Injury questions with a medial meniscus tear

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dxp232
dxp232 Posts: 28 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I have been diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear, one that will not heal and requires arthroscopic surgery to clean up to at least slow the damage I do to it. Was told biking is fine which is good but also that "your triathalon/running days should be behind you" and if I continue to run as much as I have I will need a knee replacement in 10-15 years and i don't want that. Was wondering if anyone had any experience coming back from arthroscopic surgery and if running is really something I should avoid? Thanks in advance!

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  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
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    You have professional medical advice. If you want a second opinion, I would look to another professional, not people on a fitness forum.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
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    Oh that sucks! I sprained my knee on Feb. 27th (my birthday!) and I'm still having some pain. I'd definitely get another opinion about your knee. I wish you the best!
  • Play_outside
    Play_outside Posts: 528 Member
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    Mine did not need surgical repair but I run and surf and backpack and it's just fine, I just have a slightly smaller range of motion in it. I have a friend who had surgical repair and she does the same. Mind you, neither of us are doing triathlons. I can definitely tell if I'm being lazy and not using proper form, or if I haven't drank enough water so beware of that!
    You may want to get a second opinion on it, as what I have been told is that as long as you take care of it, ie. decrease activity until it is repaired, and take the recovery time, do your physio, then you should regain most of your function. Mind you, if you have a big tear and a lot of that cartilage is going to be removed with the arthroscopy then that would be a different story. If you can see a sports medicine specialist that would be the best advice you can get.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
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    dxp232 wrote: »
    So I have been diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear, one that will not heal and requires arthroscopic surgery to clean up to at least slow the damage I do to it. Was told biking is fine which is good but also that "your triathalon/running days should be behind you" and if I continue to run as much as I have I will need a knee replacement in 10-15 years and i don't want that. Was wondering if anyone had any experience coming back from arthroscopic surgery and if running is really something I should avoid? Thanks in advance!

    I'm so sorry, that's very painful! I hope that the scope goes well, they are done so often anymore you'll probably have no issues at all. It's a very common surgery.

    Sounds like you got a diagnosis from your doc and then you go from there. As far as knee replacement... so many ppl have then done as they older ..sometimes in their 40's even (that'd be considered pretty young for a replacement) and up. I think of our bodies like a car, we need regular maintenance and care or we have to pay more for it later.

    Our bodies wear out, it's not uncommon for a great many ppl to need joint replacements in life. Between hip and knee etc... particularity if we've been very active in our lives.. sometimes things just need to be replaced.

    If you can't do what you loved best do the next best thing, what's your other favorite workout/love? Biking? Then you become the best biker you can be and that will continue to strengthen the calves and thighs to keep your knees strong. Love to swim? Do it! It's great for joints as well.. for our whole body. Find a new love, it's not easy having to give up something you love but there's so much out there ..

    Take care of yourself and DO listen to your doctor..you don't want it worse down the road.
  • spfldpam
    spfldpam Posts: 738 Member
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    Best thing to do is talk to your ortho dr on this about running. I had a medial meniscus tear in my left knee and waited over 3 years to have the scope surgery on it. After I had it done I wondered why I waited so long to have it done. At that time I was very obese and the surgery helped but I still had knee issues and pain with both knees. I've got bone on bone on one bad knee and the other is messed up too. Loosing all the excess weight has helped alot but the structural damage is done already. I used to do alot of dog agility training where running was involved and tight turns on the course. My knee dr told to me stop doing it. I did for a while and went back to it after I lost the weight and my knee didn't hurt as bad but the running isn't good for it. I can't do running outside or on the treadmill either. I have tried and it just hurts too bad even with the weight lost.
    Good luck!
  • tennis63mfp
    tennis63mfp Posts: 3
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    I have the same thing and I am an avid tennis player. I got 3 opinions. The one that helped me the most was a sports enhancement facility. They showed me how to live and still be able to play tennis without surgery. The first doc told me I was prettying done and I was getting older and may have to really slow down now. Second doc just wanted to put shots in my knee to relieve the pain. The sports place gave me exercises and therapy exercises to get me back out playing. I am playing today with two torn meniscus. One in each knee. I still have pain from time to time but I ice down after every match. Find a sports place!!

    Good luck
  • HillOE
    HillOE Posts: 61 Member
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    I agree with the poster who said if you need another opinion get it from the professionals. I too tore my meniscus, 2 weeks before an IronMan race. Well, I ran about 6 miles and that's about it. I could feel the pain coming on and knew enough to walk the rest as fast as I could (and did). I've had surgery, and they cleaned up my knee, but my running days are over. I rather have no running, but can walk without pain than try and run a couple more years and destroy what's left of my knees and be 100% done.

    I now do aqua-velo races (this will be my first season w/o running) and I DO plan to do IM, but it will be a walked marathon not running. I get asked a lot how "it's got to suck not being able to run" or "don't you miss it?" Well, YEAH it does, but what can I do? I'm not going to go out and ruin my knee when I'm not even 45 y.o! I'd like to think I am a smart athlete than a former athlete.

    Now, during the surgery it turned out that not only did I have a tear, but I also had worn the membrane away that surrounds my bones, so my pain was bone rubbing on bone as well as the tear. Professionals are your best bet for what will be best for you. Good Luck, it's not the end of the world.
  • dxp232
    dxp232 Posts: 28 Member
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    I appreciate all the feedback. I am definitely going to get a second opinion and have come to terms with the fact that i may have to put running behind me (I love to cycle so that's ok with me), just curious to hear other peoples experiences and compare to see if my doc is being overly conservative or not... I am also starting to realize the more i talk to people that a "meniscus tear" is almost too generic of a term as where and degree makes all the difference and unfortunately mine is in an unfortunate spot. Like the previous poster wrote I would rather not run than ruin my knees (i have 4 small boys so would never risk being able to play/do activities with them)
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    I would ask many more questions before accepting the diagnosis that one meniscus tear should stop your running career. It really depends on the location and size of the tear, plus the condition of the knee at the time of the surgery.
  • shinisize
    shinisize Posts: 105 Member
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    Definitely get a second opinion, especially from a Dr who specializes in a more athletic demographic. If you get a knee brace from them, be sure to put it on BEFORE you do anything strenuous (and don't take it off until you get home in case your knee is going to swell up like a watermelon when you take it off and suddenly you can't bend your knee), do your physical therapy exercises the way they ask you to, and don't stop keeping the leg active (unless they tell you not to). Knees have really poor circulation, and using them is the best way to bring in fresh blood flow to stimulate healing and synovial fluid production. Even a long daily walk can make a huge difference in your level of pain and range of motion.
  • dxp232
    dxp232 Posts: 28 Member
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    Second opinion went much better! Second doc things the first one is wrong and while i do have a meniscus tear its tiny and not the source of my pain. His words were "your flexibility sucks and you hurt your IT band by not stretching enough and pushing too hard" so physical therapy starts tomorrow and no surgery! Running career saved (so far)!

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