Torn Meniscus

[jaycns]

My DH just found out today that he has a torn meniscus and has to have surgery. His orthopedic surgeon told him that he will be on crutches anywhere from 1 week up to 6 weeks...From his MRI they cannot tell how much damage he actually has and they will have to wait and see until they go in if they can just remove the torn area (the easier fix/ shorter recovery) or if they will have to go in and suture the tear (the harder fix/longer recovery).

Here is the question of the hour (at least to my DH and self)...has anyone else had this surgery? What was your experience? How long was it before you were back up to feeling normal for you? How painful is the recovery period? What do you wish you would have known but didn't?

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[miss missy]

DH has had that and both needs done for "clean up." One inplant of cartlidge too I believe.

He did well. Worst was the actually recovery room, poor guy always gets sick from being put out. One time they kept him overnight for it. But he did very well. He is a runner with old football injuries. He isn't suppose to run anymore, but he does

The recovery for him was easier because he does what he is told, he did every exercise and worked the knee back by that. He is very disiplined and excercise is in his everyday schedule.

If your DH does what the DR's tell him, he should be fine. You the ice wraps they give him and the brace if he gets one. Best of luck.

p.s. my dh will need new knee later in life because they aren't much better than they were, better, but not 100, he still lives with pain. Running doesn't help tho. Oh and they gave him colored pics of his knee insides too...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If the tear is in the part where there is no blood flow, they will shave it and he will be on crutches less than a week. With PT he will be good as new in no time. I was training for the Disney Marathon when I had to have my surgery. My surgery was October 26th and the Disney Marathon was in early January and I did that in an awesome time (for me anyway).

If the tear is in the part where there is blood flow, he will be on crutches a minimum of 2 weeks b/c they repair it instead of shaving it. For 2 weeks his leg will be immobilized. Then at whatever rate his therapy is--that is why his orhto gave him the 6 week estimate.

I could not walk after one day immobilized--so for 2 weeks immobilization, he will be all that much weaker.

Long term prognosis is the same--it takes a full 6 months to feel completely "normal" again. Even post marathon--I still had some residual effects from the surgery and now feel just fine.

My favorite part is that my insurance paid for this ice box contraption that is rigged with tubes. You connect these to a bladder and they are wrapped around the knee and this is how I "iced" for several weeks. Awesome contraption, but no idea what it is called. They wrapped the bladders in my dressing--so when I was all wrapped up--we just plugged in and it was HEAVEN!

Keep in mind that once he resumes normal activity--he is still susceptible to swelling and lots of discomfort. I was icing post activity for at least 3 months (finally stopped mid January or so).

Despite all his discomfort--according to my PT--he will thank himself in 10 years for this procedure and 6 months down the road--good as new.

I did notice right away that the sensation of a torn meniscus had disappeared--it was very very cool as I had that sensation for many many years. (It recently turned into a complex tear b/c I had participated in a marathon previously with no issues--but then had a pop this last season and my running went down hill so-to-speak).


I now have no pain . And running for me is completely fine. ICE ICE BABY!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks for any and all input.

Just wanted to answer this specifically---


To TRUST my PT (I had a very good one) when he said that this wouldn't last forever and that I would get all my strength back. In the beginning when you struggle lifting just your legs with no additional weight--you kind of don't believe them. But then a few months down the road--like clockwork, when you are back to leg pressing what you did before, you realize...hey, they were right!

(p.s. my surgery and recovery were all about me getting back on the road).

 

[laura001]

I too had the surgery but also had torn my ACL and MCL, so my recovery time was well.........I was on crutches for 8 months and it is now almost a year since I injured it, am still struggling a little, can't do squats or kneel on it, but can walk pretty well and am playing some golf

Make sure you have a great PT, that will make all the difference in the world!!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

oh and whatever he does DO NOT KNEEL on the knee for at least 3 months (then only sample light pressure like on the bed with blankets).


