I tore the meniscus in my knee last year, but it hasn’t really bothered me. The doctor recently recommended surgery to repair it. Since the knee isn’t causing me any pain, I thought I would wait. How long do I have before this should be taken care of?

Early repair can protect the meniscus from tearing more.  For small tears, surgery may be delayed six months to a year. However, if the knee is swelling, feels unsteady, or causes unbearable pain, you may be advised to consider an earlier surgery date. The amount of tear and type of tear make a difference in the final result. Follow your doctor’s advice in this matter to prevent further injury and a worse outcome.