Tough.
Not quite the same as you, I have a right knee problem from too much mogul skiing and running the streets of London for many years, earlier in my life. I have worn away the miniscus layer of the bone end (the sort of shiny teflon type layer) such that the raw bones grind on each other.
The reason for telling this is to say that I use a neoprene knee support for most physical activity, upgrading to a more sophisticated, stabilised, hinged one for skiing. They make the activities still enjoyable and pain free.
Although I took them on SibEx, I never had a problem or pain while riding so I never used them.
Quite honestly, think what your forthcoming trip is worth to you in terms of costs or loss. A good few thousand pounds I am sure. A couple of hundred pounds spent privately seeing an orthopedic consultant, specialising in sport injuries, for an assessment and advice is not going to push the budget up too much. For the cost of a pair of good tyres you will have better advice than you will ever pick up from a BB.
And I am sure it will be more meaningful than a cup of tea and asprin at A&E!
Good luck.
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