Just got a diagnosis: Articular cartilage tear

egiggy73

Just got my diagnosis: Articular cartilage tear 1.7 cm x 1 cm. Anyone else experience an articular cartilage tear?
The dr told me to start with physical therapy for a few months, then if that's not working, maybe surgery.

Surgery options are debridement (smooth the tear down.)
or
Do something more "experimental" like culture my cartilage in a petree dish (with stem cell therapy?) and put it back in...or harvest cartilage from elsewhere from an unused area of the knee.
Have any of you had these surgeries?

I'm hoping to resolve it with physical therapy, the since of the tear seems kinda big, but I worry about future arthritis, etc.
I'm only 38.

Thanks for your ear
!

unlocke

Just got my diagnosis: Articular cartilage tear 1.7 cm x 1 cm. Anyone else experience an articular cartilage tear?
The dr told me to start with physical therapy for a few months, then if that's not working, maybe surgery.

Surgery options are debridement (smooth the tear down.)
or
Do something more "experimental" like culture my cartilage in a petree dish (with stem cell therapy?) and put it back in...or harvest cartilage from elsewhere from an unused area of the knee.
Have any of you had these surgeries?

I'm hoping to resolve it with physical therapy, the since of the tear seems kinda big, but I worry about future arthritis, etc.
I'm only 38.

I had a meniscus "bucket" tear in September 2011. It was repaired in November, but the doctor refused to let me start physical therapy until around 7 weeks after. By that time, I had already built up scar tissue to the point that my quads and all the muscles around my kneecap were completely paralyzed and I could barely walk. Obviously, I had another surgery (different surgeon) to remove the scarring. Since that time (February), I have had 3 cortisone injections and had fluid removed all 3 times. I am still having terrible swelling. I can't stand more than 5 - 10 minutes before I start swelling. Pain still wakes me up at night.
This has become extremely frustrating with my weight loss efforts. I've had to focus on upper body, but to be honest, I'm having a very hard time staying motivated. I'm good at encouraging others and giving advice, but it's more difficult to take my own advice. (Any ideas welcome.)
Hopefully, you can get the right kind of physical therapy and in the right timing. Good luck to you.

egiggy73

Thanks for sharing. I'm lucky that the swelling went away after 2 months...but I am keeping very low activity until i get through physical therapy. First day of PT is tomorrow. Wish me luck! If you don't mind, I'd like to send you a friend request so we can motivate each other. I am having a really hard time losing weight when I can't exercise much. Talk to you soon!