I don't know about the hip....i've just always had problems with my knee. To me, what it sounds like is going on w/ your knee is the beginning of arthetis. My recent CT showed minimal joint space narrowing and subchondral sclerosis (degenerative changes) w/in the medial compartment. Basically i've got a bummed knee that's just degenerating, or arthetis. Now, when they are talking about your platellar, pray to God that you're not getting a platellar tracking problem...if so, i HIGHLY advise the physical therapy. B/c i had that done, did the therapy and it worked, until i reinjured it at a tournement. Then they did a lateral release w/ an open medial repair. The lateral release wasn't so bad...but the medial repair?!?! Very painful and hard to recover from, and this was before my RSD. Hopefully this provides some insight, or atleast some basis for some questions (which you already have plenty ). Have a good one, and hopefully someone will read the results better for you.