Meniscus repair anyone?? I am schedule to have my repaired next week but having 2nd

Hey guys, I torn my Meniscus playing racquetball 6 month ago. Medial, right knee. The strange thing is that I can still play it, but when I sit down for a while or squatting is when it hurts.
As I talk to some people at work, less encouraged to fix it I get, since it seems to be a 50% thing, as far a long term results.
I would like to hear first hand opinion from someone here that have had their Meniscus repaired.
Thank you
David

PS: I am 45

 

Wife had hers done last week.

Oxycodone is your friend.

 

I was 50/50 about getting it repaired in 2004. I stopped putting a beating on my knees for about a year and it felt much better. I've been good until about 3 months ago when I tried to take an extra base during a baseball game (of course I wouldn't be lucky enough to do it at work). I've again limited some of my athletic participation and begun icing it much more than in the past and it's helped.

Does yours "click" a lot or lock up on you? I've only put it off because I get really bored sitting on the couch and get agitated when I'm not going anything.
98b2bb16-1d97-4501-9ec8-1962566c71ce
1.03.01

 

I hear you. I'm 46 and mine has been repaired 4 times. It's one of those things that it either fixes it or it doesn't. It was worth it to be pain free and active for a few years between surgeries. Docs are already talking about putting in a pad if I have to have the repair again.

As far as the surgery, it is a piece of cake compared to my rotator cuff and thumb reconstruction surgery. Three small slits in the knee, they fill it with water, trim and stitch up. Most of the time you walk out of the hospital with just one crutch. The biggest drawback is not being able to get the surgery site wet afterwards. Can make for a stinky situation. Saran wrap comes in handy, wrap the area from mid thigh to mid calf, then you can take a quick shower.

 

A few things you should know:

- Rehab will be extensive. 2 to 6 weeks to return to ANY weightbearing on that leg. 6 to 12 weeks to return to normal walking, transferring, mobility. 12 to 24 weeks to return to athletic activity, hiking, etc. This timeline assumes no complications, no re-injury, and your complete cooperation in rehabilitation. It can be longer if there are complications.

- Rehab will in all likelihood be uncomfortable.

- 100% recovery/resolution of symptoms is NOT guaranteed.

- Surgery has risks.

- Cartilage in adults past puberty heals poorly. It's a poorly vascularized tissue that receives little bloodflow. It is therefore deprived of nutrients and oxygen vital to the healing process. Hence the long recovery period.

In other news, don't EVER let your physician recommend a spinal fusion:

http://blog.myphysicaltherapyspace....ng-evidence-for-the-lobotomy-of-our-time.html

 

If I'm not mistaken my uncle (40+) had his repaired and was walking with a large brace later that day. I was upset because I was stuck on my sofa for 1 month after having my ACL replaced.

 

We need to be clear here - he said a cartilage repair, not an arthroscopic debridement. They are very very different.

That is, assuming the OP knows the difference. A lot of people don't.

OP, are you have a meniscus REPAIR, or DEBRIDEMENT? Debridement is simply removal of the damaged tissue and is a much less extensive recovery process.

Repair is a different beast altogether.

You are likely mistaken. He probably had a debridement. They are very different.

 

I had the torn portion of the meniscus cut out. Repairing required way too much recovery and rehab. I was walking after surgery and within a week I was pretty good.

This was the best option for me. Is my knee 100%? No. Would I do the same procedure again? Yes. The way I look at it is I am not an athlete and if arthritis sets in I sure hope that technology will advance far enough that there will be better options.

 

OP, you've got PM.

 

If you have faith in your surgeon, accept the risks, get a little good luck & are dedicated to your rehab Life will more than likely be good.
Without surgery, the tear could lodge and lock the knee at the most un-opportune time causing more damage possibly. It can happen stepping off a curb.

My medial meniscus was torn (as a young teen) opted for no surgery & did exactly what I described above. Tore my MCL, ACL and totally ripped to shreds my remaining mensicus so the doctor removed it
Fast forward through the years, more surgeries, lots of pain, not good!

I had my knee totally replaced on June 14th 2010! It is awesome!
Yes I have to go to the gym and keep my muscles strong especially if you like to hike, ski, bike & be active like I do. As far as cutting sports, volleyball, raquetball, I made different choices. Its a point where I like doing other things now, but that is just me.

I guess my point is I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide. I know it stinks, knee injuries are really depressing especially if you like to be active. Stay strong and come here and vent. There are many of us who have had it done and made through the other side.

 

You're too young for that, but with the history of trauma it makes sense. Glad it's working out for you.

