can cartilage grow back after years of damage, or is my coach just being optimistic?

I've had knee cartilage loss for about three years and recently started working with a wellness coach who built me a protocol around collagen peptides, anti-inflammatory eating, and low impact daily movement. Four months in, pain is maybe 10-15% better.
I've read A LOT of things about whether can cartilage grow back through conservative approaches and needing something like PRP, and every time I ask my coach directly she gives me encouragement instead of specifics. I appreciate it, but I need more than that.
The thing is, I don't know if my small improvement is actual tissue recovery or just less inflammation. Those are very different things and the answer changes what I should be doing next.
Has anyone here actually seen results trying to get can cartilage grow back through a wellness approach? Did you also get a second orthopedic opinion alongside it, or did that just create conflicting advice?