To have opted for conservative treatment not surgery?

I think with a meniscus tear age plays a role. I was also told they don't like to operate over 50 because of the risk of arthritis. I had a full leg splint and crutches for 2 weeks and lots of things were painful for about six months. It took me 9 months to be able to walk all day without a walking stick, over a year to be able to go and down stiars normally. As there is arthritis on both sites of the family I didnt want to risk surgery.

Would 25,000 painful steps a day actually be a holiday? Sounds more like a torture chamber!

I've opted for conservative treatment but that is because i don't have pain. If I was in pain, I would try the surgery.

I had my tear repaired and on crutches for 2 weeks back to dinghy sailing in 4 months. They are quoting you worst case for recovery. Try 2 tendons repair on the shoulder now that is a slow recovery!

What is the issue you have? I had a meniscus tear, almost down to the root. It left me on crutches though plus I also have an autoimmune condition with my joints and tendons so that didn’t help. I didn’t have surgery as it can take a long time to heal and not particularly offered at my age ;over 50).
it did take a good 9 months to feel better but it’s never been back to pre-tear and I’ve got some arthritis now too (OA).
good luck with whatever you do

Please just go on the waiting list. You are still not committed if you do.

If you go with a pre existing injury, your insurance may not cover you anyway

If there is no guarantee that the conservative treatment will work and your condition continues to deteriorate then it is a given that your quality of live and ability to do what you currently do will be adversely impacted.

You should also do some research about the impact of chronic pain on your mental health and well being - a key contributor to developing depression over a period of time. You should also consider the impact of your chronic pain will have on your family / DH. Again research will show that it has a detrimental impact on relationships over a period of time - no matter how supportive they appear to be outwardly , it’s hard living with someone suffering chronic pain. Is this something else you want to add to your list of issues for this year ?

By continuing to exercise on your painful leg by default you are putting stress on your body as it will try to make adjustments to reduce impact / pain on the affected area which over time will cause other issues , be that in your other knee / spine / pelvis / ankles / neck and then you will have another issue to deal with.

I get you aren’t keen on surgery and you want to protect the deposits on your holiday but what happens if you have a breakdown on your holiday ? Will your insurance cover an existing condition ? But in your position even if it doesn’t feel like the right time with everything else going on at the moment I would seriously think about the longer term implications for your mental health, physical health and your relationship and decide if there are work trading for surgery and extensive and intensive physio. It sounds like the intensive physio won’t be a problem for you as you are continuing to push through with your running and exercise and won’t it be better to elect having the surgery at a time which broadly works for you rather than a physical breakdown which means you can’t do what you currently do and it becomes an emergency.

But if the condition is getting worse, even with the conservative treatment, you have no guarantee that you'll be able to do the things you have planned. Yes, at the moment you could (albeit in pain the whole time which sounds soul suckingly dreadful) but you don't know how you'll be in 5-6 months. What happens if you go on the trip & it suddenly gets worse?

Also I don't know the specifics of your condition but is there a chance that in day to day life you're compensating on the other leg/knee therefore putting more strain on that one? What happens if you injure the other leg?

Surely it'd be better to bite the bullet, put the work in and have peace of mind knowing that even if it takes time, you'll be able to function without constant pain?

I’ve had both knees replaced and both the surgery and recovery are brutal, but, I’m no longer in the pain I used to be in. Sounds like your surgery is different, but it doesn’t sound like the pain will make your trip in August much fun.

Can you go on the list and then ask to be considered for any cancellation that pops up. Get it over with and give yourself a bit more recovery time before your big trip.

A few years back I broke both shoulders within 2 years.

The first time I had surgery for plate and pins and my god it was so painful, it was 4 years back but I will never forget it. The second time, they suggested the surgery again and I begged them to go down the conservative route with slings and physio. Fortunately I was able to do this. However, if the doctors had said the surgery was the only way to treat it effectively I'd have gone with it.

If it's the only way to treat your knee you may have to bite the bullet, but I totally understand your reluctance.

I think this is a lesson. You need to prioritise and value yourself.

I'd go conservative. I was told a gynae surgery would massively improve my quality of life, it did not. I ended up needing 3 further surgeries.

I will never have elective surgery again unless I break a leg or something. Elective means you can choose.

I'd go hell for leather over the physio. Swimming, daily physio, discipline, footwear change, look after hips and feet too. Look at how you sleep, book regular physio massages.

Have the surgery. My dad is suffering terribly with his knees and can’t have surgery due to other health needs and it’s really affected his quality of life at times.

Can this condition get worse over time?