Got Pixie Dust? I need some... DH has torn meniscus

[MinnieTink]

Aaaaggggghhhh! Ok. Sorry.
We are about a month away from surprising our kids with a WDW trip and my DH just tore his medial meniscus. I know every case is different but if anyone has had experience with this injury, I would be interested in hearing how it turned out. Also if anyone has had experienced going to WDW while on the "DL" how did you cope?

And please send pixie dust!

 

[LWatson]

I tore mine in High school. I got slide tackled from behind playing soccer one day and I was out for weeks. I got an MRI that night and there was a big obvious tear. So, I met w/ an Orthopedic surgeon and was expecting my life to change drastically. I was in a knee immobilizer for weeks. The week of my surgery my doc ordered another MRI to see how bad it was weeks after. We don't know how it happened, but it was GONE...it healed itself. I've never been the same since, but I am able to play sports and I finished out that season of soccer and went on to become captain of the softball team and going ROTC in college. I still just fall randomly from my knee giving out, but I think that is the way it was meant to be.

Obviously not all cases do that (infact I was the first my doc had seen...he had heard of it b4, but never saw it). I would say see what the ortho. Surgeon says about disney. Your hubby may be in a knee immobilizer or worse at disney, and not be able to participate. I do know he will need the electric wheel chairs, I had a wheel chair the first week i hurt mine since I was trying to hobble around a high school...i can only imagine Disney. Take care and think positively...maybe some blessing will come.

 

[kacaju]

My dd15 just had an MRI on Friday to see if she tore hers. So while I don't have any info yet, I may come this week once we get results.

What has his Dr. said? Will he need surgery?

 

[MinnieTink]

Oh I hope your daughter's is not torn! My DH went fir his MRI Friday too. I work for the radiology place he went to so that's how I was able to get the results so quickly. He has not discussed the results with the Dr yet. He did mention surgery as an option, I guess depending on the severity of the tear, when he saw him. I have been googling 'torn meniscus' and have seen a wide variety of outcomes and recovery times.
Good luck with your DD. Let me know what happens with her.

 

[kacaju]

How did he tear his?
My dd was at dress rehearsal for dance and landed wrong. She was able to get through that night OK, I took her to the Dr the next day and her ped. said to wrap it for the recital and try to rest it as much as possible that week. When the ped moved her leg she really was not getting any pain from it.
She made it through the recital OK and that week I took her to the ortho since she still had the pain. She *passed* all the tests the ortho had her due until the ortho asked her to walk on her heels. She couldn't do it. Xray was negative so we got a better brace and she wore that for 3 weeks.
We went back to the ortho a week and a half ago and she looked recovered. Within two days of taking the brace off she stepped on it wrong and was in pain again!!
So that is where we are. MRI last Friday. If the MRI is negative then she needs to start PT. If they find a tear then we have to talk about her options.

 

[maxiesmom]

This may sound crazy, but if your husband is not in too much pain you may want to put the surgery off until after your trip. I tore my meniscus and went for quite a while before I had the surgery done. Part of that time was because of the idiot at the med center who told me it was just a sprain. I could still walk with barely any pain, though I did limp, and my knee stiffened up quite a bit once I stopped moving.

My recovery time after the surgery was roughly one month. The pain was minimal, and they actually had me walking right after the surgery. I used crutches for a while, but they had me putting some weight on that leg. I was never off of it totally.

Good luck and best wishes to your husband.

 

[MinnieTink]

Thanks everyone for your responses and kind words.

DH tore his at work. He is in lots of pain and has a lot of difficulty walking. Also if he sits for a while his knee locks in the bent position.

He told me not to worry, that the 'show will go on' even if he has to use a scooter or wheelchair.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I tore my meniscus a few years ago and I had a good experience with the surgery. I recovered in a decent amount of time without any therapy. I struggled a bit as the doctor found an additional problem (I dislocated my kneecap pretty bad...) and that part still bugged me after, but I had to wait for 2 more months before I could have that fixed... Since then I still have great movement in my knee. Granted, I can't get it to bend as good as before, but I can still sit "Indian-style" (is that still the term??? is that even PC???) and can cross my legs with no problem or pain.

I have been to Disney (land and world) on the DL and if you plan ahead, you'll have a great trip with limited interruption (plan to take some sit-down breaks: pop in a sit-down attraction, use a park bench to enjoy the view, eat).

I have gone on both crutches and wheelchair. I would recommend being prepared to have him in a chair! It is a lot to walk, and there is no sense in being miserable and further causing inflammation in a surgically repaired OR pre-surgical knee. It's not worth the discomfort and the risk of additional injury.

Keep anti-inflammatories on hand. (Ibuprofen, aleve, naproxin) If he doesn't have a script for an anti-inflammatory I would ask for one, otherwise I recommend taking advil or motrin several times a day (but obviously not exceeding the daily allowance) at least 4-5 days ahead of time to help quell the inflammation in the knee before you go - get a leg up. (Just remember that you can't take them for an extended amount of time - found it's bad for the heart)

Have some pain meds (again, I'd ask for a script). Nothing too strong though so he can have pain management, but not be so out of it that he can't enjoy the trip.

I have arthritis in my back and did the anti-inflammatory push 4 days before our week-long trip. I also had some ultracet (script from dr.) on hand for major flare ups. I didn't have to use the pain meds every day, I think I took 8-10 pills the entire time I was gone, but I knew that I had a back up plan in case it got really bad.

I've had over 16 surgeries in my short life (mostly foot and ankle, 2 knee, 1 on my thigh, and 2 c-sections [planned for baby probs]) and have had to dial in a system so I could continue to enjoy the things my parents took us to do. It is perfectly reasonable to travel with injuries as long as you plan smart and are prepared. Talk to your doctor about a regime that is best for DH and the best of luck! I hope you guys have a magical trip!

 

[kacaju]

My dd MRI was normal!! She needs to do some exercises to help work her knee.

 

[maxiesmom]

My dd MRI was normal!! She needs to do some exercises to help work her knee.

That is great news!!!!!!

 

[MinnieTink]

That's great that your daughter's MRI was normal!

Well my DH went to see the Dr yesterday and he is scheduled for surgery on Monday. DH is determined to rehab it in time for our trip. We'll see! Good to have a positive mindset I guess! He'll be using an ECV at the parks too. We have been planning this surprise for so long and will make it happen. It's free dining which we have done before and it slows the trip down from commando level! It's Disney. I don't think we can NOT have a good time.

Keeping my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery for DH and a magical vacation for my family!!!