To just leave a Meniscus Tear without surgery?

[Kenclucky]

Really not sure what to do -

MRI scan has confirmed tear with small cyst in the "white zone" eg unlikely to repair itself.

Currently causes me mild constant pain, definitely not unbearable. At times it flares up and is worse. Still nothing a painkiller can't handle.

I've seen such conflicting info online. That if I leave it, will only get worse. That if I have surgery, means almost certain arthritis in future, huge pain and months out of action.

Surgeon was not overly helpful to be honest. Couldn't really say if recovery would be 2 weeks or 2 months. Very flippant with advice like well you can get taxis if you can't do the school runs for 2 months! I'm really not sure how we would cope with my work, the kids etc if I couldn't drive or get around at all for months. Our dog also needs a lot of exercise and I'm the only one home.

I can't change surgeon or it voids our insurance policy. And likewise if I don't make up my mind soon and get it done during this policy year, I'd have to go onto the NHS list instead which can be years of waiting.

Aibu to just leave it? Or do I get it done whilst I've got the insurance, is it a crazy thing to put off?

See this is what I've read. That the surgery they'd do would basically remove the padding, so the resulting bone on bone would lead to arthritis. Which maybe ill get anyway. But at the moment I don't think I have. I do a sport which is very reliant on being active and strong so the thought of longterm knee issues is not a happy one

I really wouldn't have surgery yet. My tear was very painful ... woke me up from sleep and my whole leg hurt. I saw a physio and was absolutely committed to the exercises i was given. After 3 months i thought it wasn't working but 4 and a half months later i am back to sports. So i would try the physio route first. Also agree with earlier poster about a pillow between knees at night. Good luck!

I had a tear aged 38. I was told that if the knee was locking or giving way, they could do an arthroscopy to clear out the floating bits, but I didn't have those issues, so had no surgery. I kneeled on my knee about a year later, heard a crunch and think I tore it even more. 6mths later, the pain became unbearable. I couldn't sleep and even keeping the knee absolutely still in bed- it was agonising. A further Xray/MRI showed arthritis.

My pain ran down the inside of my knee. I was finally given an off loader brace, which pulls the knee over, so the weight travels down the opposite of the knee instead, and slightly opens the bones on the affected side. I was also doing physio, but the brace was a game changer. I was able to walk more than a few steps and I could actually sleep again. I then lost weight and became more active again.

After 12mths, I weaned myself off the brace. That was 6yrs ago I've still had no surgery and the pain has almost gone. I still can't squat and its achy if I do a really long walk, but its SO much better than before. I have no idea how, because I've also since put weight on! I will knee a replacement in time, but I'm holding off as long as possible.

I can't advise OP what your best option is. I'm also unsure why seeing a different surgeon would invalidate insurance? Are you in America? Can you live with it as is? Does any analgesia help? What 'surgery' was being advised? An arthroscopy, meniscal repair or knee replacement?

Pain 6 out of 10?

That's rather bad if ongoing.

I know someone who said they hadn't realised how much pain they had until after a procedure.

Can you request a second opinion on your policy?

I had it done, it was clicking and locking. Made a big difference to me although my knees are already well arthritic and the cartilage is a state. So it want a miracle cure it anything, but defo an improvement
The pain wasn't terrible, but the weird clicky thing gave me the creeps, so I am well glad I did it .

It does remove the padding, but it also removes the pain and restricted ability to move without risking further damage. My second surgery was exactly that, after an injury that caused further damage, but I have since lead a fairly active and sporty life and it was only towards my late 50s that it started to trouble me slightly. It was probably about stage 3 then so I'd got quite far along, doing contact and racquet sports before having any problems. Even now, I know people at stage 4 who can't walk without a stick, or who have had knee replacements. I'm not like that, although I get stiff very easily, but that soon eases off. Pain is very manageable when it occurs, and it only occurs in certain situations. I think regularly exercising the joint is one of the factors in keeping arthritis pain at bay. but I really don't think it's the solution to a torn cartilage without surgery.

I had most of my cartilage removed when I was 11, way back in 1977. I have discoid miniscus, and had been limping and falling over from a very young age. They put it down to growing pains, until they eventually had a proper look, by which time it was completely fucked.

Anyway, didn't stop me doing anything, and it wasn't until I was 50, that I got out of bed and the remaining bit snapped again. A further arthroscopy and all was well again. Up and about in a couple weeks.

Further 10 years on, and the knee is a bit mis-shapen, and can get stuff, but I walk a lot, and that keeps it supple. No pain.

I have basically been bone in bone for 50 years, and will need a knee replacement eventually, but my story illustrates that it isn't always bad news.