I am 73 and an avid tennis player. In the past, I ran and biked quite a bit, but now some biking, elliptical trainer, and doubles tennis on clay courts. I have had pain, arthritis, and meniscus tears in both knees for 10-15 years. I ice my knees after exercise or tennis. I get orthovisc injections which helped some in the past, but less now. I get cortisone injections 3 or 4 times a year. I take indomethacin 20 mg 1 or 2 times a day as an anti-inflammatory which helps. I recently got an MRI with the following findings:
"There is diffuse intrasubstance degeneration of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus with fraying and maceration of the free edge. There is tearing and maceration of the entire lateral meniscus with predominant horizontal cleavage component. The body is extruded out of the joint partly as a result of loss of circumferential collagen fiber integrity. There is a chronic partial tear of the anterior cruciate ligament.
There is small to moderate-sized knee joint effusion. There is a minimal-sized Baker's cyst. There is mild to moderate chondrosis, predominantly affecting the posterior aspect of the weightbearing zone of the medial femoral condyle. There is mild patellofemral chondrosis,"
Should I have arthroscopic surgery or will this just leave me with much less meniscus than before, or should I just wait until future knee replacement or my knee locks to the point I have trouble walking? Any other recommendations? Thank you.