No surgery healing process 8 weeks out and unable to walk without walker is this normal?

Morning everyone! I tore my meniscus 8 weeks ago. It is a flap tear, my MRI results say:

Findings consistent with patellofemoral tracking abnormality with Hoffa's impingement and cartilage loss along the lateral aspect of the patellofemoral joint compartment.
 
Small oblique horizontal tear extending to the inferior joint surface involving the body segment of the medial meniscus.
 
Intrasubstance mucoid degeneration of the ACL.

I have been doing PT once a week for 5 weeks and am only now starting to use a walker, originally I couldn’t straighten my leg for about 4 days. Now I can straighten and bend but with some discomfort. I haven’t experienced catching but do have the occasional knee giving out. My orthopaedic surgeon said this can heal on its own. However recovery is so slow and if I do a little too much walking which is literally just moving around my house, my knee swells up and I have to rest for two to 4 days while icing. I also recently went to sit down and have a very painful pulling sensation on the outside of my knee. Is this normal? Has anyone been thru a similar journey? If, so how long did it take for you to be walking normally? Or should I be getting a second opinion on whether or not surgery is needed.

Thank you for your help!