Knee surgery 5 years ago

by Kris
(Texas)

I am a 26 year old female, and I had a lateral release done 5 years ago. The surgeon (my orthodpedic dr) said that they found a torn meniscus and a baker's cyst that they didn't see on the original xray. The meniscus was repaired, and he said if the cyst got worse or bothered me to come back. Also, I had some torn cartilage that had to be smoothed/shaved. Since then, I am physically active running and walking 3-5 times a week. I have mild pain in that knee occasionally (usually corresponds with running more or the humidity). I participated in 3 10K's in the past couple years, and towards the end of the races, my knee feels more unstable. In one of them I had to walk at the end, because it felt so unstable. Also, when I run a lot my knee becomes swollen (squishy kind of) at the bottom, but after ice application it goes away. Over the past three years, I also have mild pain in my knee and/or it becomes swollen if I sit in a chair (where my knees are bent the entire time)for long periods of time without moving (at the movies, in class). I know it's not the cyst, because that is at the back of my knee. The pain and swelling seems to be bothering me more as the years go on. Do you think I just need to do more specific exercises to help with the pain or could something else have happened?