Torn Meniscis?

[minnie56]

Anyone dealt with this?

Happened to me in July while on a trip to Florida..I was merely 'walking up the stairs' though I had had a stiffness in my leg in the preceding week. THe next day I went to Emerg where they did an Ultrasound etc...and put me on antinflammatories.

Since being home..I have had multiple xrays and an MRI and see the Orthopedic Surgeon next week as I was away yet again, cane and all and couldn't make the appt sooner.

It is manageable with a couple of Ibuprofen a day and a cane for longer walking..is there no avoiding surgery? One is partially torn and the other front to back..but they tell me as ligaments have no blood supply...they won't heal.

 

[emer95]

My husband tore his being a "hotshot" in front of our daughters and popping a wheelie on his bicycle. Goodness gracious! Anyway, he refused to have surgery, and he uses a brace whenever he does anything strenuous. It still gives him trouble once in a while but it has gotten much better.

 

[Christine]

Anyone dealt with this?

Happened to me in July while on a trip to Florida..I was merely 'walking up the stairs' though I had had a stiffness in my leg in the preceding week. THe next day I went to Emerg where they did an Ultrasound etc...and put me on antinflammatories.

Since being home..I have had multiple xrays and an MRI and see the Orthopedic Surgeon next week as I was away yet again, cane and all and couldn't make the appt sooner.

It is manageable with a couple of Ibuprofen a day and a cane for longer walking..is there no avoiding surgery? One is partially torn and the other front to back..but they tell me as ligaments have no blood supply...they won't heal.

Everyone I know that has had this ended up having surgery. Oh, they limped along for months or a up to a year but it will not repair on its own. The good news is that the surgery is *relatively* easy and full recovery stats are excellent.

I feel for you. I have a posterior tibial tendon in my foot that is damaged. Chances of healing on it's own--about 1%. Surgery down time is 8-10 weeks NOT ON MY FEET.

 

[minnie56]

The pain has improved greatly..first few days were not fun. It really only bothers me some of the time..but as I mentioned..as long as I keep some meds in my system. I am told the surgery recovery is painful though? No?

 

[Swimnoid]

I had this as well and they tried the anti-inflammatories and physical therapy. DNiece is a physical therapist and said right away, "Nope, that's not going to work. Get the surgery. Snip, snip, all better" Easy for her to say, right? But I did and she was right. In my case I thought the recovery went sort of slowly and I had pain for several weeks. But now, 2 years later, I have no pain and much better ability to move. I know other people who have bounced back almost immediately.

 

[aprilgail2]

When I had hurt my knee the hospital jumped right to saying it was a torn meniscus- I was freaking out because they told me the healing time after surgery was about 4-6 months out of my job.....I went to an othopedic dr who actually did a test before jumping right to "you need surgery" and it was not torn, it was a muscle issue so I didn't need the operation. They told me the surgery is not bad its the recovery time that I would have been out of work that killed me!! If you have a desk type job it wouldn't be as bad but my job is very physical.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I was running to answer the phone and fell, landing on my left knee. The pain would come and go so I put off going to the doctor.

Fast forward a year and a half and on our Nov. 09 trip to Disney, twisted that knee just slightly (the first day there) and felt what I thought was a pop. Put a slight damper on the trip (I wouldn't use an ECV).


Finally went to the doctor this past March, because the pain wouldn't stop and had surgery April 2. He also cleaned up some arthitis, and I started therapy the very next day.

I am so glad that I finally went to the doctor, no problems any more except for some stiffness (which they said could last for months after the surgery) but also because I still has arthitis.


Eddited because I reread your second post.

I had hardly any pain after the local wore off, and only used a few pain pills. Therapy was easy too and I only did 10 days and was released.

 

[Christine]

I had this as well and they tried the anti-inflammatories and physical therapy. DNiece is a physical therapist and said right away, "Nope, that's not going to work. Get the surgery. Snip, snip, all better" Easy for her to say, right? But I did and she was right. In my case I thought the recovery went sort of slowly and I had pain for several weeks. But now, 2 years later, I have no pain and much better ability to move. I know other people who have bounced back almost immediately.

This seems to be the case with everyone I know.

They have the surgery and expect, within 6 weeks, to be markedly better. Often times it is just a slow, uphill recovery and then one day, you realize, HEY, I'm really better.

My boss had it done on a Friday, came back to work on a Tuesday and overdid it. He ended up having to be off for the week after that because, while he felt okay, he really did just overdo it. Then it got him. So after a week of really staying off it, his recovery rebounded and he was okay. He limped along for a few weeks and within a few months was back to playing golf.

I don't mean to minimize any surgery and, in the scheme of things, this one really is a good one in that you aren't having to be "non weight bearing" for a significant amount of time. I think after the surgery you are really, truly down for about a week (although you can at least do things for yourself like shower and use the toilet, make yourself some food etc). After that, it's just dealing with some stiffness, moderate pain, and lesser mobility.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

DH has had 5 knee surgeries due to torn meniscus. (4 surgeries on 1 knee and 1 on the other) and needs another surgery again (yet another torn meniscus).

The surgery is pretty easy - outpatient usually with a few days out of work followed by a few months of Physical Therapy. He is pretty stubborn and is up walking around and climbing up and down stairs with a brace on in a day or so after surgery. He didn't do the PT after the first few surgeries but did after the last one and it seemed to help the healing process.

