Knee pain in 17 year old

Ok so ever since I can remember my knees have hurt, mainly the right one. We thought it was growing pains but now its obviously not since I haven't grown since middle school. My knees pop and click. They also give out when going down stairs and ramps. I was told by an orthopedist when I was 15 that my knee caps point out but I might grow out of it. They still hurt pretty bad sometimes almost bringing me to tears (and I don't usually cry from pain, not even when I broke and tore all the ligaments in my wrist). I'm not sure what's going on and I went to see an orthopedist in June again but he didn't even do x-rays or anything and just said physical therapy. Any help or ideas would be much appreciated.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of the knee pain in your case. Possibilities include partially dislocated patella (patellar subluxation), chondromalacia, tibial apophysitis (Osgood-Schlatter lesion), jumper's knee (patellar tendonitis), bone chips, referred pain from the hip, osteochondritis dissecans, medial plica syndrome, traumatic injuries, inflammations etc. If physical therapy does not seem to improve your symptoms you may seek a review with your orthopedician for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management.
Hope this helps.

Take care!