I did this by ACCIDENT--not even thinking...when to kneel by someone about 3-4 weeks post op. It brought tears to my eyes it hurt so bad--I only kneeled for a second or two before I had realized what I had done. Oh my does it hurt. So no kneeling for 3 months!!

My PT was on the second floor and as soon as i was up to it--I began taking the stairs to his office instead of the elevator (going down first--took another week or so before going up was confortable).

 

[froglady]

I too had the surgery but also had torn my ACL and MCL, so my recovery time was well.........I was on crutches for 8 months and it is now almost a year since I injured it, am still struggling a little, can't do squats or kneel on it, but can walk pretty well and am playing some golf

Make sure you have a great PT, that will make all the difference in the world!!

I had the exact same injury (fell while skiing...I continued downhill but my right leg went uphill) and was able to rehab it without surgery. Now, my case was a little different as 1. I have the tightest ligaments my husband has ever seen; inflexibility is my middle name 2. I had a 10 month old at the time, and the rehab time would be the same with or without surgery.

I was NEVER on crutches (see above re baby) and used a cane so I would have one hand free- the PT got on me about using it on the "wrong" side (which I knew) until I explained that my left side (which is where the cane should have been) was my "baby hip."

My recollection was that I was pretty much incapacitated for the first two weeks whenever I would remove the splint, then gradually was able to drive to my PT sessions, and was walking without the cane in 6 weeks. (after removal of the splint, so a total of 12 weeks)

I have no residual problems (except the opposite knee is starting to bother me) and had full function within 6 months. I even went skiing again the following winter.

 

[froglady]

oh and whatever he does DO NOT KNEEL on the knee for at least 3 months (then only sample light pressure like on the bed with blankets).


I did this by ACCIDENT--not even thinking...when to kneel by someone about 3-4 weeks post op. It brought tears to my eyes it hurt so bad--I only kneeled for a second or two before I had realized what I had done. Oh my does it hurt. So no kneeling for 3 months!!

My PT was on the second floor and as soon as i was up to it--I began taking the stairs to his office instead of the elevator (going down first--took another week or so before going up was confortable).

My bedroom is on the second floor, so I had to climb stairs from day one...the ski condo was three levels; up to the MBR, down to the bath and kitchen.

And again, I had that baby, so I'm afraid that HE dictated my motions a lot of the time.

 

[Jpgirl]

My business partner (we owned a personal training business) had this done. She was on crutches for 2 weeks (the last week-just in crowds to keep people from knocking into her). She had an a** of a PT who only saw a middle aged woman and told her to forget running and teaching she'd only be able to swim-so he didn't give her the attention he was giving his teen age atheletes. So in my opinion, make sure your PT is right for you and follow their instructions. She requested another PT and went to 16 sessions. Afterwards she found that she was unable to follow through her stride-attributed it to weak quadriceps and over conditioned hamstrings. Went to another PT to get that cleared up. My advice is seek a PT who specializes in knees and can do gait analysis after complete healing. And make sure he does the exercises!! I used to work for a PT and almost every client only did some of the exercises and none of them after PT was over. They usually ended up back in surgery. My business partner had that surgery 8 years ago and still does the exercises. Of course she exercises anyway but she'll throw in the PT exercises to keep certain muscles extra stron around that knee. Good luck to your dh.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My bedroom is on the second floor, so I had to climb stairs from day one...the ski condo was three levels; up to the MBR, down to the bath and kitchen.

And again, I had that baby, so I'm afraid that HE dictated my motions a lot of the time.

I agree with using stairs. However--I was unable to physically walk for 3 days and then I hobbled on crutches for 2 more. My knee did not bend to take the stairs at all. Since you didn't have surgery--your physical abilities were much different. Had I had an infant--hubby would be taking care of it at the time b/c I was unable to stand unassisted for several days. However--that limitation was very shortlived (thank goodness...I felt like a race horse trapped in a gate as I was training for a marathon at the time and the muscles wanted to workout).

