pain after running

Question
Hi,  My question has to deal with what happens after I run.  I am a non running training for a 5k (a slow increase 8 week schedule). Usually after running my knees hurt so bad when I go up and down stairs. I feel and hear the crunching under my knee caps.  Then the next day my knees are swollen. I tried taking a break for a while, but when I started back up slowly nothing changed, the pain came back.  Not sure if this is something more serious and I should stop or if there is anything I can do besides popping Ibuprofen.

Thanks
Leslie

Answer
I can't help much through an email, I would see a doctor if the pain persists, or back off the running frequency.  I guess I don't know how much or how hard you are running either.  Nonetheless, all it is, is a guessing game on my end, and I am not about to type out a bunch of hypothetical guesses and solutions to a problem I can't figure out to begin with.  If your knees are swollen after running and you are dealing with crunching sounds, that sounds to me like there is trauma present, and it needs medical attention.

Rick K.