Wow. You know, I have to admit that the story makes me even more leery of two-tiered health care, especially the class implications of, "I don't want any old surgeon tinkering about with my knee." :(

However, it seems like a situation where it's going to be a huge inconvenience no matter when you get it done and the longer it's left the more you suffer and the greater the chance of it going downhill. I'd probably think, "Better sooner than later," on it.