There are studies out there which show that surgery and PT come out about equal after 15 years. I had a meniscus tear maybe 15 years ago. I tore it doing a quick bounce at the bottom of a heavy stiff-legged deadlift. Yes, stupid. It was painful to walk on, much less run. So as above, get the MRI and an orthopedist's advice, which won't necessarily be surgery. I don't think PT would have helped mine, because it was a leaf-like tear. The leaf would move and go under the main meniscus. Nothing to be done but to snip it. The recovery took maybe a month, maybe more. The worst was the damage to the tissues done by the surgeon trying to get at the thing, but just what he had to do. It was tough to loosen up the scar tissue. My knee is fine today. I squat heavy ad I can and just got back from a 10-day backpack.
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Results matter