I had non conclusive x-rays and MRI on my right knee, after tearing my medial meniscus... the consultant wanted to go in... as, his words, it is a minor routine operation and I think I will find something like this: queue photo's from arthroscopy from another patient with non conclusive imagery and a HUGE tear in the cartilige...

In the end, a physio friend of mine gave me exercises, and taught me how to tape it up. Another friend, also a doctor but no orthopaedic specialist said: at your age, you will wear the ragged edges in with a couple of seasons of bike racing...

So far so good. It niggles at me from time to time, I tape it up for races and hard efforts and all has been well. However, I don't run so not sure how that would work. Did a fair bit of running with the bike at Three Peaks Cyclocross though last year, without ill effects...

2nd opinion, from a physio! The body is a lovely sealed unit, don't open it up when you don't have to?