When was your MRI? Your symptoms sound like a medial meniscus tear (clicking, abrupt onset of symptoms, etc.) Have you ever been hit on the outside of your left knee playing a sport?

You should see your doctor (it sounds like you have though if you had an MRI already). Again, the timing of the MRI and the symptoms is important. An MRI is a very sensitive test for meniscus tears, but it's not 100% and not as good as a thorough history and physical by a specialist. Meniscus tears don't heal on their own, so you've got to see your doc if the problem is persisting.

I agree with Phaedrus. I have a very similar problem... clicking, intermittent pain... Hurts on the inside of the knee right above the Tibia. When you had your MRI, did you see an orthopedic surgeon as well? To me, it doesn't sound right that the MRI showed a bit of fluid, and that was considered normal. Extraneous synovial fluid is usually a sign that something has gone awry in your knee, so I wonder why they said nothing was wrong, or didn't order a second MRI if it was inconclusive.

I would say it's worth getting a second opinion/MRI if you can. Especially if it is to the point where you can't run without pain. Your Meniscus probably doesn't hurt as much during the stop/start activities you described because they are on softer ground, and there is less energy for your knee to absorb, but that's just a guess. It didn't bother me when I was playing soccer, but I think that may have been one of key contributors to the injury, so you may want to consider that. I am taking the season off, and focusing on building strength in the knee, and hopefully coming back next season.

My MRI showed that I DID have a Grade II signal in my medial meniscus. That basically means that there is some degeneration of the tissue in the middle of the meniscus, but nothing that would require surgery. Basically, my Ortho. explained it like this; the meniscus is a pad, and there is a part of the pad in the middle that is a bit damaged. Here's the thing... once they take out the damaged part, it will never grow back. So, it is best to avoid surgery if at all possible. But, it sounds to me like you are at a point where surgery could help relieve some of the pain that you are having.

Try to get things re-evaluated.... let us know how it goes. Best of luck.

Run on the other side of the road from what you usually do.

PoC

That's still sounds so dismissive to me. But I'm really sensitive to all those anti-runner docs out there. The strong muscles we build from running also help protect our knees. I finally found a wonderful orthopedist who said to me, "I want you to be a 90-year old runner!"

I agree with everyone that you should find a doc, but it could just be patellofemoral pain syndrome. It's very common with both distance runners and sprinters. I have it. It's on the inside of my left knee as well. This is a repetitive use syndrome that's related to a problem with how your kneecap is tracking, resulting in cartilage wear on the medial side of the patella. It's very hard to localize the pain--it can feel like it's under the kneecap, surrounding it, or on the medial side. Usually onset is slower, since it's a wear issue, but mine was sudden, like yours. It commonly occurs when runners up their training regimen. Related to theShiba's point, one reason for the tracking issue is inner thigh weakness, so my doctor recommended more adductor strength training. Prior to this, I laid off the lower body strength training that involved hip and leg extensions for a few weeks, took a few days off from running and then did a few light weeks. I was lucky. The pain went away, and I hardly ever have symptoms now. Other treatments include 1500mg/day glucosamine, but that's only about 50% effective (and very expensive). Protein helps. Orthodics might as well. Last resort, a fenestrated knee sleeve or a j brace. No wraps or hinged braces!

Other symptoms of patellofemoral syndrome are pain going up and/or downstairs and pain when sitting with the knee bent for too long. I try to extend my leg and rest my foot on a chair if I'm at the computer for more than a couple of hours. This helps immensely because the knee is loose in the joint and the cartilage has time to repair/grow.

Best of luck!

I see what you mean. And sorry to hear about your injury. Both of my parents have had double knee replacements--Mom from being a ballet dancer for 26 years and Dad from, well, leading a very colorful life, I suppose. I wouldn't wish their fate on anyone. But it's amazing how understanding this new orthopedist was, even knowing my family history. So I guess that makes this post another vote for someone in or knowledgeable about sports medicine.

EDIT: sorry messed up... you can delete this post.

UPDATE:
Well I went to the chiropractor Friday. Basically just took a history and esamined me a bit and took some xrays. He thinks I may have a tilted pelvis, which may be the cause of my knee pain. My the left side of my lower back is tighter than the right side. Wednesday I go back and he'll go over the xrays and I'm not sure what else (maybe he'll do some adjusting?) He thinks I'll be able to get back to running. I hope and pray that he'll be able to fix me so I can!

It could just be that your quads are unbalanced. Trigger points in the VMO (vastus medialis oblique) commonly refer pain to the precise area you describe. In fact, I'm having some of that pain myself lately. When I start feeling it, I work on my quads myself. The trigger point for your pain area is about 4" above the kneecap just off center. Try pressing around that area with your thumbs and see if you find any sensitive areas.

With all the activities you do, it wouldn't be surprising that you have built up trigger points in many parts of your quads--we all get them, but it's our weakest link that usually results in pain.

Hey man. Go see your doctor, and see if he/she can refer you to a sports medicine orthopod.

It's likely that you have an over/underuse condition like patellofemoral pain syndrome, and you'll probably need some physical therapy to strengthen your muscles. (If it is an imbalance in your VMO muscles you need strengthening of those muscles. A foam roller will also help to roll them out--I do this for my ITB syndrome).

Forget about your chiropractor appointments (in my opionion). Why did they take more radiographs when you've already had an MRI? They are just giving you more radiation!

Again, when was your MRI and when did the pain start?

(Go see a sports medicine MD who can examine you!)