I have been a runner for many years, and have been having pain in both knees for about 2 years now. This pain has only ever stopped me from running. I stopped running for about a year. Recently I decided I'd like to start training for a marathon, but as soon as I started running again the pain started up again. I visited an orthopedist last Thursday and got a diagnosis of patellofemoral pain syndrome (Runner's knee) which is what I thought it was all along. Everything that I have read regarding this condition has said that most people respond well to conservative methods of treatment such as strengthening exercises, ice, and anti-inflamatories. The doctor told me to rest my knees, prescribed naproxin, gave me a series of exercises to do daily, and gave me a brace for my left knee which was the worse of the two. Within a day of following the doctor's orders the pain began to get worse. The pain in both knees has continued to get worse, and is now at the point where I can't even walk or stand up without pain. Is this one of those things that is supposed to get worse before getting better, or is everything I'm doing really just making the condition worse? And if so, how am I supposed to make it better. I was really hoping to run a marathon in the fall, but the chances of that seem slim now when I can't even stand up without experiencing pain. Is this normal? Does anyone have any suggestions?