Q:
I am a physically active person but recently I have been getting an acute pain in my knee when I run. It usually does not start to hurt until after I have been running for a while. I know the answer to the pain is to stop running but I was wondering if I should seek a doctor to possibly look into it further, because when the pain arises I can barely walk on the knee and it is very painful. thanks...
A:
The short-term answer is undoubtedly that you should discontinue the activity that is causing pain. Hopefully that discontinuation need only be temporary. One never should try to "run through" pain, because doing so will just increase the extent of the injury that is occurring to cause the pain.
Yes, you should consult a knowledgeable physician about your pain. Usually there is a mechanical problem related to your anatomy, your running style, your running equipment (especially shoes) or something such that can explain why the problem has occurred and point the way toward getting you back to running without the pain.
When you consult the physician, be sure to bring your running shoes to the office visit so they can be inspected.
~The Doc
