Since the beginning of the year, I’m having an issue with my right knee. It has gotten steadily worse. I have an orthopedic specialist. I met with him again a few days ago, to get his interpretation of an MRI and a prognosis/diagnosis.
This is the actual dumbed-down drawing he made to illustrate for me what an ideal, ‘healthy’ knee should look like on the left, compared to the current situation in my knee on the right. I was initially taken aback by the jagged, bumpy, withering bits on the right vs the bit on the left. Not ideal. And, apparently, it’s not going to get any better. I have an angry knee.
So, I’m going to have to get used to a popping, crackling, unstable, inflamed, and swollen knee for the long haul. A compression brace can help with stability. Injections may alleviate symptoms a bit, but only a replacement would get me back to ideal, and I’m definitely not ready to do that.
I really wish I could have afforded better shoes when I spent so many years running back in college.
Sheila365 
Sorry Sheila. Ugh.
We need to talk. I had this condition. I had arthroscopic (sp?) surgery where all the bumps were milled smooth. Quick heal and it worked great. This procedure got me an additional 20 years before knee replacement. I ran more in those 20 years than before. Both knees-separate times. I don’t recall the name of the procedure. Perhaps they don’t do this anymore and simply proceed to replacement. We have visitors here thru midday Wednesday. Then we should chat. Gene
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Oh friend, I’m so sorry! I feel your pain.
No fun. Sorry for the bad knee.