Hey, Kendall, I had knee surgery in July, and the surgeon said that by 6 weeks I should be all healed. I wondered why my leg still feels like spaghetti with a headache, so I asked my best friend who also happens to be an orthopedist (a spine specialist) and he said it could take 6 months before my knee feels like it's normal again. Just to be sure, I asked the same question of one of the orthopods at my new hospital (where they all make rounds wearing camouflage fatigues and combat boots!), and the Colonel said, sure, 6 months for minor orthopedic surgery and 12-18 months for major. So I know a bit of what you're going through, buddy. Hang in there. Acupuncture sounds like a good idea, and so do Amos' suggestions. And I don't think there's any way of knowing if you would have been better off having had surgery (with its attendant risks)...so there's probably not much point in dwelling on the question. Be of good cheer.

Aloha,
Mark

P.S., You might want to see if Joe can move these last few posts into another thread. The old stuff has nostalgic interest, to be sure, but after a few dozen "Hang in there, Kendall!"s some might give up.