Question: Hi, I’m a 60 yr old man that is a lifelong runner and I’m in good shape. I’m having pain about 2 inches above my right kneecap.(X marks the spot on the photo I uploaded). There is no swelling or reddening to observe. When pain occurs the pain seems to make the inside of my lower quad sensitive too. Pain starts 2 inches directly above knee and makes lower portion of right quad sensitive. The pain can be very sharp when it occurs. I first felt this pain in the Summer of 2015 the night after I ran multiple hills. No pain at all while I was running. It’s kind of come and gone very occasionally since then. I felt it again just sitting in the car on the way to florida 3 weeks ago for a few moments. In florida i did interval runs for an hour and stretching as usual and it seemed ok, again no pain at all when running. No pain when doing light running or walking. For some reason in the last week, the pain has cropped up more often at night. Last night I tried this cross tissue massage of the area above my knee mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ztCGPBitQ I apparently rattled what ever the problem is because it bothered me last night. This morning it hurts a bit while walking too, which it’s never done. I think the self-massage rattled the “condition”. My question is what do you think the condition is and how do I treat it?

That's the problem. I can never associate with specific circumstances. It tends to occur no where near a physical activity. Like in bed over night or just sitting in the car. I will give the heat a try.

OK... will do! thanks!

The more I look at symptoms of knee arthritis(below) the more I don't think that's what i have .... I feel pain in the tendon that attachs to my quad muscle above my knee... I have none of these symptoms:

pain that increases when you are active, but gets a little better with rest
swelling

feeling of warmth in the joint

stiffness in the knee, especially in the morning or when you have been sitting for a while

decrease in mobility of the knee, making it difficult to get in and out of chairs or cars, use the stairs, or walk

creaking, crackly sound that is heard when the knee moves