It sounds like there will still be enough of your meniscus left after the surgery to provide some cushioning. I never got gel or PRP injections but they probably would have helped.

I had my entire left medial meniscus removed about 20 years ago. The osteoarthritis, coupled with way too many marathons, destroyed the meniscus and it had to be removed. At the time, the surgeon placed a meniscus-shaped piece of titanium (Unispacer) in my knee to replace the meniscus.

Unispacers had a very poor record in practice. The unispacer was supposed to act literally as a spacer to keep the knee joint and legs level. Most of them failed within a year. I had a great surgeon and never had a problem with the unispacer - for 20 years. After all that time, osteoarthritis had pretty much destroyed both knee joints and I had my knees replaced in 2022 with great success. My unispacer? Makes for a great, small paperweight.

The running certainly accelerated the demise of my knees, but it was my genetic disposition to osteoarthritis that did me in. And that's why I say arthroscopic surgery does not cause arthritis. I'm bone-on-bone in both shoulders and both hips. But my weight is slightly below normal for my height, and I work with a trainer and I'm in the gym everyday. So I have no pain in my hips and one shoulder. I do get pain in my other shoulder, but cortisone shots have helped a lot, along with regular exercise.

I do believe that joint replacement should be put off as long as possible. If gel and PRP injections help ease pain and maintain range of motion, well keep that up until it stops working.

I'm also a big advocate for knee replacement when all other options are not viable. It takes a lot of work on the patient's part to make these surgeries a success, but the work pays big dividends.