This is very true. Usually a tear will end up getting worse. I tore my ACL 5 years before my surgery. Another guy in therapy with me had torn his ACL 5 years earlier. When our ortho had done both of our surgeries the ACL had deteriorated in our knees & there was no ACL left by the time surgery was done. Interesting that it was a 5 year period for both of us. Better to get repairs done before the body & use of the joint makes the condition worse.