I am 24 years old. I've been having these issues with my knees for about 3 years. It wasn't a result of an injury, it just came gradually
The pain is about a 3/10 and it isn't constant or debilitating, but it's there. In my left knee, I get pain around the top of the kneecap when I bend. I also have a pain on the outside back of my knee when I cross that leg horizontally. In my right knee, there's a sharp pain on the inside kneecap. Both of my knees ache slightly sometimes when I sit and I get occasional shin splints. If I squat to pick something up, sometimes it'll hurt. Very sporadically, the inside of my knees will flare up. Despite this, I have no swelling, just a bit of tenderness.
Perhaps the most concerning thing are the sounds and feelings. When I straighten or bend my leg sometimes I hear a pop or crackling in the kneecap. Sometimes I feel buzzing/vibration behind my knee and I can feel my kneecap creaking a bit like a squeaky door.
I can still perform tasks and play sports, although I'm not as athletic as before. I really don't know how this happened. My sports doctor told me it was patella femoral syndrome. My x-rays came back normal, but I got an ultrasound that should mild bursitis.
I always read that these sounds shouldn't be of concern unless it is associated or occurs with pain. The sounds are there, but it doesn't always occur with pain. When it cracks or pops, it's not always painful
I want to fix my knees. I really don't want osteoarthritis and to be limited and living in pain for the rest of my life. What steps should I take and what does it sound like my condition is?