Ughhh Knee Surgery looming

[Duanerice]

Hi All,
I knew I was having an IT Band problem and figured I'd go get it checked out since ice and stretching wasn't working. Just never know when it will flare up. The other day I didn't make it 2 1/2 miles and I had to call my wife to come pick me up as I was 2 1/2 miles form home and couldn't walk. Well I finally went in, they sent me for a MRI and got the results today. And yes, my IT Band is really inflamed. Didn't look good on the MRI.

But they found I had a torn meniscus, both the medial and lateral (inside and out). Also found some fluid and some roughed up bone thingy (medical term) that they will smooth out. So, I go in on May 18. They won't be removing it or sewing it up, but more of a cleaning it up, smoothing down the area where it is torn. I was told that yes, I will be able to continue running.

So, what I really want to know is has anyone ever had this done and if so, how was rehab? I need to get training for the Marathon around the July time frame. I know I can make RFTT and TOT races, but the marathon takes a little longer to get ready for.

Thanks,
Duane

 

[escape]

Duane, Ouch! I don't have any advice but I wanted to send some your way in hopes of a speedy recovery after your "cleaning".

 

[DianeL]

No advice here either but ouch! Thoughts and pixie dust for a fast recovery.

 

[windwalker]

Turtlegirl2 over on Roberts site just had knee surgery about a month ago. You might go over there and send her a PM for any first hand experience.

Good luck to you. Keep your spirit up, that's half of healing.

Dave

 

[goofyguy1958]

Duane,

I have had both knees done - the left in 1990 (a high school wrestling injury from 1977 finally gave out) and the right twice 1992 (slip and fall down steps on someone’s spilled coffee at work) and then again in 1999 after a fall on a trail run. I now run between 35 and 40 miles a week and in the past year have completed 3 marathons, a couple 5 ks, 5 trail races ranging from 5 miles to half marathon, 2 half marathons... well, you get the point. It was the best thing I have done. The surgery done in 1999 was the worst injury but the quickest recovery. The surgeon gave me the pictures he took of the inside of my knee and it looks like someone placed a bomb in the knee with the transverse ligament and meniscus actually being shredded. The after pictures are clean and I have had little pain in the knee for 8 years now with thousands of miles under foot as well. Good luck with the surgery. Before you know it, you will be out running again and pain free.

Mike “GG” B

 

[NYcpa]

Duane

Good luck with your surgery and recovery.

I am having similar surgery on Aparil 23. I hope to be back training and be able to do the TOT in Oct. We will already be there on vacation. I am also dealing with plantar facitis (sp) and hope to get that under control during the surgery rehab.

I'll let you know how the surgery goes and how fast I am back on my feet.

 

[Calcio]

Duane

I had the exact same surgery done in November of 1999. In my case it was 35 years of playing soccer and the pounding, twisting, and occasional nasty fouls by others on my legs caused a bunch of feathers to occur on the meniscus. The darn thing locked a few times (great feeling), the MRI showed the feathers, and the doc scoped them out.

Some people get little discomfort and little or no swelling. I am not some people. The day of surgery was okay, but in the next few days it hurt and swelled up like a balloon. 3 days later I went to the surgeon's office and he drained the knee. I was thinking, "oh like draining a blister," but I'm a fool. The fluid was in the center of my knee, so the needle needed to go into there. "You'll feel a bee sting" was his comment, but I never knew bees could be so large. It hurt a ton and more, but after draining it felt so much better.

I was doing the rehab right away, and for a while I still had discomfort on the spots in the knee which hurt before. At some point the discomfort went away, although I cannot tell you when. Now I am able to run completely pain free, and never even think about it. Plus along with Vic I'm one of the tribal elders on these boards, so I'm still going strong after the surgery.

Good luck to you. I'm confident you'll do well after the surgery.

And by the way, now I really hate Mike. Not only is he younger and faster than me, he also had way cooler knee surgeries. Mind if I tell you about the tibial-plateau fracture which required a 4 hour surgery and left 3 industrial strength and length screws in my other knee???

