Gutted and in need of advice

Hi Emma, most important advice- we can't give you proper advice on this one! You need to see a physio hun. Go to a professional who can actually take a good look at it in person. One thing which could be a huge factor in it (and remember I'm not physically there to check it out, nor am I a professional) is that you probably aren't running in shoes which are giving you the right support and keeping your feet and legs in the correct alignment. I actually can't emphasise how important this is. My tibial stress fracture was the result of a mis-aligned foot that we failed to pick up early enough. And now 15 wks later, in spite of the fracture having healed we still haven't been able to quite align the foot right so I can run without pain.
One thing I can say, is that if it's got worse with each run you did, then no, don't run through it, it's clearly only going to get worse, not better. Try cycling, or the stationary bike, it's good cardio because it's very low impact.

Go and get it checked out! Don't mess about with knees.

What sort of pain is it? Google "runners knee"......it will give you some good information on the type of issues with running and your knees.....

Depending on the type of pain a bit of Voltaren might help - or you might need to stop what you are doing until the pain has gone away..... I get "niggles", but a couple of days of voltaren normally works for me - but I know it is not a underlying issue ...

I'm with Nita, even if it isn't what you really want to hear. Please go get this checked out before it turns into something worse! Proper shoes are a critical component to a running regime; and it is best to have them fitted for you at a real running store where the salespeople are experienced runners and can get you into the proper shoe for your gait. (If funds are low you can ask the doctor when you see them what type of shoe they suggest and do some online shopping, but a running store will help you work to find the best shoe in your price range. Remember that the cost of the treatments (in terms of your time away from work, and frustration, let alone the actual monetary costs) often far exceeds even the cost of a good pair of running shoes.

It is also possible that even if your shoes are correct that you may have gone out a little to fast. I know that ten minutes doesn't seem like a lot at the time but if you've not been running at all and suddenly jump into doing it every day you could be hurting yourself simply by not allowing enough rest time for the muscles to figure out what the heck it is you are asking of them and allowing them to respond properly.

In the meantime, RICE is the answer! Rest, Ice (I find those little paper cups for single use are great to use), compression and elevation will help the inflammation go down. Even if you don't see any actual inflammation the fact that you have any twinges of pain is a good sign that something is inflamed. As my father would say, a healthy dose of "Vitamin I" (ibuprofen) may also be in order....but then again, he's an engineer and I'm a microbiologist. Hardly medical degrees but between us we've been to more sports doctors than anyone else we know!

Chin up!

I will go to the Shoe Clinic here this week for an assessment, and until then will trade running for the exercise bike for those ten minutes I guess. :-(

If it doesn't hurt to walk then trade it for power walking on a gradient? Better for you than running anyway, although I too love running. Hope it gets better quickly x

In the short run, put on one of those ace bandage type knee braces you can pick up at the pharmacy and then go to the doctor. If you have torn something you don't want to cause more damage.