There is a fine line between getting surgery and not. When it comes to tearing, don't wait. Find a solid surgeon, and have it done. I mean that even more strongly if it is orthoscopic (or artho? whatever) and non-invasive.
I waited a long time with my torn ACL. I couldn't walk, it swelled up, drained 8 or 10 times, but it finally calmed down and became manageable. I was back on my race quad, even clearing some pretty long (80-100ft) jumps, and I was fine. Come the end of the day I would be in pain, but some advil and a soak in the hot tub put me back at it the next day. I even went on a snowboarding trip.
So I figured if I can do these things, I must not need the surgery. Eventually I got it repaired, and it's not 100%. It's better than it was, but I feel it. That was when I was 21. At 24 I had my other knee repaired from a tear, but did it when the doctor told me to do it. The tear was as bad as my previous ACL, and my knee is 100%.
I never should have waited. Everything is different, see a few doctors and get honest opinions.
