Doc calls it "grinding knee cap" - prepping for second opinion.

[brokenali]

(Question I promise is at the bottom, but there's some back story in here...) On 12/14/16, I was at work, and felt a pop in my right knee, and I buckled. This wasn't "abnormal" for me as this has happened before. I thought nothing of it and continued working my second job for the remaining several hours as a cashier walking, bending, etc. I was an athlete (tennis, basketball, softball (catcher), long jump/track) and always had knee problems- doc diagnosed chondomalacia and osgood schlatters (talk about spelling) when I was in junior high. The next morning, I went to the doctor who thought it might be a meniscus tear, but come to find out about two and a half weeks later, the xrays and MRIs would come back all clear. (I have the MRI results in detail here, but I do not have the xray results other than hear-say.) The orthopedic surgeon I first met with discussed the xray results with me in person, stating that I have a "grinding knee cap." She said I've had this all my life - the knee cap simply shifts over, and grinds on what I could only guess would be my tibia/shinbone. After being sure the MRI results came back clear, she was going to send me to PT. I waited three weeks, with calls in between, and never heard anything back. SO, I'm being referred to a NEW doctor since I simply can't get a hold of this doctor. I have pain mostly constantly when I walk, sit, extend, bend, drive, etc. I have found some relief while sitting and propping the knee on a pillow/lying down, but usually only for about 4-6 hours on a really good day in the last 6 weeks, and then when I feel good and start to move around, the pain has instant onset. My question is this - I'm seeing another ortho specialist and I want to know if anyone has ever come out with a similar "diagnosis" since I can't seem to find much information about this patellar sublaxation... I want to be prepared with questions for the doc as well as feel out solutions since I've done PT in the past and don't think it's a realistic option given the amount of pain I'm currently in. I am wondering if surgery seems to be my only option at this point.