A few random thoughts on torn meniscus, which I have as well:

1) As it happens, a friend just told me this morning about this study from Finland that calls into question the benefits of surgery for it, which is a very common surgery. I have no idea the legitimacy of this study myself, but I have found my engineer friend over the years to be a knowledgeable and credible source of information who does not go around saying things lightly (and his wife is a doctor).

helsinki.fi - One worlds most common knee surgeries does not help and may even be harmful

One of the world’s most common knee surgeries does not help and may even be harmful
Partial meniscectomy does not improve patient symptoms or function, reveals a 10-year follow-up of the FIDELITY, a placebo-surgery controlled trial.

2) I was diagnosed probably 20 years ago with a torn meniscus. I have managed to be mostly pain-free since, including playing a lot of competitive sports (mainly beach volleyball). At the time, the doctor told me he could set up an MRI machine outside a movie theater (remember those?) and probably half the people would have a torn meniscus, though most wouldn't know it because they weren't active enough to feel it. I have mainly managed it over the years by backing off when I start feeling pain, and

3) I have found it very helpful to wear a knee brace when I sleep. I tend to sleep with a lot of tension (teeth-grinding etc.) and found myself waking up in the night with my leg twisted into positions that would bring pain. Sleeping in a knee brace has helped quite a bit. I practically sleep in a football uniform these days--knee brace, ankle brace, wrist braces for carpal tunnel and mouthguard for the teeth grinding--but it all has a purpose and it all helps. Aging isn't the most fun process, but as they say, better than the alternative.