To just leave a Meniscus Tear without surgery?

It depends on how bad it is.

I had a lot of pain and was limping, so I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees simultaneously about 20 years ago, aged 50. I recovered very quickly - easily within two weeks - looked after my knees and strengthened my leg muscles and did very well until recently - I’m due to have both knees replaced in turn in the next year or two.

I don’t see advice to take taxis flippant. It’s common sense. Also, dog walker.

My tear was complex and didn't get better with nearly 18 months of physio, and it was stopping me sleeping at night.

Gosh, yes, 18 months of physio without improvement does seem like a good indicator that surgery was needed! It shows how different each case is.

I had just one steroid injection, which enabled me to stop favouring my knee and get it to do some appropriate exercise, and it was transformative for me. The reduction in pain as a result of the jab really made me realise how much the pain had been affecting my use of my body. I was dreading it wearing off ... but it never did because of the physio I was able to do while the steroids lasted.

I think it is quite common to leave them untreated. I had one diagnosed over ten years ago and the consultant mildly recommended against surgery on balance.

Over the following months the pain reduced but now aged 61 I have had a longish period of pain that was once again diagnosed as a meniscus tear. Not sure if it is the 'same' tear or a new one. Again, surgery wasn't recommended and I have improved my comfort and strength massively through physiotherapy and exercise. I got the impression that they would be very far from making a routine recommendation in favour of surgery

I tend to think that unless the pain is very severe and unimproving surgery is best avoided, although of course that will vary massively depending on individual circumstances

Oh and I could have driven after 2 weeks no issue.

I've just had a partial meniscectomy on both knees.

It wasn't particularly sore and they had me up and down stairs with no crutches about an hour after the anaesthetic had worn off.

I'm a couple of months post op and played tennis yesterday.

I was told that not having surgery was more likely to end with arthritis than having it.

Having said that they were very keen for me to go down the physio route first to see if that helped prior to surgery. My tear was complex and didn't get better with nearly 18 months of physio, and it was stopping me sleeping at night.

I knew someone who had a knee issue, not sure if it was this but like yours it was said surgery would most likely mean arthritis in the future. They didn’t have surgery and have had no further knee problems 20 years on. Sorry probably not that helpful as I can’t remember the exact issue!

How old are you? Is your sleep affected or your function reduced?

Unfortunately a meniscus tear is the start of arthritis. If it's not locking or giving way then you don't have to have surgery. if it's just pain then they don't always operate. It's hard for the surgeon to say for definite the outcome as everyone is different and many people live well with meniscus tears, so they actually sound quite sensible to me not telling you to definitely operate. Although I wouldn't expect you'd be out if action for 2 months after an arthroscopy.

The best way to manage is exercise, keeping healthy BMI, not overdoing it, pain killers for a flare up.