tore mine pretty significantly at a trampoline park with my kids June 2017 and set up the surgery straight away. procedure was August 1, 2017 and i would have scheduled even sooner than that were it not for a long planned trip to Australia, last July. i think Jack is correct to point out that repair is not really an elective. strengthening, orthotics, etc. won't help do an end run around that one, imo
prior to repair, my experience was a fairly constant low grade pain coupled with an occasional and excruciating (and unpredictable) pain that came out of nowhere. it really shut me down for awhile.
post repair, things are good. i had a decent season this past winter and no issues at all.
best of luck Eboot. hope it goes just as well for you.