I had a lateral release done on each of my knees within a year of each other - and was unable to walk at the time that I had them done. I was very active (field hockey, swimming, etc), but overweight at the time which likely contributed to my knee problems as well. They were done about 12-13 years ago and I still have problems with my left knee, but the right one is great. I also now weigh 40lbs less at 33 year old.

My journey with cycling started about 3 years ago and included meeting with a physical therapist/bike fit professional who was immensely helpful in reducing knee pain/stress. The fine tuning of cleat positioning, saddle height & position can make all the difference in avoiding knee pain.

After having had this surgery, I would recommend putting it off as long as possible. The body is never the same after having it altered by the hand of a physician. While it may solve some problems for you - it always creates other challenges and sensitivities. Good luck with making a difficult decision (if you haven't already!).