Meniscus Tear anyone?

Sooze_1975

Hey There,
I have a meniscus tear in my left knee. I've had it for a couple of years now and originally opted not to get it repaired/scoped, thought I'd just live with the pain. I've been going to the gym for over a year now and am now getting bored with doing the same ol' cardio all the time. A couple of weeks ago, I decided to start jogging again. Plus, I upped all my weights in my strength programs. I had to cut out both pretty quickly due to enhanced knee pain. At this point, I feel my knee is preventing me from taking my routines to the next level and am considering finally getting my knee repaired. My question is if anyone out there has had a meniscus tear repair and how they feel about it? Would you recommend it? Were you able to do more once you had the repair done? My tear is in my left knee and, of course, is in the area that has no blood circulation so it will never heal on it's own. I would appreciate anyone sharing their experience with the repair/scope.

Thanks!

fShaw86

I know I have a meniscus tear, because my left knee just gives out randomly, but I'm too scared to get it fixed I do run at a moderate pace just so I don't collapse lol.

What have you done about it so far?

Mslmesq

I had a scope done on my hip from a tear. Made it worse. They wanted to do a scope on my shoulder from another tear, but after the hip I told them where to shove it. Years later, with a great pilates personal trainer, who I consider more of a physical therapist, I am pain free and have full range of motion in my hip and shoulder. Albeit, I'm not going to become a tennis pro or long distant runner knowing the tears are technically still there.

If I was pain free and able to live an active life, even if it was with certain alterations to my lifestyle, I would personally choose that over surgery any day.

Sooze_1975

So far, I have lost 28 lbs to help with the pressure on my knee. I still have much more to lose, of course, but am feeling hindered with physical activity at this point. My knee has actually been hurting more lately then it ever did, so I may be over doing it. Also, one of my trainers is also a physical therapist and has given me some exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee for support. Hopefully that will help. I was just curious what others had to say about getting the tear fixed. I have heard stories of it being worse afterwards and that is my fear.

fShaw86

I like what mslmesq had to to share. Gonna be trying that soon

Sooze, hope it works out for you either way!

ibleedunionblue

I had a scope done. Couldnt run for a month, but I was able to use elliptical. If you get it fixed, get recommendations before deciding on Doctor.

CTCMom2009

I have a small meniscus tear in my left knee and also had a pulled popliteus muscle in my knee... that's the muscle running diagonally behind the knee. I had an MRI done to verify what was going on and I opted for physical therapy instead of microfracture surgery. After 6 weeks of therapy, the pain level is minimal and I have been cleared for most activity, though running was not in that yet. I saw my orthopaedist on Monday and he said continuing with my therapy would be the way to go and if the pain worsens, then we can consider cortizone shorts and/or surgery.

Thewatcher_66

I have one was well. My doc advised me to not only not run but to refrain from doing any power walking, stairmaster, elliptical and most cardio for 6 weeks. He told me that it would help if I used a stationary bike on low resistance for about 30 minutes per day. I have it in my right now and it gives out on me randomly as well. It's been about 2 weeks now and he told me to come back and see if I'm still experiencing pain. I might have to get surgery on it if it doesn't improve. I've been working my upper body and core but not too much of anything else.

Marcamp1978

I hate to be a bearer of bad news, but my mom has the same problem with her right knee. She went in for the orthoscopic, and it helped for a little while, but that's it. Her knees stay swollen, and sometimes it feels like it pops out of place - not dislocation, but if she turns just right, her knee gives out. She refuses to do any surgery, but will go walking. Won't run, though. I wish I could give you something more constructive, but that's the only experience I know about this. I wish you the best, and hope you can find a positive solution!

Kimdbro

Highly do not recommend. Worse off after than before... at least that was my experience, the time recovering and trying to get the strength back also is just aweful. Ice, compression band and strengthen the large muscles surrounding the knee... far better than the knife. I've had the scope and Orthroscopic surgery on left knee, and full reconstructive on right knee. Left knee took two years to get right again, and the right knee is worse than it was before. Plus I gained 50 lb - I hope someone else has had better experience than me. Best of luck.

kevinjb1

I had a scope done. Couldnt run for a month, but I was able to use elliptical. If you get it fixed, get recommendations before deciding on Doctor.

I've had three major knee operations since I was 17 (becuase I stubbornly kept playing soccer). It's amazing how far the technology has come. I had my ACL and meniscus repaired/ scoped about three years ago and now I'm almost pain free for the first time in a decade.

