Is it bad to run with various knee bands? (Read 546 times)

I've been running with a patella strap on the my right knee for some time now. My left knee has been giving me a lot of problems recently, both below the knee cap and on the outside above the knee cap...possibly the IT band. I tried to do a 10-mile run today, but after 4 miles, my left IT band felt so bad, I decided to move my patella strap from my right knee and put it just above my knee cap on my left knee. That alleviated the IT pain and I was to run a couple more miles (it was hurting so badly before, that if I didn't take this corrective action, I would have had to abandon my run). Unfortunately, my right patella started to hurt again since I no longer had the band on it, and my left patella started to hurt too. I had to stop my run after 6 miles. I figure that if I have THREE bands, one on my right knee and 2 on my left knee, I might be able to run without any pain. Is it bad to start depending on these things to keep running? I'm not currently experiencing any post-run pain, swelling, or discomfort. I have started doing post-run stretching and quad strengthening exercises for the last 2 weeks.

I made an appt to see a Sports Medicine speciliast on Thursday. I've been reluctant to see a doctor as I don't want to be told to stop running. I guess ignorance is bliss. I'm really hoping it's something easily fixable like getting new shoes or orthotics and that I wouldn't need to stop running for days or weeks on end. This is not the way I wanted to start the New Year!!