I'm just getting into running again, having run all last summer (up to about 3.5 miles) and then hurting my back and having to stop running in the early autumn. I'm currently running about 1.5 miles over 20+ minutes, interspersed with walking, three times a week. I'm running partly on the road and partly on grass. I have good shoes, I'm 24 without previous injury and I'm not overweight.

Since I've started running I'm getting an odd pain in my left knee (this happened last time as well). It never hurts while I'm running, nor walking generally, only when I make specific movements like climbing steep stairs or a steep hill. The pain is not severe, but it is sharp. It feels like something is moving over my kneecap, a muscle or something (afraid I'm not too good with anatomy). After I stopped running last summer the pain continued for a few weeks and then went away. It has now returned, and so even though it doesn't affect my running I know the two are connected. It sort of feels like my left knee is somewhat weaker than my right one.

What can I do about this? As my running continues, I'm afraid that it may somehow go on weakening my knee. I'm also afraid of doing strength training on the knee, for fear of aggravating it further. Doing squats or that kind of movement is exactly the kind of thing that makes the pain flare up. I've read about typical knee injuries and it doesn't seem to match up with any of those.

Should I ignore it and continue gently? I am reluctant (though willing if necessary) to go and see a doctor about this because they have been unhelpful in the past, and if I were referred to a specialist it would take months before I actually got to see someone. I want to spend that time running!

Thankyou for any advice.