Anyone living with a torn ACL or medial meniscus?

[tuckerkeys]

So, I tore my ACL as well as the medial meniscus in February from a skiing fall. I skied the rest of the way down and took a 2 week break. During these 2 weeks I went to an emergicare place for my left knee and they took x-rays. Considering I was walking fairly well and didn't have much pain the Dr. said I probably pulled something, but if it still bothered me after 4 weeks to then see an ortho...I continued skiing well into March

4 weeks later I saw an ortho. I went for an MRI and he diagnosed me with a torn ACL and torn meniscus..I was stunned! I was skiing the whole time, although with a neoprene knee brace from the cvs and minimal pain at the end of the day due to doing too much...He suggested surgery. I was not thrilled....

The only complication I have now after 2 months is that I can not squat 100% down. Probably 90-95% of the way and I do favor my good knee while in that position. I don't have a feeling of giving out either. It feels normal to me. I am able to run, walk, jog, bike, horseback ride as well as ski. At the end of a day when I know I was hard on my knee, it will hurt a bit but a dose of advil will shut it right up...

I've read a lot on people who choose not to do the ACL and meniscus surgery and go on with their active lives...It intrigues me so much that tomorrow I am going for a 2nd opinion to a practice that specializes in physical therapy first before surgery. They do many pro football/baseball/hockey teams so this sits well with me.

Anyone have any experience with living with a torn ACL and/or meniscus?

 

[jfulcer]

Torn medial meniscus here, was told it was not in a place that they can repair it. Means I've got bone on bone, and I'm on a 1-2 on a 10 pain scale all the time.

I was in physical therapy for some time, didn't help. I got some arthritis under my kneecap so that could be the pain, but who knows.

Doc told me I was going to outlive my knee, but I should look at putting it off as long as possible. Just living with the pain now.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I lived with a torn meniscus for well over a decade, but didn't realize it. What happened was--while training for my second marathon--it popped much worse than usual and my knee swelled a little and was warm to teh touch. I was diagnosied with a complex tear of the meniscus--which instead of beign just a line, it looked like a Y. While they cannot conform that I have always had a basic tear...my systems matched.

I was able to function for all that time, but my knee popped constantly and one thing that I noticed post-surgery...was that the tear in my knee greatly limted how fast I could walk. I had it all documented at the time of recovery from surgery as I was training for a marathon. But before I was allowed to attempt running, one month post op I was already walking at a pace much faster than pre-op. So from an athletic standpoint, the repair was a BIG deal.

I would have opted to do the surgery much sooner--it didn't exist when I first injured it.

But I lived fine with it--until one day, I no longer could b/c it hurt too much.

The difference from when I went to sleep before the surgery and when I woke up after was night and day. I had lived all that time feeling like a knife was stabbed into this spot on my knee. A feeling that I thought would never go away. It was gone the moment I woke up and has never returned.

Surgery was worth it. But if it doesnt' inhibit your lifestyle, it can be postponed.

Sorry--I have no info on the ACL. But if it is the same knee, I think it would all be fixed in the same surgery. I have no clue how long you can live with an ACL issue.

But the meniscus surgery really wasn't all that big a deal and though i Coudlnt' do the marathon, my PT had me all ready to do the half marathon within 3 months post-op.

Couldn't tell you wear my meniscus was torn as I do not recall. But it could not be repaired as it was in an area with no blood vessels. It was shaved.

 

[kirstenb1]

Many years ago, DH lived with a torn ACL. He went several months, then had surgery. He'd always had cartilage issues, like since he was a teenager, anyway. He had the ACL donor replacement (cadaver tissue), and the surgeon cleaned up his cartilage too.

This was 11 yrs ago. DH is like Steve Austin, the bionic man!!! His knees are better than ever. Although the ACL surgery had a decent length of recovery, he functions better than he did in college, due to him having the cartilage fixed too.

 

[ahutton]

I'm living with a torn medial meniscus and partially torn ACL/MCL. My doctor said at nearly 40, since I am getting around okay, it was best not to have surgery because the recovery and scar tissue would be worse than what I have.

I do have occassional swelling in that lower leg. Usually means I've been doing too much and been too hard on it. I elevate and take anti-inflamatory meds for a few days and it is fine.

