Meniscus Tear???

[kristenrice]

I started running a few years ago and actually went from couch to completing the 2013 Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon. Then I went back to the couch for a while and started back running again this spring. I never had any significant, lasting knee pain during any of my training so I became concerned after my run on June 30 of this year. I started to feel a pain (mild, not intolerable) that wouldn't go away. It lingered and started to become more frequent and intense at times. I work as a paramedic so I do a lot of sitting, bending, lifting and squatting in a typical 12-hour shift and a healthy knee is important so I decided to go to the orthopedic specialist. I had x-rays done and the doctor suspected patellofemoral syndrome so I was started on PT.

Since then, the PT has helped lessen the intensity and frequency of the pain, but it is still there and reproducable when I twist my knee (think going from legs crossed to standing....). The therapist recommended an MRI to rule out meniscus and cartilage involvement so I went back to the doctor. He re-evaluated my knee and agrees that the meniscus appears to be involved and there may be a small cartilage tear as well. I had the MRI done on Tuesday and probably won't have the results until early next week. My mom and I are heading down to F&W in just 6 weeks and I am a little nervous. The trip is a go no matter what the results show. I told my mom about it and said that if I need surgery, I plan to wait until after the trip to have it done since I probably couldn't get it done until about 2 weeks out and that is cutting it way to close

My PT has reassured me that surgery is NOT the only option and that plenty of people function, even run, just fine without surgical intervention. My mother said she had a meniscus repair (although I don't remember her telling me about it) and she walked out of the office, no crutches, and was on her feet right away without any problems. Then, I talked to my friend who had a meniscus repair and she was on crutches for 2 weeks and out of work (as a paramedic) for 6 weeks.

So, given the huge disparity between these two extremes, I'm looking to my DIS folks to tell me your experiences with meniscus injuries. I want to hear it all....good, bad and ugly.

 

[powellrj]

My bff had a meniscus tear and was off her feet for a week and back to work. She was in her 60's when she had it done.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

My PT has reassured me that surgery is NOT the only option

WARNING . . . DANGER, WILL ROBINSON . . . WARNING
1) Got that one right !!!!!!!!
2) MrsRustyScupper had a meniscus "repaired" surgically.
3) And, by a well-known Orlando quack-hack (sorry, I mean surgeon).
4) BAD, BAD, BAD MISTAKE.
5) She feels pain, pain, pain when the weather changes. *
6) NOW, she feels she should have just done therapy.

* When the weather changes she takes more drugs now, than I did at Woodstock. (And, yes, my original tickets are framed and on the wall.) My, how times have changed !

 

[kristenrice]

WARNING . . . DANGER, WILL ROBINSON . . . WARNING
1) Got that one right !!!!!!!!
2) MrsRustyScupper had a meniscus "repaired" surgically.
3) And, by a well-known Orlando quack-hack (sorry, I mean surgeon).
4) BAD, BAD, BAD MISTAKE.
5) She feels pain, pain, pain when the weather changes. *
6) NOW, she feels she should have just done therapy.

* When the weather changes she takes more drugs now, than I did at Woodstock. (And, yes, my original tickets are framed and on the wall.) My, how times have changed !

^^^This is the reason that the doctor decided to try six weeks of PT (twice a week) before even doing the MRI. The thought was that the PT alone may solve the problem. Unfortunately, it has not changed the type of the pain, but it has strengthened my knee and made it a lot more stable. Even if the MRI shows a tear, I wouldn't even consider surgery for another six weeks, during which time the PT will continue and maybe by then, the pain will be gone. On one hand, I want to avoid surgery if I can...but on the other hand...I want to get the problem solved as soon as possible.

 

[minnie mum]

Over the years I had 4 different arthroscopies for meniscus damage (both knees). I was a nurse working surgical units, so was on my feet all the time. I don't know what kind of procedure your mother had done, but arthroscopies aren't done in an office.

After each procedure I was on crutches and prescription pain relievers for a couple of days but off work from 2-4 weeks. Depending on your level of fitness and the stability of your knee, it could be less. Post op PT is really, really important in bouncing back from any knee surgery. The more you stick to the PT schedule, the faster you'll get back to normal.

 

[kristenrice]

I don't know what kind of procedure your mother had done, but arthroscopies aren't done in an office.

She had it done at an outpatient surgical center...I just called it an "office"

 

[JennyDrake]

I've had one in each knee--medial in right, lateral in left, both prior to 1990.

I have not had them repaired and I took up running at age 46, 4 years ago.

I wear GOOD running shoes with GOOD inserts from the minute my feet hit the floor in the morning until I go to bed at night. That makes a HUGE difference in my world. Loose gravel is the KILLER for me -- irritates the heck out of both tears. I take glucosamine chondroitin and it has made a huge difference.

