I really feel it. I'm not
exactly sure if this is helping or not. Do you think it does the same thing as
the foam roller does?

Thanks again,
Donna

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