I also have the occassional feeling that "my Barbie leg is on backwards" and the knee isn't moving quite right. I've been told that means part of the meniscus has flapped over into the joint and I need to do gentle, non impact stretching to allow it to undo itself and I've been able to do that too.

My doctor says I'll never slam dance again. I can live with that. I am supposed to wear a brace when doing something that could cause potential injury such as sports or dancing and I can live with that too. I really, really don't want to do the surgery and rehab and there isn't a good reason for me to at this point in my life.

I have been working with a rehab therapist who is working to strengthen the surrounding muscles to increase stability and it has been GREAT!

 

[goofy!]

So, I tore my ACL as well as the medial meniscus in February from a skiing fall. I skied the rest of the way down and took a 2 week break. During these 2 weeks I went to an emergicare place for my left knee and they took x-rays. Considering I was walking fairly well and didn't have much pain the Dr. said I probably pulled something, but if it still bothered me after 4 weeks to then see an ortho...I continued skiing well into March

4 weeks later I saw an ortho. I went for an MRI and he diagnosed me with a torn ACL and torn meniscus..I was stunned! I was skiing the whole time, although with a neoprene knee brace from the cvs and minimal pain at the end of the day due to doing too much...He suggested surgery. I was not thrilled....

The only complication I have now after 2 months is that I can not squat 100% down. Probably 90-95% of the way and I do favor my good knee while in that position. I don't have a feeling of giving out either. It feels normal to me. I am able to run, walk, jog, bike, horseback ride as well as ski. At the end of a day when I know I was hard on my knee, it will hurt a bit but a dose of advil will shut it right up...

I've read a lot on people who choose not to do the ACL and meniscus surgery and go on with their active lives...It intrigues me so much that tomorrow I am going for a 2nd opinion to a practice that specializes in physical therapy first before surgery. They do many pro football/baseball/hockey teams so this sits well with me.

Anyone have any experience with living with a torn ACL and/or meniscus?

100% torn acl, 90% torn mcl and torn meniscus - happened 5 years ago.

Still have not had surgery and my knee has yet to give out on me. I was also unable to squat for about 9 months, but PT fixed that.

I can't see putting myself in a brace for 3-6 weeks doing surgery on a knee that is functioning quite adequately. FWIW, my ortho is in complete agreement that surgery at this point is optional. My Ortho and PT gave me exercises to strengthen the appropriate muscles to support the knee and it seems to be working. There may come a day when I feel I need the surgery, but as of right now, nope.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

100% torn acl, 90% torn mcl and torn meniscus - happened 5 years ago.

Still have not had surgery and my knee has yet to give out on me. I was also unable to squat for about 9 months, but PT fixed that.

You are so lucky your knee doesn't give out! I've had my ACL reconstructed 3 threes and the meniscus at least once (I'm not sure if it was repaired during my ACL). Do you have shifting in your knee? I was having very bad shifting and giving out right before I had surgery. I tore my ACL in October of 2007 and didn't have it repaired until January of 2009.

OP, can you live with a torn ACL and meniscus? Yes. Is there a chance it may give your problems? Yes. Can you decide to have it repaired in the future if you decide you want it done? As far as I know, yes.

Best of luck with your knee!

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

I tore my ACL when I was playing soccer in high school. I put on a lot of weight because I couldn't exercise. I went to physical theropy for a long time. After about a year I felt a lot better have dropped most of my weight I was up around 300! I'm around 210 now three years later. But it's hard for me to lose weight now.

I still feel some pain in it every now and then but I'm pretty much 100% good to go.

 

[mommyoffive]

My son just had acl and meniscus surgery done last week. They did both of them in one surgery. His meniscus was worse then they could see of the MRI. The doctor is hopefull it will repair. The acl is good. This surgery was easier on him then his nose ( 3 broken bones). He only took pain meds for about 4 days will see how he does after pt to his knee. Good luck and I hope it all works out for you.

 

[themilesfamily]

I was in a serious car accident, (pedestrian vs. vehicle). My ACL was 100% torn. I went about four years without it -- I had a lot of pain, a lot of instability. I also developed arthritis in that knee.

I had the ACL repaired with a donor organ, and they cleaned up the interior of the knee, and now there is a HUGE improvement. It's 10 years posts-surgery and that knee is awesome. I don't even feel pain from the arthritis.

