Meniscus injury... alternate workouts?

likeabanner
likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So my previous thread on here from about 2 weeks ago... I hurt myself probably from doing 30DS over 5 days. I went to my PCP and he gave me a cortisone shot, to no avail, along with meloxicam (also to no avail). I went to see a knee specialist this morning, and he has localized the pain and suspects it is a lower meniscus tear. He said it fits the bill as far as how my gait is, where I can put weight, how I can manipulate myself, and how it hasn't responded to any medications. I am awaiting insurance to approve an MRI.

This specialist told me it's PT if the MRI comes back normal to try and strengthen everything back up and if that fails, OR if the MRI shows a total tear... it's an arthroscopy. UGH.

So while I have been eating within my calorie goals, it is pretty tough with working 75 hour weeks and going to school.

Does anybody have tips on WHAT I can do that doesn't strain my poor leg to keep some sort of exercise? I haven't done anything in almost 2 weeks, and I hate this feeling. I work, of course, but it's not the same.

Replies

  • carissar7
    carissar7 Posts: 183 Member
    I too have an intense pain in my knee that I'm getting checked out in 2 weeks, they said most likely it is my meniscus too. It doesn't hurt every single day, but when it does it's such a pain (no pun intended). I do a lot of brisk walking on an incline at the gym, hanging leg raises or the 'roman chair' for my abs and a lot of upper body exercises (bench press, side lateral raises, chest flys, etc). When my knee feels inflamed I try and avoid doing anything that requires a bend of the knee. I don't know if your pain is similar to mine, but if it is I would avoid using the elliptical, bike, definitely not run, any leg press machines or squats.
  • likeabanner
    likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
    So I suppose I can at least do upper and do some walking on the treadmill? I didn't want to even go on the 2 mile walk I do with my dog because I was scared to hurt it... but at this point, I guess it doesn't matter if I'm going for an MRI shortly anyway. :\
  • Bigfathen12
    Bigfathen12 Posts: 2 Member
    I was unfortunate enough to tear my medial meniscus in my right knee in February 2012. Long and short of it, it was operated on in April 2012 and very quickly (within a few weeks) I was back doing sports (although I took my physio exercises extremely seriously). The best exercise you can do for meniscus tears is cycling with the seat slightly higher than normal. If you keep your knee muscles strong this will help you if you do have the op as your muscles just disappear overnight and the more you start with the better off you are! The physio will have you back on the bike 7 days after the op to get those muscles back.

    I was really worried about the op, but honestly I'm completely happy with the results.
  • spfldpam
    spfldpam Posts: 738 Member
    Excercise bikes are the best things for bad knees. Just make sure the seat is up high enough so you aren't bending your knee down alot. Walking is good too if you can tolerate it. I have had a torn meniscus repaired 7 years ago after injuring it 2 years before that. The knee scope was a breeze and I kicked myself for waiting two years after the injury and pain to have it done. My other knee showed a meniscus injury too but I never had it scoped. I tried Zumba dvd in Feb 2012 and blew out that same knee that was scoped back in 2005, xray shows bone on bone, upper leg bone doesn't connect to lower knee bone off about 3/4" and knee cap is also crooked. Got cortisone shot that helped right away with horrible pain and then had the synvisk shots 3 one a week and since loosing all this weight haven't had issues with it. I am too young for a knee replacement and honestly I don't wanna go through that either! For exercise I do walking at home with dvd, treadmill at gym 4.3 MPH with inclines, elliptical, and strength training. My knee is tolerating all of it so far. I had to quit doing dog agility training also since the knee dr said to stop last year but am going to start back up with that next month and hoping the knee can handle all the running, twisting and quick turns required when running an agility course with a dog.
    Good luck!
  • likeabanner
    likeabanner Posts: 88 Member
    With my injury, it's EXTREME and DEBILITATING pain when I have to do any sort of stretching out of my leg. Going down the stairs, cycling, etc. They labeled it a lower meniscus tear, which may be different than a medial (medial is more inner whereas this is more lateral/lower). My mom gave me her brace from her meniscus injury so I might give that a shot at least working all weekend. Unfortunately, my day to get the gym was today and I work nonstop tomorrow 8:30am through 5:30pm Monday so no gym until sometime next week now! I know, my life, lol.

    I went for my MRI today (got the appt moved up!) and I go Tuesday for the results. Ugh.

    Thank you all for the help! I suppose I will see what the results show before I do anything now that I don't have time!

    So sorry you had such a hard time with your knee! My mom needs a knee replacement and I know she has to donate blood and get it frozen before surgery since she will need a transfusion during/afterwords, and she will be out of work a minimum of 8 weeks. Thankfully, I don't have bone-on-bone. My patella is at a bigger angle than most women's, but nothing to cause concern right now. No bone spurs either, and no fluid!
  • GiddyupTim
    GiddyupTim Posts: 2,819 Member
    Oh yeah. Stairs are the worst. I had an ACL replacement and a cartilage repair this year and it required a very long rehab -- months without doing anything. I hobbled to the gym on my crutches and did upper body stuff on the machines.
    You do what you can do.
    You might also get some crutches and hobble around. Your underarms get REALLY sore, but it actually requires a tremendous amount of effort (like twice that of walking) so it is kinda a good workout.
  • fittocycle
    fittocycle Posts: 827 Member
    Yep, cycling (with little or no tension) is really the best workout.

    I do feel your pain. I've had a meniscus tear in my left knee and then two years later, in my right knee. I had surgery both times. It was pretty easy to get back to workouts after the surgery. Just follow your doctor's recommendations and don't push it. You'll be back to your workouts before long!

    It's funny but I also remember going down the stairs being extremely painful. Going up not so much but down was just awful!

    Have you tried icing your knee? It did help mine feel better. I hope you get some answers soon. Take care!:flowerforyou:
  • dnish53
    dnish53 Posts: 162 Member
    Biking is the best for your meniscus injury, if that is what is what happened. Sure sounds like it. If you go for walk with your dog just go a little slower. I have torn my left knee twice and one on the right knee. The surgery is not that bad and I would highly recommend it before the tear gets worse (which happened to me 4 years ago) If you work out on machines do not do the leg curl for the quads. It will make it worse. Icing your knees after doing anything, including walking the dog, will help.

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