When to try physical therapy before surgery
We can't help but get all warm and fuzzy when physical therapy is given a high five in the media. Check out this article which talks about how PT can and should be an option to consider instead of (or before) surgery.
Here are some reasons you want might want to try physical therapy instead of or before surgery:
Even if you do end up getting surgery, you will start from a stronger place and therefore have a faster recovery.
Even if you do end up getting surgery, you will be glad to have met your PT before the procedure. Your PT will better know how to get you back to 100% if they meet you before you have surgery.
Surgeries cause scars which change the way your muscles, skin, and fascia move. PT is an option that doesn't require you to have to recover from surgical scars.
Surgery might "fix" the anatomical damage but it doesn't address the root cause of why you ended up with this injury in the first place. For example, if you have a meniscus injury because you have faulty leg alignment with running, a surgery may fix the meniscus but you will be right back where you started if you don't fix your poor leg alignment.
Of course there are tons of reason for surgery to happen as soon as possible. But if you're ever in a situation in which you have a choice to wait for surgery and try PT first, consider this article and the reasons above.