The surgery itself -- post-recovery was horrible. I had a lot of bleeding and I kept vomiting up the pain meds, so it was like going with no pain meds.

The first year or two post-surgery weren't so hot. The knee didn't seem much better. But when I got pregnant with my daughter for some reason it was like a miracle healing. Perhaps pregnancy and sitting around with a newborn forced me to take a load off my feet and finally gave the knee time to heal. Or perhaps, it was all the praying I did. I certainly prayed for total healing a lot and having my knee just suddenly turn perfect was an answer to prayer. (Especially just in time to start chasing around a toddler.)

Good luck with your decision! If your knee is functional, perhaps you won't need the surgery any time soon.

 

[tuckerkeys]

Thanks everyone for your stories! I go at 1:30 to see what can be done with surgery vs. PT.........The practice is very PT happy, and with my lack of symptoms 1 of the nurses told me that the Dr. will probably go that route 1st before doing surgery......We'll see!

It just amazes me how some Dr's are so quick to cut to fix the problem. I am scared that if I do the surgery route that my knee will feel worse than it does now, at least for a while!

 

[CookieGVB]

This is perfect timing - I'm going today also to the ortho to see about my knee - good luck to both of us!

Can't imagine just walking around like this, though - the pain isn't exactly unbearable...it's going up and down stairs that are horrible, and walking the dog even for a short distance is quite the experience...

 

[mamacatnv]

Last summer tore my meniscus and ACL
Had surgery to repair the meniscus and had the ACL removed (not repaired or replaced just removed)
4.5 months of PT
No regrets - I can walk, job, squat etc. I played horseshoes over the weekend and the knee was my landing knee, I was a bit nervous but did okay. It was sore the next day but nothing crazy.
I still do daily exercises to keep up the other muscles and I can certainly tell when I take a few days off of those, but other than that its good to go.

 

[PrincessBelle39]

Not sure exactly what is wrong yet. My dog ran into me in january, hit me hard and knocked me over. I've been putting it off but now have a referral to an Orthopedic surgeon. My knee will give way every now and then and I can't put my full weight on that leg. Walking for long periods of time is painful also. I'm dreading going to the surgeon. I have very little spare time with working for myself and running around after my two (after school active) kids. I can't imagine being out of action for a long period of time.

 

[tuckerkeys]

hi everyone OP here!

Well, I am very happy with my outcome! I'd also like to say that a 2nd opinion with any surgery is so important!

As it turns out, I do have a torn ACL, but it is a small small one not 70% like the 1st ortho said......I also have a torn meniscus but it does not extend to the outer rim like the 1st ortho said either.....

I went to a Philly practice this time instead of a local place. It was recommended to me by a friend who had nothing but awesome things to say. This place does all the Eagles, Phillies, Flyers etc etc so I had a feeling they may know something about what they were doing! It's in the U Penn hospital for those who are interested, they call it 3 B's orthopedics.....

This was the 1st time a Dr. spent over 30 minutes with me 1 on 1 really going over stuff....He explained to me that my injuries were small & yes I could live with them and continue with my activities no problem. He also said that if I did want the surgery I could do it but that the torn meniscus repair is really only so that my knee will not develop arthritis in the future & I've already got some in there so it's a crapshoot really.....So we'd be stitching the meniscus just to stitch it, b/c it would not stop arthritis.....

He was shocked my 1st doc said my acl was torn 70%! He said that there is no way for anyone to look at an MRI & determine this number, even he couldn't do it & he was 1 of the partners in the practice!.. He told me many many people have torn ACL's & don't even know it. They live their active lives completely oblivious that anything is wrong....

I am fortunate that I have no pain in my knee, this is why I was so shocked at the diagnosis. After a long day sure it can hurt but any advil or otc pain reliever will do the trick.....He let me go with 6 weeks of physical therapy to strengthen my muscles around the knee so that it has help and also I'm getting fitted for a custom ACL brace for when I ski for added protection, even though he said I won't need it....The only thing he told me NOT to do was to squat down 100%. This could cause the meniscus to act like an area rug between the 2 bones & when I go to stand up it could bunch up in the middle of the joint. So no squatting for me!