Hi,

I have a 2+ year old running injury to my right knee. Initially diagnosed as runner's knee, it was very painful during the first few weeks of injury and gradually improved over the course of the next month or two; but I never made a full recovery to my pre-injury strength.

MRI shows everything fine; no arthritis, no tears. However the MRI and X-ray show tendinopathy (tendonosis?) above the knee, as well as a very large "lump" of calcium right above the kneecap. My regular Orthopedic doc doesn't think a scope is warranted. I got a second opinion from another Orthopod, he is willing to do a diagnostic scope but said the lump of calcium removal could be easy...or it could be problematic. It would probably be fine, but there's a chance that during dissection it could result in detachment of the quad muscle; which would put me in far worse shape than I'm in now.

I'm so confused! I really want to return to my pre-running injury form so I can get back to jogging at least short distances. I'm in that gray area now....not really injured or disabled; but definitely nowhere near what I used to be. Is a diagnostic scope safe? If he just washes the joint out and pokes around to see what's going on; how long of a recovery period? He seemed to think a couple days of resting and elevating/icing the joint and then within a week or so I'd be feeling fairly normal again.

Help...! What is your advice?