Dear Daine
I suffer from the same type of knee pain and I had an MRI done and of course the doc who sent me for the MRI sees it differently and say's oh it's nothing and says it has a lot to do with the way I walk meaning my gait. I just became an amputee as of 1/8/02 and have walked the wrong way for 14 yrs. I now would like to have this knee problem corrected with surgery because I was sent for PT and with my own feeling I conisder it a waste of time. I went for 4 weeks and got no relieve. I sometimes think these orthopedic surgeons look at it as a money maker and do not really care or take into consideration what the patient has to say. If I were you I would push the issuse for the surgery and be able to get on with your life and feel better mentally. As of this minute as I speak to you I am confined to a knee brace which just holds my knee together and in my eyes it's not a cure all. If you have any further questions please free to e-mail me