Good luck!

 

[Geoff_M]

I developed a 10% tear in my right Meniscus the summer of 2008 due to jogging. Tired of the pain and my knee "locking" up on me periodically when walking I had my knee scoped. It was outpatient and I was off the crutches on day 3. I think I only lost three days off of work too.

 

[Buckalew11]

Both of my parents had this surgery. Both did great! Mom wasn't even put to sleep for the surgery--just a local, her choice. She is 73 and plays tennis 3-5 days a week for hours. No knee trouble at all.

Dad was in the middle of cancer treatment when he did this surgery. I thought it'd take him awhile to heal because of that. To my surprise, he did great, healed quickly and while his health declined because of the cancer, his knee felt good.

Good luck to you!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They are correct...it won't heal. But some manage to do physical therapy and avoid surgery. I had the tear for roughly 15 years. I remember the day in 7th grade that my knee did a loud POP and I had issues ever since. At that time, there was no easy fix and honestly, it didn't occur to me or my mom that there was a problem. Though my knee "popped ever since"...it was kind of like cracking knuckles or a chiropractic adjustment.
It provided temporary relief even though it felt like I had something stabbing in my knee.

While training for my second marathon and running on an incline on my treadmill...that loud POP happened again. My knee was hot and slightly swollen and I couldn't run and even limped a little.

I was diagnosed with a complex tear and had it removed surgically. Best decision ever. I did PT and worked my way to the half marathon within 3 months post surgery.

Yes---you can live with it. But your knee may feel funny until you get it fixed. Though it didn't hurt per se, it always felt like something was stabbing the side of my knee. For 15 years it was like that. Post surgery, that feelingwl was gone. I was so excited. Because of that, we concluded that I had the tear since 7th grade.

 

[minnie56]

Wow thanks everyone!!!! Good info here...I appreciate it.

I guess I will see what the Dr says and it sounds like it will always be an issue if I don't deal with it. Some days are better than others and some it's crummy and I don't want that always. I have some arthritis there too so I am sure that factors into the picture.

I like to travel and really-- this will get in the way!!

Thanks again!

 

[mamacatnv]

Tore mine last summer getting onto an airplane. Went in for the surgery 2 months later, there was no way I could continue with the stiffness and the pain. My issue was I also injured my ACL - my Ortho didn't think the ACL damage was all that bad. Turns out when they got in there that the ACL was shredded up pretty bad, he repaired my meniscus and removed my ACL.
Its hard for me to know what caused the length of my recovery.

I had surgery on Tuesday and was told I could return to work the following Monday. I was on crutches for 24 hours then encouraged to start walking. I started PT exactly 1 week after surgery and went to PT 3 days a week for 4 months.

It still hurts/aches periodically but again I think that is more lack of ACL than anything or me slacking on my daily strengthening exercises, but it doesn't slow me down. I walk, jog and go up and down stairs. For me anything lateral (tennis, skiing etc) is not a good idea but other than that I am good to go.

 

[Art 1]

About a year and a half ago I had my surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

 

[ilovepete]

My DH had this happen at work, and he did have to have surgery. He had a quick recovery and has done really well since, that was about 6 years ago.

 

[look1angel]

Found out I had a torn meniscus back in Oct, all of a sudden my knee would give out & sometimes I'd have to help it back in place. Went to the Dr had tests done & he indicated although I didn't need surgery right now it would not heel due to the lack of blood supply. As long as I don't kneel on it directly I'm OK. So far I've not had any problems with it giving out like it use to. Every once in a while I get a slight feeling but "Knock on wood" it hasn't moved out of place.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Wow thanks everyone!!!! Good info here...I appreciate it.

I guess I will see what the Dr says and it sounds like it will always be an issue if I don't deal with it. Some days are better than others and some it's crummy and I don't want that always. I have some arthritis there too so I am sure that factors into the picture.

I like to travel and really-- this will get in the way!!

Thanks again!

I never realized how much my walking was inhibited. Post surgery...during PT...my allowed slow comfortable walk was almost as fast as my "speed walk". I "sped" at a 17 minute mile pace pre-surgery....post surgery I leisured at 20 or so and my speed walk....untrained (as in---how fast I could to without training for a pace) was 16 minute mile. I did improve that with recovery and trainnng.

But if you walk for sightseeing a bunch...I found in retrospect that my tear on a good day still slowed me down quite a bit. I had no idea though until after my surgery.

 

[lustergirl]

I have a torn one as well, no surgery yet. The worst is the stiffness and pain when you sit too long.

 

[minnie56]

Well-had the surgery this past Thursday. Haven't had the post op visit with the Surgeon yet so what he found I am not that sure? I think..that there wasn't a tear after all but rather some deterioration and arthritis that he cleaned up. He did talk to me after the procedure and though I wasn't under general..I was in a fog...and he told me I wouldn't recall what he was telling me..and he was right!!

The calf and ankle swelling is subsiding though the knee feels stiff and huge from the inside out so not terribly mobile...but all in all...pretty good! I walked out of the hospital without crutches..and since then have been walking ok. Taking it easy..but going where I need to around the house.

Thought I would update...