Knee surgery scheduled...but not in pain anymore??

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I have a scope scheduled in a couple weeks....went in about a month ago to schedule it as I was having meniscus pain. Of course now it seems to have healed....but am not sure if that's the case and if I should go ahead with the scope. I would just hate to be in pain after canceling it. Any thoughts or experience with this?

 

[rmattman]

I have a meniscal tear which was diagnosed a couple of years ago. Surgery was recommended and I chose not to follow through with knee scope. Now I have pain intermittently and it clicks alot. Always seem to have symptoms when inconvenient (like now when I am training for half marathon). If I had it to do over I would have had the surgery then. If you are an active person, you can be pretty sure that the knee will flare up again. Only question is which vacation will it interrupt.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I have a meniscal tear which was diagnosed a couple of years ago. Surgery was recommended and I chose not to follow through with knee scope. Now I have pain intermittently and it clicks alot. Always seem to have symptoms when inconvenient (like now when I am training for half marathon). If I had it to do over I would have had the surgery then. If you are an active person, you can be pretty sure that the knee will flare up again. Only question is which vacation will it interrupt.

That's exactly my fear...a flare up when not convenient...but when is it ever really?? Are you going to have the surgery now? I also fear I could make whatevr damage is done, worse if I don't do it. It's just hard to o into this surgery when you feel so good.

 

[thumbalyna]

I had this done twice. On my left knee in 2005 and my right knee in 2007. 2005 i healed quickly and there wasnt a lot of discomfort. 2007 completely opposite. It was a painful recovery, i passed out on the day after the surgery at my follow up. I had the surgery nov 7th and expected to only be out of work two weeks (since that was what happened in 2005). I went back to work the Monday after Thanksgiving, lasted 4 hours and went back out on medical leave until after the new year. I don't know if maybe the tear in the right knee was worse but if that happened the first time i dont think i would have gone back. I do however recommend going because not having knee pain outweighs the experience itself

 

[TwoCortWort]

I have a scope scheduled in a couple weeks....went in about a month ago to schedule it as I was having meniscus pain. Of course now it seems to have healed....but am not sure if that's the case and if I should go ahead with the scope. I would just hate to be in pain after canceling it. Any thoughts or experience with this?

My mom tore her meniscus twice last year and the first time it healed on its own which she was told can happen and sadly she had to be scoped and cleaned out due to her re-injuring it. I wouldn't cancel it quite honestly with what happened to my mom. You can re-injure it and it will be a million times worse. The second time for her was way worse. She couldn't even drive due to the pain.

 

[Cyrano]

I am going to move this over to the disAbilities board as they folks there will be able to help

 

[QueenElinor]

That's exactly my fear...a flare up when not convenient...but when is it ever really?? Are you going to have the surgery now? I also fear I could make whatevr damage is done, worse if I don't do it. It's just hard to o into this surgery when you feel so good.

Well, right. And remember that surgery itself is not without its risks. They will have you sign a form that's at least two pages long to remind you of that fact!

My inclination would be to forgo the surgery. If you had nothing to lose, I'd say sure, why not? But even a knee scope has its risks. Regarding whether or not they'd find anything they could fix now that would end in better long-term results than fixing it later... well, I highly doubt you could find a study that demonstrates the benefit of preventative arthroscopy! That's purely a judgement call.

I guess it comes down to this- it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Perhaps an appointment with your surgeon might be a good idea! He knows a LOT more than we do - and can counsel you properly.

If you are not in pain - is it because you have cut back on your activity? Try doing "normal" stuff - without thinking or favoring your knee. You will probably get your answer from your knee! If you have no additional pain, then maybe holding off on the surgery would be a good idea.

Have you gone to Physical Therapy? It just might help.