So, MRI shows this
there is full-thickness cartilage loss of the median ridge of the patella superiorly with reactive subchondral marrow edema and cystic change

Basically, no cartlidge but everything else is good.

Looking for natural treatments or best advice. Seeing the ortho in 3 weeks.

Thanks

If you are bone on bone and in a lot of pain get a knee replacement. I have done both and never regretted it.

Wife had both of hers done the second one was a cake walk for her she was a trooper. If it’s bone on bone you don’t really have a choice do you?

Replacement for both of mine. Same situation no regrets.

Cartlidge will not grow back
time for new knees

Had both of mine done both knees were bone o bone one done the day after deer season in 2023 the other the day after deer season in 2024 had no problem on either.

If bone on bone then there's no alternative. Gel won't work, supplements won't work, a steroid shot will help short term. Have bilateral knee replacements, and as my surgeon said, As good as these replacements are, they're still not as good as your original equipment, but your original equipment is shot, so.....

Knee replacement by a GOOD surgeon, while not a piece of cake, isn't bad and the recovery is fast. I was released to work at 7 weeks....and... the pain is gone....

Dang,
Was hoping I wouldn't need a new knee, but sounds like that will probably be the case.
Am real tired of limping and the pain.

I had bone on bone in my right knee for years, got it replaced, mine didn't go so well. My wife had both of hers replaced a year apart and never had a bit of trouble

The gel works for me but only about 6 months. Guna have to get em replaced one day I guess

I have a meniscus tear and arthritis in my knee determined from an MRI. They suggested at my age, because of the arthritis a knee replacement was my only long term option. They said it would be a long recovery time, 6 months to a year at my age. I can't be inactive that long. I've been using compression socks and a compression sleeve on my knee which has been helpful with pain. Plus, I've been doing therapy at the VA.

I had both knees done at the same time. Only because of worries related to time off from work. Years before that, I had a ruptured Achillies repaired and was hounded by my boss to get back to work. At any rate, if it's bone on bone, you'll need the replacements. Just don't do them on the same day! Man, that was a difficult recovery. A friend and my wife had to help me up the three steps into my house when I was released from the hospital. Take your pain meds and take physical therapy seriously. I had mine done nine years ago. The biggest issue that I have is the inability to kneel on hard surfaces anymore. I now wear knee pads when dirt trapping. I sometimes use a boat seat cushion to kneel on. High impact activities like jogging or participating in about any athletic activity will be off limits after knee replacement surgery. If your skinny, you might have some wiggle room but as an old college discus thrower, my size is a limiting factor.
Good luck!

I'll be getting gel injections in my left knee in September. I hope it works.

I had my left knee done 3 months ago .. It was a piece of cake for me. The thing that made it easy for me was I did my exercises for 3 months before surgery. I started out at 30 reps on 5 exercises twice a day. I finally got up to 60 reps a day, a week before surgery. I felt like my life was consumed with those work outs.
But at 6 weeks I was zero degrees with my leg being straight and I was at 120 degrees with my range of motion.
I'm still at 0 degrees and I'm now at 126 range of motion.
Get er done it was worth it.

Make sure to get your teeth checked BEFORE any surgery due to the high incidence of infections.

I had that issue and had to cancel surgery.

To those of you that got a knee replacement, can you kneel down. I'm thinking like in setting traps.

As undercover said I don't kneel on hard surfaces. I can kneel on grass or soft dirt, not so much on rocks or anything else hard.

Kneeling is tough, I use knee pads now if I need to kneel, or stick my knee against the side of the boat, helps a lot.
My surgeon makes everyone get a dental clearance before surgery, not all do...but at least you start infectious free.
This guy does over a thousand knees and hips a year, guy is a machine...lol. But has the procedures down pat, he's the guy other surgeons send their mistakes to...
That's the kind of surgeon you want!,

You might see if you can find a doc that has a robot do the surgery. I have two friends that have had their second new knee done by robot and both did better than the first knee replacement. Another has had a reverse shoulder joint replacement and did very well. I've had one knee done the old way and will do the right by robot when it's needed.