 

[asta]

I have had two meniscus surgeries (one on each knee) before finally having total knee replacement. The surgery just to clean up worn cartilage in one knee did not help much but the tears were so bad in the other knee that portions of the torn meniscus were rolling up and getting pinched in the knee cap as I walked. The surgery on that meniscus was essential and provided a lot of relief. So I think the success of the surgery depends on the damage. With all of my knee problems I can not stress enough the importance of physical therapy. I would never have surgery on a knee without working with a PT first to strengthen the joint and to analyze bad movement patterns.

After both meniscus surgeries I was walking in one week but not without pain. I think 6 weeks is needed for recovery but since the surgery did not get rid of the pain it is hard to pick a recovery time frame.

 

[North of Mouse]

I started running a few years ago and actually went from couch to completing the 2013 Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon. Then I went back to the couch for a while and started back running again this spring. I never had any significant, lasting knee pain during any of my training so I became concerned after my run on June 30 of this year. I started to feel a pain (mild, not intolerable) that wouldn't go away. It lingered and started to become more frequent and intense at times. I work as a paramedic so I do a lot of sitting, bending, lifting and squatting in a typical 12-hour shift and a healthy knee is important so I decided to go to the orthopedic specialist. I had x-rays done and the doctor suspected patellofemoral syndrome so I was started on PT.

Since then, the PT has helped lessen the intensity and frequency of the pain, but it is still there and reproducable when I twist my knee (think going from legs crossed to standing....). The therapist recommended an MRI to rule out meniscus and cartilage involvement so I went back to the doctor. He re-evaluated my knee and agrees that the meniscus appears to be involved and there may be a small cartilage tear as well. I had the MRI done on Tuesday and probably won't have the results until early next week. My mom and I are heading down to F&W in just 6 weeks and I am a little nervous. The trip is a go no matter what the results show. I told my mom about it and said that if I need surgery, I plan to wait until after the trip to have it done since I probably couldn't get it done until about 2 weeks out and that is cutting it way to close

My PT has reassured me that surgery is NOT the only option and that plenty of people function, even run, just fine without surgical intervention. My mother said she had a meniscus repair (although I don't remember her telling me about it) and she walked out of the office, no crutches, and was on her feet right away without any problems. Then, I talked to my friend who had a meniscus repair and she was on crutches for 2 weeks and out of work (as a paramedic) for 6 weeks.

So, given the huge disparity between these two extremes, I'm looking to my DIS folks to tell me your experiences with meniscus injuries. I want to hear it all....good, bad and ugly.

My dh slipped and fell and tore his miniscus - had surgery, walked out on his own, without crutches (even though they were given to him) and, except for elevating his leg to rest for the first week, had no problems with walking or pain. He 'was' given physical therapy for a few weeks, but has had no problems, and he is in his upper 60's.
Without any additional problems, there should not be a long recovery.

 

[kristenrice]

The office e-mailed the MRI result to me today...there is NO meniscus tear, NO cartilage damage and ALL of my ligaments are normal...

...but they did find an 8mm tumor. The diagnosis reads "Benign enchondroma medial femoral condyle" and it is described as a "lobulated, high-signal intensity lesion" with "no aggressive features".
I have to make a follow-up appointment now so I can figure out what that's all about. I've looked on the internet and, because I have a decent medical background, I am not too thrilled with what I see. I'm finding everything from no treatment necessary all the way up to the fact that some of these "benign" tumors are extremely difficult to differentiate from Stage 1 malignancies. I guess I will have to wait and see what the doctor says. I do know that the pain has never been unbearable, even at its worst, so I am actually quite relieved to see that there is actually something there and it is not all in my head. I know that I have aches and pains from my day to day activities but something told me that, although not severe, this pain was different. It's nice to know I am not completely crazy.

 

[North of Mouse]

Happy for you OP that you received good news about the meniscus tear - hopefully the other will work out ok for you also. Have a great trip!!

 

[lzimm13]

Well at least you have some answers! good luck!

 

[kristenrice]

I heard from the doctor's office (not the doctor) and the medical assistant said that my MRI is normal and the enchondroma is "nothing to worry about". I questioned that statement because the location of the lesion is EXACTLY where I have palpable pain. She assured me that it is the chondromalacia (patello-femoral syndrome, as previously diagnosed) that is causing the pain, not the lesion. I have been ordered to continue PT for another 4 weeks and then schedule a follow-up if it is still bothering me.

I talked to my physical therapist about it and she also questioned their lack of concern. She also thought it was awfully coincidental that the pain is exactly where the lesion is located. She then proceeded to work on my knee and said that, "to be fair, this lesion is right underneath the patello-femoral compartment" so that is a little more reassuring.

Since my trip is just over 4 weeks away, I have decided to continue with the PT as ordered. I will get my knee nice and strong and stable. Then, when I come back from vacation, if I am still having the pain (which, honestly, I think will be the case), then I will make another appointment with the doctor, and this time, I will do what I have to in order to see the DOCTOR, not the PA and not the medical assistant. In the meantime, I still can't run, but I need to get out and start doing a little power-walking to get the rest of me in shape for the F&W festival.