Hey Matty,
Your thoughts sound very familiar as I had similar ones just before my surgery. It’s a tough decision in my opinion, even when you know it’s necessary.
True you could always wait longer, and surgery is always the most extreme option. And once you do it, there’s no turning back. Scary stuff.....
Yet, if you’ve decided surgery is the only definitive solution left for the problem, you’ve tried everything else, and your surgeon says you’re a good candidate, waiting longer will only just delay the results you’re ultimately looking for. Besides, OA won’t get better on its own. It will only remain stable or else worsen. But of course you should only do the surgery when you’re mentally and physically ready, not before.
On my part, I could have limped around longer and continued to do without certain activities for a few more years or longer. But after a lot of thought, I concluded that I had already lost enough precious fun years of vigorous activities due to this frustrating disease. Years that obviously can’t be replaced. So it was time to cut losses and move forward. Hopefully to fully recover what remained of my prime years.
At least that’s what I told myself before pulling the trigger for surgery. So I hope it helps.
I had mine on 3/20/18 with Dr. Gross.
It sounds like you did your homework and found a good surgeon.
Good luck with your decision!