Craig

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

I can't add any battle scar stories thankfully. I want to WISH you smooth sailing and speedy recovery Duane. Let us know how you are coming along.

 

[Duanerice]

Thanks everyone, great encouragement and most of all first hand experiences that this too shall pass and I'll be up and running.

Craig, not sure I really needed to hear about the Large Needle into the middle of the knee. Thanks for the mental picture

NYcpa, please stop back in a week and let me know how it went. You can lead the way.

Mike, just what I wanted to hear. I didn't think it would lay me up for long, but I like the thought that it will actually feel better than before.

Thanks everyone else for your encouragement.

NYcpa - I wish you the best and I'll be waiting to hear.....

Duane

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

No idea how--but this is a double post

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hello!!!!


I had Meniscus surgery in October 2005. I was in the middle of training for the full with Team in Training. B/c I was with TNT, I had my slot reserved--but they have a later deadline with Disney than just regular folks. I was able to step down to the half...and by Race day in January 2006....just check out my siggy and our finish time was awesome given the circumstances.

The first month was a little tough with PT b/c I was trying to go from crutches to walking. By 4 weeks I was able to try a light jog...but had accidentally knelt on the affected knee when kneeling to talk to someone (BIG mistake by absent mindedly picking the wrong knee), so I took another week off from trying that jog.

By December, I was back to running workouts and by January--I had completed the half at Disney only 15 minutes slower than my PB at another half in my area where there isn't 1000s of my closest friends. WE consider that a HUGE success and most impressive following my surgery.

The rough bony thing may be called plica? They found that in my knee and removed it when they did the surgery. They said it was something that you don't get a primary surgery for but if they are in there already they will remove it since it can cause problems later (and when it finally causes problmes, then you can have the surgery).


I also had a removal/cleanup of the tear. But FYI--even if they had a repair, while immediate recovery time is different and longer--long term, the prognosis is the same.

Personally--you WILL be able to train for the full marathon. I would have been ready for the full--but with only 10-12 weeks to go since surgery..I just didn't have enough time to go from unable to walk to running. 1 or 2 more months and it would have been TOTALLY fine.

Just keep up with your rehab--strength training will be absolutely paramount to your ability to run. Your quadricep essentially "goes away" somewhat. The more strength in it prior to surgery-the better the recovery time. (I had met some in rehab who actually strengthened their quad prior to surgery to help out). I did have to join a gym..but my PT office allowed me to use their gym as well.

Overall healing time--though you will be able to return to activity very soon post surgery...it will be about 3-4 months before your knee is fully recovered.

I bought an ice pack similar to what they use in the PT office...and I iced my knee after EVERY workout for about 3 months. Swelling is part of recovery and you may notice your knee swelling afte your workouts or any strenuous activity. (Note--this isn't huge swelling...but for me subtle yet noticable).

Also--I wrapped my knee daily for several weeks....then for 3 months, just during runs. I used the sleeve from the PT office as it was breathable and very thin..but still provided compression. That helps minimize post workout swelling.

And for my own comfort zone--I wore the Cho-Pat Dual action strap to help stabilize my knee. This was out of personal preference b/c I did have the sensation that my knee was going to give out if unsupported. I was able to phase that out as well for short distances.


Long story short--if this WISHER can get back on track in a short 2.5 time frame to run 13.1 miles...take that as your motivation that you can do it too. Keep in mind that this WISHer is by no means the best athlete...but yet with perseverence (and the assistance of my PT)--from Day 1 we were rehabbing me to go the distance. The first few days of PT though...you may have thoughts of disbelief (like when I couldn't peddle the exercise bike through one revolution-- Or when they bent my stiff knee to make it unstiff-- ).


The difference I noticed though post surgery was night and day. I could feel quite obviously that they fixed the problem.

