I got physio for mine, initially to get the swelling down and then to build up the strength again. After a few weeks I was allowed to cycle (not off road though) and this definitely helped it.
It was about 12 weeks before I felt it was fully recovered – I was following the regime the physio had gave me.
The advice I was given was that if you can get away with it don’t get an operation but it all depends on how bad it is.