Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
I'd expect it to be worse going downstairs, though, if it were a saddle height/kneecap tracking thing.

I've had mine take longer than that to resolve, a couple of times. Are your knees swollen? A little puffy between the kneecap and the tibia?

The good news about "chondromalacia" aka patellofemoral syndrome is that with good knee alignment on your bike (seat height for sure, but also cleat alignment and crankarm length) and some guidance on strengthening the right muscles, you should be fine. The ortho won't want to know you since it's totally non-surgical - get a referral for PT, find a good one, get a good bike fit, heal up quick.
When my knee hurt, I went to an orthopaedic surgeon who diagnosed the problem and wrote me an Rx for physical therapy. I went back to the doctor for several follow up visits. I never felt that he had no interest in helping me due to the low probability of needing surgery.