Decades of knee pain...

This post is kind of long because I included my MRI results. Obvs you can skip that part.

I've had knee pain since high school. Visited an orthopedic surgeon who told me I have cartilage deterioration. I was maybe 17, so this was 1988. I had arthroscopic surgery ("cartilage cleanup") in 2004, when I was 33. I haven't been able to kneel or squat since I was maybe 15 or 16.

I have good days and bad days; sometimes it's easy to get up and down the stairs to my apartment, other days I have to take the steps one at a time with both feet. If I sit for too long, I'm super stiff when I get up. If I'm standing for a long time, I get a lot of pain and when trying to sit down, it's extremely painful. I'm not able to bend my knees more than a 90 degree angle (basically just sitting with my feet flat on the ground).

Due to osteoarthritis in my lower back (L4/L5) and bursitis on my left hip I've had cortisone injections in my lower back twice. The first time it didn't last very long, maybe 4 months. The second injections were a couple of months ago so I'm wondering how long it'll help.

My MRI results, if anyone can help explain. The physician's assistant I saw said I have osteoarthritis and torn meniscus in both knees, and gave me a prescription for 15 mg of Meloxicam once daily. The Meloxicam has been helping.

MEDIAL MENISCUS: Complex, degenerative tear of the posterior horn with peripheral extrusion of the body.

BONES / CARTILAGE: Moderate to severe chondrosis with small marginal osteophytes but without significant bone marrow edema.

MCL / MEDIAL CAPSULE: Intact structures

LATERAL MENISCUS: Increased intrasubstance signal diffusely with possible root tear posteriorly

BONES / CARTILAGE: Mild-to-moderate chondrosis with small osteophytes but no bone marrow edema

LCL / POSTEROLATERAL COMPLEX: No significant abnormality.

PATELLOFEMORAL COMPARTMENT: Moderate to severe degenerative changes with areas of full-thickness cartilage loss and osteophytosis especially laterally.

EFFUSION: Small effusion

QUADRICEPS AND PATELLAR TENDON: No significant abnormality.

ACL: Normal appearing ligament.

PCL: Normal appearing ligament.

CONCLUSION:

1. Complex, degenerative tear of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus with peripheral extrusion of the body.

2. Possible root tear of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus.

3. Tricompartmental DJD especially of the medial and patellofemoral compartments.

I ordered two bamboo knee sleeves and hope maybe they can help. I'll be sure to add my experience. Thank you to those reading. I hate the fact we have pain, but it's good to know there are people who truly understand and support each other in forums like this.