 

Well my boy, you've come to the right place.. I have had 6 surgeries to my left knee ( you are the odd duck with the right knee, stats support that 80% or better have probs with the left) 1 medial(inside) release & 1 lateral release (outside) 4 arthroscopic proceedures to remove bits, chunks (cartilage), & scar tissue resulting in the complete removal of both medial & lateral miniscus (no cartilage in knee at all ) My left leg is 3/4 inch shorter than my right. I have a question, when you hurt it obliviously it became swollen I'm sure, did you go to the Dr. for exam & aspiration of the knee joint ? & if aspirated was the iffusion just fluid ?(like water on the knee) Or was there blood present also ? Reason I ask is if bloody effusion was removed you have def. injured the lining as well as the cartilage itself. & rehab proceedure is dependant on what type of surgery was done, your orthopedic surgeon won't entirely know til he can see inside the joint cavity. With straight forward cartilage operation, your DR. isn't going to waste any time getting you up & moving so you can start the process of regaining range & motion, with something more substantial like ligament repair, your probably going to be stationary with little rehab at first so things can heal, NO PAIN . NO GAIN has never been more correct. Don't fuck up like I did the first time & get lax on rehab, if you do , good chance of getting adhesions in side the knee joint & scar tissue will start to develope which means He'll have to go back in & remove it, it is NOT FUN & you'll hamper any range & motion you had & may become permanent.. Advice ? Measure it (your pain) in "Good days" & "Bad days" if you have more good than bad I'd hold off, if more bad then it may be time to go under the knife.... Just my $.02 bro' good luck with any decision you make....

 

Thank you.. It wasn't an easy decision either (took me a year) & was definitely a quality of life decision. Not based on getting back on the mountain etc. That is why your posts are informative for the OP. There is so much mis-information out there & yes the terminology is confusing.

 

Had a 'bucket handle' tear in my left Medial meniscus from years of walking on stilts for work. Worked piece rate. You drop something while working, you spread to get down and reach with the stilts till on. Lots of extra stress on ligaments and tendons with an additional few feet of 'leg' length...

When i first hurt it on the, driving myself home was a hoot. My leg was locked straight and i was dring a stick. I had to lift my ass out of teh seat to work teh clutch, all while in excruitiating pain. Even elevated and with ice, teh pain was brutal until i had it drained the following day. The amount of bloody fluid that came out of it was amazing, but i could actually walk out of there after teh pressure was relieved. ...couldn't even tuch the tip of my foot to the floor before without going through the roof. Think the Fonz when he was trying to get off of the Cunninghams couch after having cracshed into the chicken stand at Arnolds.

Anyway, the surgeon basically said i had one shot at saving it due to the way it was torn. He sutured it back together and it has held. I climb steep roofs and work attics while inspecting homes for a living now and it holds up, though not without reminding me sometimes. I've had 3 surgeries on that leg in total, including an ACL replacement. On occasion when i get in my truck it will out of the blue feel like someone is sticking an ice pick into it, (no exaggeration) more so in the colder weather. Still have a few screws in their from the 'forth' so called optional operation that i declined. Had enough, and get why they call them 'practicioners'...

I can keep up with and pass the spandex guys on my hybrid bike, but i wouldn't even try and beat Oprah in the forty yard dash. I keep it low impact...

 

Yeah OP I'm sure you'll be getting a partial medial meniscectomy where the torn edge of meniscus is removed. In patients over age teens/20s meniscal repairs will not heal, blood supply issues as mentioned earlier. As long as you don't have significant arthritis recovery will be very quick.

 

I'm 46 (or maybe I'm 47...my math sucks) and had mine done about 10 years ago...was walking on it gingerly that night...was doing stationary cycle in two weeks...part of it depends on where the tear is...there's a white zone and a red zone (the red has blood supply)...if it is in the white zone they can just chew it out with an orthoscopic tool...if it is in the red zone, It requires stitching...slower recovery...For the amount of pain I had pre-surgery, I'd say it was well worth it...

 

I am a physician assistant for a group of orthopedic surgeons, and the first thing you need to realize is that less than 50% are actually repairable. It all depends on the shape of the tear and the type of tear. Your age plays a big role in it as well. I would estimate that out of all the meniscal repairs we schedule, about 85% of them get a menisectomy rather than a repair.

 

...and of those 15% of patients getting a repair be it with an inside out stitching technique or some sort of arthroscopic anchor/suture/
absorbable tack, many will require an additional surgery/scope weeks or months later to trim out the repaired meniscus because it didn't heal and continues to cause symptoms.

 

Years removed from this post, how are everyone's repaired knees doing? I was just diagnosed with a partially torn lateral meniscus on my left side. As an avid adventurer, this will severely cut not only into my fun but also into my paycheck. Is everyone able to hike for miles with a heavy backpack again?

 

I have had both knees done. I don't hike but I road ride and mountain bike multiple times a week. I get flare ups but nothing a little ice and Aleve can't take care of.