Why does my left knee always hurt after I go out for a run>?

Question

About 7-8 months ago I started running anywhere between 3-5 times a week in order to slim down a bit. When I first started running I would run around 20-25 minutes a session and I gradually started building up from that.

A few weeks ago I finally started running about 45 minutes a session, but during my first 45 minute session I found that my left knee really started to hurt near the end of the run.

So I stopped running for about a week, I iced and stretched my knee everyday and after a week everything felt fine again. However now whenever I run, my left knee ALWAYS starts to hurt within the first 5 minutes and I find that the next day or two I can never walk up or down anything because the pain will be too much for me.

Does anyone know what's happening/does anyone have any advice for me? I always stretch before and after I run, and I always ice myself after I run as well. I read somewhere that it may be due to being overweight but I've lost a lot of weight since I started running and I don't know why my knee and only my left knee would start hurting now as opposed to before.

Thanks a lot everyone

Answer 1

maybe you step wrong. maybe you need arch supports.

Answer 2

Since I do not know the age of the runner I can not directly assume that it is arthritis. Although at the age of 21 I develop a mild case in both of my knees. The best suggestion I can offer is to see your doctor and/or a specialist on the knee. They will give you an in depth answer.

I am assuming that you have not taking to running periods like this before and your knee is telling you you have a problem. Stretching and icing the knee before and after is very effective if there are no underlying problems.

If the knee hurts specifically on a single side of the knee cap, it may be a tendon - or if it hurts all around the knee cap it may be the meniscus.

Your best bet is to see a doctor (the sooner the better) and possibly take an iron vitamin to boost up bone marrow and strength and add some extra lower body stretchs to your routine.

Hope this helps! :")