Torn meniscus - to repair or not to repair?

I also have the exact same tear, it’s been like this for two years now! I opted to not have surgery and I’m actually doing better now! I have a friend who also has the same tear and he opted to not do surgery and he’s fine said it hasn’t bothered him in over 14 years so I do think the pain can come and go. I also have two tumors in the knee and my orthopedic oncologist is happy to just do an X-ray every couple of months which I feel very confident in this dr so I’m going with his recommendation, he is the head of his department at Yale Hospital I figure he didn’t get there just by looks alone.
Best of luck with whatever you decide

i have multiple meniscus tears and arthritis in my right knee. physical therapy, riding exercise bike and walking with rx brace has helped a lot. Hydraulic acid injections in my knee have helped. No more cortisone shots because cortisone worsens osteoporosis (which i also have).

it’s my goal to avoid surgeries. in recent years i’ve had too many surgical complications

I am in the recovery of repairing a torn meniscus and removal of a Baker's cyst. I am very pleased with the surgery. If you don't take care of it, the tear can get caught and cause more issues. The surgeon just "shaved" off the tear.
Be prepared for bruising and lots of icing. Yes, the ice does feel wonderful. I was on pain pills for only 3 days. I did not find the post op too bad. That's what I can offer as my words of wisdom. Best of luck to you with your surgery.

I am 75 years old, work out twice a day, six days a week, very athletic, play racquetball, etc.
I had a broken right ankle 20 years ago and recovered with a steel plate and several screws. Recovery was long, but it worked out just fine. Everything healed just fine and I was right back to everything I wanted to do.
I fell on my left knee four weeks and could barely walk.
I went for an MRI, which was very confusing to me at least.
The summary was: Medial compartment: There Is grade 3 signal within the posterior horn and adjacent body of the medial meniscus extending to the inferior meniscal surface associated with a truncated free margin of the body of the medial meniscus indicating a large complex medial meniscal tear, with torn meniscal cartilage displaced into the medial gutter Multiloculated medial para meniscal cysts are seen adjacent to the periphery of the meniscal body and posterior meniscal root. Segments chondral thinning and fissuring are seen within the medial compartment, with localized subchondral bony changes along the anterior medial tibial plateau.
Lateral compartment: intact lateral meniscus. Segment of high-grade chondral loss along the posterior latera/ tibial plateau. Localized chondral loss with subchondral bony changes along the far posterosuperior lateral femoral condyle.
Patellofemoral compartment: Extensive full-thickness patellar chondral loss throughout the lateral lacet and involving the patellar ridge. Diffuse high...grade chondral thinning and deep fissuring with foci of subchondral bony signal change within the femoral trochlea with full-thickness chondral loss along the superolateral femoral trochlea.

I tried PT for three weeks, and my knee has improved, but not where I would like it to be. I am probably 70 percent better now.

I have been reading everyone's comments on here, and I am totally confused as to the next course of action:
Not sure if PT is the best way to go, or
Start getting shots periodically, or
Just have an operation

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

I am 75 years old, work out twice a day, six days a week, very athletic, play racquetball, etc.
I had a broken right ankle 20 years ago and recovered with a steel plate and several screws. Recovery was long, but it worked out just fine. Everything healed just fine and I was right back to everything I wanted to do.
I fell on my left knee four weeks and could barely walk.
I went for an MRI, which was very confusing to me at least.
The summary was: Medial compartment: There Is grade 3 signal within the posterior horn and adjacent body of the medial meniscus extending to the inferior meniscal surface associated with a truncated free margin of the body of the medial meniscus indicating a large complex medial meniscal tear, with torn meniscal cartilage displaced into the medial gutter Multiloculated medial para meniscal cysts are seen adjacent to the periphery of the meniscal body and posterior meniscal root. Segments chondral thinning and fissuring are seen within the medial compartment, with localized subchondral bony changes along the anterior medial tibial plateau.
Lateral compartment: intact lateral meniscus. Segment of high-grade chondral loss along the posterior latera/ tibial plateau. Localized chondral loss with subchondral bony changes along the far posterosuperior lateral femoral condyle.
Patellofemoral compartment: Extensive full-thickness patellar chondral loss throughout the lateral lacet and involving the patellar ridge. Diffuse high...grade chondral thinning and deep fissuring with foci of subchondral bony signal change within the femoral trochlea with full-thickness chondral loss along the superolateral femoral trochlea.

I tried PT for three weeks, and my knee has improved, but not where I would like it to be. I am probably 70 percent better now.

I have been reading everyone's comments on here, and I am totally confused as to the next course of action:
Not sure if PT is the best way to go, or
Start getting shots periodically, or
Just have an operation

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

@richtar Hello, over the course of a long and physical career, I had three lateral meniscus tears in my right knee. Each time I had orthoscopic surgery and they fixed it.
I did Physical Therapy, etc. and the only thing that worked was for them to go in and clean up the tear. They cut off pieces that were interfering with the joint action. They also removed any floating pieces of meniscus that were causing issues.
I do not regret the surgeries and would do them again. I put my first surgery off for years and it would feel better for a short time and then the pain would return.

While there might be differences of opinion on how to treat your knee, with the tear that you have, I’m not aware of anything being able to fix that surgery.
Wishing you the best!! Sherry

Hmmm, that’s tough. Maybe talk to an orthopedic surgeon that specializes in joint preservation or replacement. I’d think they’d have good recommendations once they understand how active you are used to being, what your pain level and limitations are currently, and what you’d like to end up through all of this. Does your PT have a thought about how much more improvement you should expect?