Kneeling on the knee (applying pressure to it) is BAD. You can kneel on the opposite knee when range of motion allows.

 

[Snowysmom]

I had surgery for torn meniscus in 2 places. The doctor shaved down the areas, no sutures. I was on crutches for 4 days, then started PT about a week after surgery. The pain was bad for the first day or 2 and then not bad at all, just advil when needed. PT was for 6 weeks, twice a week. I followed all the exercises at home too. The one thing I wish I had pushed with the therapist was walking up stairs. I am not sure what he could have done but I still have some discomfort going up alot of stairs. Down stairs is no problem. I found walking to be a good exercise while going through PT and after. Good luck with the surgery. I hope all goes well.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am not sure what he could have done but I still have some discomfort going up alot of stairs. Down stairs is no problem. I found walking to be a good exercise while going through PT and after. Good luck with the surgery. I hope all goes well.

My PT had boxes that graduated in size and you work you way up to this really tall (Seemed that way at the time) box. 3 sets working from 10 up to 20 and then when you got to 20 comfortably, you moved up a box.

At this point--lunges would be your friend if you can tolerate it as it will strengthen the muscless that help you lift your leg which is probably why going up is not so comfortable.

(FYI OP--I could not do lunges until 4-5 months post op).


Oh just thought of something else--while I was training...I did notice "drag" in my left leg (with knee that was operated upon)---so I had to take extra caution---your quads act as "brakes" when you stumble or trip. I had no "brakes" in that leg for several months. While on a training run on a rainy day--I was just doing fine and dandy and then tripped on the curb and tooka nasty spill (But fell with grace as I had no brakes so did a maneuver akin to sliding into home with the knee never touching the ground). When the leg is fatigued--the "drag" is more noticeable as it just has that sensation to want to drag behind the other leg b/c it is too tired.

The "drag" is now gone. When I could do lunges--that eliminated that sensation and my leg now feels 100% though I haven't done any weight lifting lately to know for sure.

 

[laura001]

I had the exact same injury (fell while skiing...I continued downhill but my right leg went uphill) and was able to rehab it without surgery. Now, my case was a little different as 1. I have the tightest ligaments my husband has ever seen; inflexibility is my middle name 2. I had a 10 month old at the time, and the rehab time would be the same with or without surgery.

I was NEVER on crutches (see above re baby) and used a cane so I would have one hand free- the PT got on me about using it on the "wrong" side (which I knew) until I explained that my left side (which is where the cane should have been) was my "baby hip."

My recollection was that I was pretty much incapacitated for the first two weeks whenever I would remove the splint, then gradually was able to drive to my PT sessions, and was walking without the cane in 6 weeks. (after removal of the splint, so a total of 12 weeks)

I have no residual problems (except the opposite knee is starting to bother me) and had full function within 6 months. I even went skiing again the following winter.

I did end up having surgery though, that is why it took so long! I was in a brace from my ankle to my hip for 4 1/2 months, then had the surgery. It has been quite difficult to go through as it is difficult for me to slow down. Anyway, am happy to have it behind me!

 

[jaycns]

Thanks guys!!

My DH is a basketball/running/lifting/hiking lover. He played basketball all the way through college and still never passes a hoop he doesn't feel the need to play on. He heard the pop while running (he runs about 6 miles four times a week). The doctors think it was old basketball injuries finally giving way under the stress of running on a hill.

What is bothering him the most is thinking of not being able to do the running/lifting/hiking/basketball/playing with the kids that he is used to doing. He cannot stand the thought of taking a break (although this time he has no choice).

I called him on his cell phone and have been reading him your posts. He has taken a LOT of comfort in the fact that someone ran a half marathon after having this sort of surgery! He was imagining the worst!!

Thanks again and anyone else who has anything to add would be great!

THANKS a million!!!!!!!