Originally Posted by bccycleguy

Then I met a phys who explained that there a several tiny muscles around the knee that maintain proper alignment and when you feel a jab of pain those muscles involuntarily relax and the problem gets worse.

Over time, I built up those muscles by lifting weights with my leg, usually with kind-of a sideways orientation. It took only a few months to solve the problem and I haven't had any pain for several years.