Also--prior to surgery--though I made no thought of this until after b/c I just thought I was a slow walker....I was UNABLE to EVER train to walk the Disney races in regulation time. I could not despite training and tips from my coach--get below a consistant 19:00 pace even though I could run just fine. 1 month after surgery (or maybe 6 weeks or so once my training legs were back)--I could easily walk a sub-15:00. Something I could not accomplish in the 2 years prior.

ETA: Somewhere in the Abyss of our WISH training threads between October 2005 and race day 2006...you MIGHT be able to find some of my accounts as I got back on my feet.

 

[Goofyin08forErica]

I had my left knee scoped and cleaned up in 1985 after it locked up after slipping and falling on it. This fall added to the mess in my knee that started from a basketball injury in 1973. I have had no trouble with doing anything after a short recovery period, and best of all no pain!!

I wish you the best!!

Erica

 

[Duanerice]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. I think Kathy went in today for surgery.

Kathy, Hope all is well. Let us know how it went. I have a month to wait until I go in. Rather get it done ASAP but don't have much of a choice.
Thanks again,
Duane

 

[NYcpa]

Duane - the surgery went great. She shaved the rough sport off both the lateral and medial meniscus. Most of the work was done on the inside of hte knee cap. She decided that was where the pain was coming from Her comment was it was a mess. Doctors seem to use that term alot with my joints.

Woke up this morning with minimal pain. Took pain med as a precaution. I found out it still hurt by bouncing it off the bed trying to roll over. I could have gone back to work today but weill probably only go in for half days Wed and Thur. Not sure when I can start back walking.

 

[Duanerice]

Excellent Kathy! Glad to hear everything went well. Sounds just like what I will experience.

Just noticed that you are from the Syracuse area. Lived there for many years and will be in east Syracuse the weekend of May 5 to visit the in-laws.

Let me know when you are running again
Duane

 

[Goofyin08forErica]

Kathy, I am glad that everything went well with cleaning up the messy knee!


Erica

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Kathy, glad your surgery went well. Hope your healing time is good too.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Kathy---glad the surgery went well!!! Hopefully you will be back in teh swing in no time.

Did htey not keep your leg wrapped for 24 hours? I only ask b/c at 24 hours--I couldn't have gone back to work if I wanted to and once that dressing came off--My leg was a jelly leg and soon became balloon leg followed by stiffened crooked old man leg.

 

[Duanerice]

Kathy---glad the surgery went well!!! Hopefully you will be back in teh swing in no time.

Did they not keep your leg wrapped for 24 hours? I only ask b/c at 24 hours--I couldn't have gone back to work if I wanted to and once that dressing came off--My leg was a jelly leg and soon became balloon leg followed by stiffened crooked old man leg.

Lisa, your earlier post was so encouraging. Then this! "My leg was a jelly leg and soon became balloon leg followed by stiffened crooked old man leg." I can't wait! Kathy tell me it ain't so

enjoy everyone.
Duane

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Lisa, your earlier post was so encouraging. Then this! "My leg was a jelly leg and soon became balloon leg followed by stiffened crooked old man leg." I can't wait! Kathy tell me it ain't so

enjoy everyone.
Duane

SORRRRRRYYYY!!!

This all happened in the 2nd 24 hours...then on my first visit to the PT they straigtened me out and got me fluid again. 1 week later I was able to bike on an exercise bike...4 weeks later speed walk...and by 6 weeks I was doing my run/walk workouts again.

Remember.....my surgery was on October 26th....and I FINISHED in almost a PR...the half in 2:38 the following January less than 3 months later.

My leg did look completely normal once I removed the dressing--but since my quadricep was weakend as a byproduct of the surgery....that is why it was jelly leg. My quad didn't work. BUt I did all prescribed exercises and all was fine by race day.

And despite not working out in over 9 months due to pregnancy....the long term effects of my surgery are still positive as I can sustain a legitimate race day walking pace (Though I am jus tstarting out so this is only for about 10-15 minutes)...somethng that was IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSSIBLE or me pre-surgery despite having completed a full and training for a 2nd full with running and run/walking.