Cracked/Damaged Medial Meniscus?

I'm a 23 yr old male and about 6 weeks ago I felt a pain in my knee that left me unable to go jogging.  My doctor seems to think that I injured it from jogging alongside a canal on unlevel dirt.  She told me to slow down my routine a bit, as I was training for my first half marathon, she went on to say not to worry about it too much that it's nothing serious.  Well today I went jogging and the pain is back like it was when I first experienced it.  My question is this....it has been cracking and grinding (around the medial meniscus area) whenever I bend it or if I bring my heel towards my waist while sitting..do you think this may be damaged or cracked medial meniscus?  On a pain scale from 1-10, 10 being the highest..it's about a 5-6...would damaged meniscus be more painful?  Any treatments I can perform myself, as I don't have insurance right now?

[LukeL]

If it isn't a complete tear and the you can fully extend the joint to 180 degrees without it locking up then you might be able to let it heal on its own by following the RICE program

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

But you should really see a doctor about this. I can understand with no insurance you not wanting to see a doctor as an MRI can cost hundreds or even a thousand dollars or more after all is said and done.