To have opted for conservative treatment not surgery?

[growingsidewaysnotup]

I’m just looking for some opinions here as between this, a potential new job, and day to day life, my head is a scrambled mess.

I have recently been diagnosed with a painful but not critical knee injury. This injury is very hard to treat via physio, it has a poor outcome.

I really do not want surgery. I don’t particularly have the time for it this year, nor do I have the energy for the (intense) rehab after.

The physio said she understands this, in my shoes she’d be hearing for surgery but she can see why I’d want to opt for conservative treatment.

My partner, family and colleagues all think I’m being silly. They think that given the long term impact on my life and the pain I’m in, I should have opted for surgery. I do have to admit that after a couple of weeks of physio and being back to normal exercise levels, it does seem to be getting worse and not better.

Am I being silly? Should I just bite the bullet and get my name on the list? As this is a soft tissue injury the waiting list for surgery isn’t actually that long at my hospital (the consultants take on extra lists to do these - confirmed by a family member who works in the team), so id be looking at a 12-16 week wait.

I just need some clarity because my life is incredibly hectic at the moment and I can’t see the wood from the trees.

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

It does, they’re aware of my injury

I have to admit, this afternoon I think I’ve hit my limit. My knee is killing me before I’ve done anything. The idea of surgery makes me feel sick though. A full repair can be 9 months recovery

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

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

Meniscus tear here too. She thinks it’s pretty bad but can’t tell without surgery. The thing that concerns me is if you have the shave not the repair, it can lead to arthritis

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!

I think I’m going to call tomorrow and ask to be referred. I just can’t deal with this

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.

Lucky!

I think I’m going to ask to not be put on the fast track option, because I think I’ll then have more time

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

Haha for me, yes! I much prefer active holidays to sitting on a beach doing nothing

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.

Definitely get the surgery. Some things are more important

I’ve had both knees and both hips replaced now. Recovery from the knee ops took about 8 weeks from surgery to driving again and if you do your physio religiously it could be even sooner.

I was made to wait for my first knee replacement because I was too fat, I lost 8 stone and then I was too young. I eventually had it aged 48 and the relief was enormous BUT being made to wait such a long time (it was over 10 years) has caused issues with my other joints because I wasn’t walking properly. My advice to you would be to suck it up and have your op now and be pain free before you start impacting your other joints.

Personally, I would do anything to be out of pain. It affects every aspect of your life and just drags you down.

I’ve had two Miniscus tears at seperate times and both I healed conservatively with physio but mine were on a progressive physio program with the pain being unbearable at the start and then as the weeks went by with physio they got better . By 7 months I was pretty much healed but I wasn’t running on mine until about 5/6 months in.
I am amazed you have been able to carry on with your exercise regime as well as you have. However I would be concerned that if the pain is getting worse it dosent sound like it is healing with physio . Also the risk of compensatory injuries if the injury starts affecting your running or exercise style is high You might end up with more injuries I would book myself in for surgery

So when things go wrong the nhs has to pick up the pieces

I have no idea if EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy) has ever been mentioned by your physio at all? (guessing it's probably not available on the NHS) but our local private hospital offers it and I've found it to be absolutely amazing (I have osteoarthritis in my knee) it cost me £55 for a physio assessment then £29 per EMTT session (4-6 sessions recommended) if you're against surgery it might be worth asking about.

Get on the list, being in constant pain is absolutely miserable. I had to have a shoulder repair a few years ago; a year of conservative management did nothing to help and I was waking up throughout the night crying in pain.

I had the surgery two weeks into starting a new job, explained at interview that I was on the waiting list but that I didn’t know how long it would be, got a call offering me a cancellation and my new employer agreed that having the surgery at the beginning of my training period would be better than having to go off further down the line. All was well and the pain is now a distant memory!

Please call them and get your name down. And stop bloody running on it while it’s damaged!

I’d have the surgery if I were you. For what it is worth here is my experience: I ruptured my ACL totally & tore my meniscus in January 2024 skiing. I am 50+ so was given the option to manage conservatively or have surgery. I opted for surgery as didn’t want to be afraid of exercise as I got older & being in pain forever. Luckily I have BUPA & had op within 3 months. The surgery was quick but the recovery took ages & I was really, really disciplined with pre & post op exercises. It took me about 6 months before I decided it was actually worth doing as it was much, much worse before it got any better. I went on a sailing holiday in the July which involved lots of activity & clambering around & it was fine as long as I was careful. BUT I am much fitter now than I was when I snapped my ACL & psychologically I am not afraid of exercising hard now. I have given up skiing as never really enjoyed it anyway! I had also just started a new job & I had a month off (I made the most of what was on offer!). I’d say short term pain for long term gain….💜

My dad had the similar issue after a knee injury. Although he was told it would take months to heal on its own. When he had surgery it was worse than expected and would never have healed.

Op I have been where you are. Both the physios I saw were private, the first one was adamant that it was surgery or nothing and I really did not want surgery. I decided to see another physio and he was brilliant. He was nearer my age at the time and when i said I didn't want surgery he said that he had got a damaged knee and didn't want surgery either. He made no promises but said he would do his best. He treated my knee and also gave me home exercises and taught me how to manage my knee myself with massage techniques. That was 16 years ago and I am now in my 70's. Knees are still functional even though I am a heavy woman. I still garden, go up ladders, drive and live my life how I want it.
TLDR: have you tried geting another opinion?

Will delaying the surgery reduce the likely hood of positive outcomes when you do eventually get it?