Countdown to surgery

I am disappointed to tell that I am not able to get gel injections in my knees. My primary care X-rays didn't show the full picture. I have patellarfemoral arthritis and there is no cartilage under my kneecaps. The hyaluronic gel and a few other treatments require some space between bones but I have none. It's bone on bone. I got a cortisone shot in one knee and will try physical therapy to strengthen my quadriceps, but the orthopedic doctor made it pretty clear knee replacements will be needed. Dang. I was hoping to avoid that. But he assured me he could get me back to hiking again. I go back in three months to see how things are doing.