Hiya.
17 year old male here, and my left knee is really pissing me off. Trouble started five or six weeks ago. I did a hard XC practice, but nothing above or beyond what I've done before. The knee hurt a little bit after that, but I figured it would go away.
The next day I ran a 5K race and PRed it, but left my knee in total ruins. Couldn't do much more than limp around.
Took off the week before Conference. The knee was feeling better the night before Conference, so I planned to run. Warming up a little bit before the race led to explosions of pain. I laid in the tent for like an hour, unable to bend my knee because of the pain.
Three more weeks off. Started back running, things were going fine. Knee was a little shaky, but I could run on it.
And now, two weeks back into running, this knee of mine still is shaky and aching and acting like it's never going to recover.
I'm just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar or has any advice. I've been gobbling ibuprofen, using ice just about every night, and wearing a knee brace constantly, but it's just not working. The pain seems to be mostly on the left side of the knee, not really in the kneecap, more like to the side. If that makes any sense. Also, if I put my fingers on this spot to the down and left of the kneecap, there is a very distinct popping if I bend the knee.
Please help. Thanks in advance.