Knee pain -- please help!!?

Hi all,

So, this is slightly complicated, but here goes: Ten years ago, I had a very extensive orthopedic surgery that required me to be in a body cast (I was in the full body cast for three months, then a full leg cast for an additional month). At the end of the four months total, I had to take my cast off for some special x-rays. I asked the x-ray tech to tell me when he was going to touch my foot because I am very ticklish and I did not want to jump. Well, the x-ray tech did not listen and didn't give me any warning about when he was going to touch my foot, so when he did (I was talking to another tech at the time, so I was slightly distracted), my knee immediately shot up to 90 degrees and I was in an immense amount of pain. My surgeon, of course, was absolutely furious at the x-ray tech. He immediately had me ice my knee and elevate it, etc. and I took it very easy.

Since then, I've had pain on and off. My surgeon thought it could be a small piece of cartilage that broke off and is somehow lodged in my knee. I've since left that surgeon (he specialized in orthopedics), and I transferred to a terrible adult surgeon that did major damage to my ankle. I have now found a phenomenal adult surgeon and my ankle is well on the road to recovery (I have many tendon issues). However, I'm noticing that as I'm able to advance in my stretching and strengthening exercises with my ankle, my knee is getting worse. Sometimes, my knee will completely give way and it especially hurts when I straighten my knee; sometimes it will even lock up on me, but not for very long. I also have trouble sitting Indian style (my knee gets very sore and it's painful to straighten my knee back out -- sometimes my other knee -- the right -- hurts VERY little, but nothing like the left). I do not generally have any swelling. My therapist has become increasingly concerned about my knee and thinks I may need very minor arthroscopic surgery to correct the issue. The pain is mostly towards the front of my kneecap -- it's a very sharp pain which often causes the "giving way" sensation that I feel.

Has anyone else had anything like this happen? I'm pretty used to tendon issues with my ankle, but the knee is completely new territory for me. I do have an appointment with my surgeon and a sports medicine primary care doctor next week, so I'll be sure to bring this up to them. However, any advice/experiences, etc. would be greatly appreciated until then! Thanks!