No MRI, haven't had one since the one I had when I fractured the tibial plateau. No MRI now because the exam made it VERY obvious (my jaw dropped when he showed me the difference between the two knees on the test.) Plus, my symptoms are consistent with an LCL injury, as is my original injury. The swelling in the joint most likely hid this injury at that time. The concern was with the fracture. I wish the surgeon at THAT time had insisted I come back 6 months later to check the other soft tissues. I feel a bit let down by him. No surgery now because I've lived with it fairly well for 3 years, minus skiing like shit. I am getting a brace fitted for it to see if that helps with skiing stability enough to hold off on surgery. If it doesn't, I'll opt for surgery in the spring so I don't miss another ski season due to this stupid injury.
It wasn't that age was a consideration in a bad way, it was more the thought that at this point, I could very well be looking at knee replacement in 5-10 years anyway. Plus, I've done pretty well with it for 3 years now. I'm all for a conservative approach. I'll reassess in the spring. I'd rather miss biking season and be able to rehab by walking the neighborhood and eventually hopping on my bike on easy trails, than miss another ski season. In some ways, I've missed 3 seasons already, because I just have NOT been able to progress.
It's all making sense to me. I have maintained (jokingly, at least half) that I am an advanced skier on my right turns (balance on the left ski) and a beginner on my left turns. My biggest gripe is that I can never find a balance point over the right ski. Now I know why. That poor knee is so unstable, it can't hold me up properly while I'm moving across often choppy snow on a 65" plank. Imagine that! No wonder my poor IT band is always on fire on that side. I'll be treating it with extra kindness from here on out.
I'm also really hopeful that the brace will stabilize that knee by at least 50%. Anyone have feedback on that? I mean hell, I've skied 200 days since the original injury, and while I've been frustrated as hell with my lack of progress, I DID ski and had fun in particular on fresh powder (duh!) and smooth groomers. It's the cut up stuff that I still REALLY struggle with. Makes sense.