Common Knee Surgery May Not Help You
I've read this before, and I'm glad NBC decided to publish this information this past June. When it came to knee pain in patients with degenerative conditions (such as osteoarthritis) with additional mensical damage, they've found that arthroscopic surgery to debride or remove the meniscus may really only be beneficial in the short term, around 3-6 months.
Myself, having tears in all four of my menisci, and having not opted for surgery, can still full squat (like most babies can) both unloaded and loaded without pain. I never had surgery on either of my knees. Granted they may click and pop on occasion, 99% of the time there is no pain. Removal of these tissues, which are designed to absorb shock from walking, jogging, running, etc, will only lead to early arthritis anyway.
There are always exceptions, but in my opinion it's generally best to leave the tissue where it was designed to be.
Always consult your healthcare provider prior to any medical intervention, and I always recommend getting multiple opinions and weighing the pros/cons of any and all treatments.