hi, thank you for providing the brief history of you. A thorough musculoskeletal assessment is advised along with MRI of the knee joint. As you had injury of the knee in the past what type of injury was there needs an assessment, post which depending upon the fresh clinical and MRI assessment further plan can be taken. As medication are symptomatic relief and pain will be on and off for now and then. Also, undergoing a good physical therapy sessions and making the muscles stronger should help you. Incase If the ligaments are torn after clinical and MRI assessment you may be recommended for a ligament reconstruction. In either of the case where you need surgery or not is totally dependable upon the fresh clinical assessment and MRI report. Pre or post surgery recovery will be directly proportional to the physical therapy and the muscle Strengthening. In my clinical experience majority pre and past knee injuries respond well to physical therapy after proper clinical and MRI assessment. Regards Jay Indravadan Patel