Since you have injured it you will probably always have some discomfort, but I would recommend eventually getting it fixed so that they problem doesn't get worse with time (and it will). If you can I would recommend continuing to lose weight and doing thereapy until you knees are much stronger then revisit the idea of surgery. If you opt for it the rehab will go a lot easier if your muscles are strong.

summertime_girl

I had a meniscus tear last fall. Had it repaired in March. I didn't want anesthesia, so I just got a local. I was done, walked out on crutches, and drove myself home from the hospital. My surgery was on a Wednesday. I was walking without crutches the same night. I was treadmill running by Monday.

I was sore for a while, but did my physical therapy, and have had no pain since mid-April. I would definitely do it again if needed.

wolfgate

I had one repaired in 2011. I went first to a doctor locally who is known as the running guru doctor. I had a couple of tears, a bucket tear and another one perpendicular to a portion of that. I enjoy racing - it's important to me. With him understanding it was important for me to be able to race competitively again, he sent me to a surgeon who has a great reputation for working on athletes.

Two years later I'm racing as much as ever, winning or finishing near the top of my age group (50-54) and have zero pain or limitations. Running some PR times as well.

Was nervous before the surgery, but completely glad I did it.

Sooze_1975

Thanks everyone. It seems my fears about the repair may be well founded. For now, I guess I will stick with the rehab exercises and stay away from jogging. :-( Maybe it's time for me to try swimming.

tinana_RN

I had a meniscus tear about 10 years ago- had it repaired and did pretty well afterwards. Think I just recently tore it again, though this time it's not nearly as painful as back then.

iamsuperfluff

I had a miniscus tear in my left knee in March 2010. I opted for the knee scope surgery. Once I had the surgery it was all down hill from there. I was in much worse pain after the surgery and I never felt better again. I ended up having a total knee replacement in May 2011. I feel wonderful now and no longer have any issues with that knee. Now I have a torn miniscus in my right knee. I'm in a lot of pain and I'm going to go ahead and have the knee scope surgery and hopefully this will be enough this time. i'm hoping I don't continue to go down hill like I did last time. If I do then it will be another knee replacement. I wish I had better info for you but it was a night mare for me but at the same time I couldn't live with the pain of the torn miniscus.

Sooze_1975

Thanks everyone. It seems my fears about the repair may be well founded. For now, I guess I will stick with the rehab exercises and stay away from jogging. :-( Maybe it's time for me to try swimming.

After writing the above, I see a few entries with positive outcomes. Thanks for sharing those!

fatoldladyonamission

I have exactly the same problem. I've recently injured the meniscus and the ligament running down the inside of my left knee. Physio has worked wonders with the ligament but I'm looking at have the meniscus done, we call it keyhole surgery over here. I can't walk more than about 3000 steps a day without being in agony, definitely can't run, but do use a stationary bike a few times a day to help with weight loss as it's the only exercise my physio would suggest. Gutted that it's happened now after I decided to start working on my weight

Good luck with whatever you decide to do x

walterm852

I had a tear in my left menicus, I started to train for a marathon, the pain got worse, it started to hurt to walk so I had surgery.

The surgery went well, I was up in no time. The Dr told me after the surgery that my knee was in great shape, shiny ligaments, only early arthritis looked like a possibility. It was good to know I could push it from there.

kevinjb1

Thanks everyone. It seems my fears about the repair may be well founded. For now, I guess I will stick with the rehab exercises and stay away from jogging. :-( Maybe it's time for me to try swimming.

After writing the above, I see a few entries with positive outcomes. Thanks for sharing those!

Do you wear any kind of brace on your knee? A simply compression sleeve may help aleviate the pain when you try to jog or lift heavier weights. A cold pack that I keep in my freezer is my best friend after a jog or whenever my knee swells. 20 min and it feels much better.

Thewatcher_66

Seems like what it all boils down to is simple. Surgery affects different people different ways. I guess recovery would probably depend on factors such as age, weight, etc. I don't consider myself "ancient" (I'm 46) and would probably do it if my knee doesn't improve. I want to get back and start running really badly.

reddi2roll

So far, I have lost 28 lbs to help with the pressure on my knee. I still have much more to lose, of course, but am feeling hindered with physical activity at this point. My knee has actually been hurting more lately then it ever did, so I may be over doing it. Also, one of my trainers is also a physical therapist and has given me some exercises to strengthen the muscles around the knee for support. Hopefully that will help. I was just curious what others had to say about getting the tear fixed. I have heard stories of it being worse afterwards and that is my fear.

