Can IT Band Syndrom(syndrome) be THIS bad??

I've got a specialiast appointment booked, but it's going to cost me 680$, which I'd rather save if it's not a big deal.

Long time skier and cyclist (mountain and road).

Noticed that when I started biking this year, my knee had slight annoying pain under kneecap, goes away after first 2 miles, comes back when I've rested.  I don't think it's patellofemoral, because I can move my kneecap without any pain w/ pressure applied.

I had a particularly bad week, did 25 mile mtn bike ride, did 3 15 mile road rides, finally played an ice hockey game.  No immediate pain, but over the next 3 days my knee got more and more painful until I started limping.  Limped for 8 days, then have made big improvement over last 3 days(maybe 30% better).  My knee feels stable.  I sometimes get a bizarre sensation under my kneecap and a click that sounds like it's coming from under my kneecap.  Simultaneously I can feel a tendon hopping around right at the outer-upper corner of my kneecap-femur intersection.  Don't think this is the IT band... doesn't that attach more at the side of the knee?  This is directly at the upper-outer corner of the kneecap.  When the pain was really bad 5 or 6 days ago, I couldn't really tell where the pain was coming from, it's always been a bit diffuse and not really bad. (but my knee felt bad enough that I hobbled around).

Could IT Band Syndrome be this bad?  If it's better but not 100% better in 2 weeks should I spend 700$ to get an MRI/see doc?

thanks!

John B.

[CubbieBlue]

It was that.

Hope it cleared up.