Agree with recommendations. In addition wear a knee support, use ice after work out and Ibuprofen if not contraindicated.

mazmataz

I had this issue last year...it was horrible, I had a limp for about 4 months...and the pain when it would give out, ouch! I went to physio for it and they gave me some quad strengthening exercises to do. It got a little better, and then last winter I went snowboarding with my friends. Fully expecting the worst from my knee, I wore a support every time...and after a month or so of boarding the pain had completely gone! My quads and knees got so strong whilst boarding that it felt as though nothing had ever happened.

My knee gave out again a few months ago when I was messing around with my friend and tried to run home in heels! That took a few weeks, but some quad excercises and everything was fine again.

Moral of the story: get your quads nice and strong!

ItsSlimpossible12

I tore my meniscus in my right knee many, many moons ago. The pain was unbearable and I was unable to even walk a few steps without having to stop so it was agreed scoping was the way to go. I was told that because I was so young surgery and PT would likely heal it and I wouldn't notice the difference in my adult life. Well, I really didn't until I became active again. I have to be VERY careful about any routine I do and it tends to end up sore anyway, but some proper stretching, ice & ibuprofen makes it tolerable. However, I have to wonder if things would be much worse if I didn't have the surgery. I am able to run no problem, it is just the high impact programs (now I am attempting Insanity) that give me some soreness. But the soreness I feel now is absolutely NOTHING compared to the pain I was in before the surgery.

But, everything is a risk and your body will heal differently than mine did. In my experience it was (probably) worth it. Good luck and happy healing!

rileysowner

I had one on the outer side of my left knee. I had it repaired (sewed back together) and after the re-hab it was like normal for 9 years. Then I tore it again and last November have a partial menisectomy which removed the torn part. After re-hab, which was much shorter, it is pretty much back to normal. The surgery is very straight forward. Recovery from a repair is more involved and includes quite a bit of time in a brace using crutches. Recovery from a partial menisectomy is very quick, I was walking on the leg right after surgery, and it is fairly painless if you are careful. I am very glad I did it since my knee would give way with no warning and then it would be locked for sometimes as much a 4 days.

CindyRip

I had my left knee scoped years ago and it was the best choice and surgery I have chosen to have so far. I had meniscus and cartilage issues. I followed my doctors advice and gave it a few days to heal, then made sure I completed my physical therapy. I wore a brace as a safety precaution for a few years when I did anything active, but now my left knee has no pain and is stronger than my right. Ironically I hurt my right knee recently and if I have torn my meniscus I would not hesitate to have it fixed again. I think it really depends on how bad your damage is in your knee as to whether PT will help it over surgery. I personally had a nasty knee break and after that healed then had to go through the surgery to fix the rest, so it really was not much of a choice for me. Good luck with what ever you decide. You can place me on the it worked well side.

Mslmesq

Seems like what it all boils down to is simple. Surgery affects different people different ways. I guess recovery would probably depend on factors such as age, weight, etc. I don't consider myself "ancient" (I'm 46) and would probably do it if my knee doesn't improve. I want to get back and start running really badly.

^ this is true. The problem is you never know what you are going to get. And you have to factor in that even with the less invasive scope, they are still entering your body. Which means in the process of going in to repair what they need to, other things will be touched and probed and possibly torn by that scope. It's just a possibility...they make you sign off on. And I know from experience it happens.

Bottom line for me is:

excessive, prolonged and chronic pain and/or professional athlete = consider surgery.

Not a professional athlete and pain free with lifestyle accomodations, but still actively living life = no surgery.

As far as running, I don't anymore. I used to, but now I don't take a chance on doing it for exercise. I do lots of other things though like walk, hike, swim, bike, skate, etc.

tkdgirlms

I've had 3 knee surgeries - the first one was done by a dr that didn't do a complete job, the next 2 were done by a very good dr. I had torn the meniscus and the cartiledge was floating around, so no choice but to get it cleaned out. Surgery #2 was to finish the job of #1 and clean out more stuff from the opposite side of surgery #1. Surgery #3 was more clean out but mostly to cut my ligament and shorten it as it had gotten stretched out. The #3 surgery has been great and the only reason I have pain is due to so little cartiledge left in my knee. I also know that I will need another surgery at some point as I have a tumor slowly growing in my knee (non-cancerous). I gained my weight from surgery #1 cause the dr kept me doing rehab for 6 months, surgery 2 lasted 1 month and surgery 3 lasted for 2 weeks.