Hi,

I’ve been suffering with knee injuries for just over two years, and need some advice from anyone who has gone through anything similar.

To cut a long story short, l’ve had medial meniscus repairs on both knees, with the most recent repair (left knee) having failed – MRI scan shows horizontal tear across posterior horn of medial meniscus. In addition l have a painful ache below my right patella – hopefully this is a hoffa’s fat pad inflammation, which may go away with rest and/or cortisone injection.

To be honest, the rehab for both knees following meniscus repair was horrible (painful for at 6 months), and i’m tempted to have the offending portion just cut out. I’m now struggling to walk far, particularly if uphill, and it hurts if i’m putting the hammer down on the bike (up until my first operation l was racing and training around 150-200 miles a week)

Can anyone tell me if this is a wise decision? I’m desperate to be pain free for starters, but would a partial removal hamper any chances of me racing again? Also, if anyone has had a partial meniscus removal, do you experience pain/instability?

Thanks.

Man that sounds rubbish, I have had knee problems over the years but they pale in comparison to yours.

It sounds like you need to speak to a knee specialist to get the answers you want, hopefully someone can recommed a good one to you.

Healing vibes

Rusty

“It sounds like you need to speak to a knee specialist to get the answers you want, hopefully someone can recommed a good one to you.”

Strangely the consultant who you were under will be a good place to start…

I had knee trouble for a few years and everything that was suggested didn’t work or made it worse. I was then told by a friend to go to a sports physio locally that looked after members of the British Olympic Team. He gave very different advice/treatment and I’ve had no problems now for 15 years. I have no experience of your particular problem but my point being go to a very qualified and very experienced sports injury specialist rather than local GP and hospital advice. They may just come up with a different view or advice. It did cost quite a lot but sorted it permanently.

Good luck!

I had an Arthroscopy (?) a few years ago to repair/remove a torn medial meniscus. I was under the impression that they trimmed it rather than repaired it but the pain was gone instantly and has remained on the whole pretty good since. I have a ruptured ACL in the same knee so every now and again I have stability probs which hurt like hell but I’ll get that done when Im old.

I would try and get it fixed.
T

I am not a racer purely a recreational cyclist and have had 5 knee ops now

4 left 2xACL and 2xcartilage (1 included general tidy up of joint surfaces)

1 right for cartilage

Each time i have injured the cartilage i have had it removed rather than repaired. I have found it relatively quick to recover from the removal (walking next day).

No real issues i still ski and cycle (selkirk marathon about longest i have done) I tend to struggle more on walking downhill due to the ACL injuries but have no problems form the cartilage being removed.

Everyone will be different so, as has been said, it is best to see a specialist or a second consultant for a different opinion.

Hope you get it resolved soon, i think i have missed cycling 3.5 of the last 10 years with knee imjuries and know how frustrating it is.

Cheers
Iain

I have also had a meniscus op. They cut the offending tear out in my case and also smoothed cartilage around the patella. I have had no problems since (the surgeon specializes only in knee ops) but someone I know who is a physiotherapist told me that generally once you have one operation on your knee you will need more in the future.

Thanks for replies everyone.

Roter Stern – Who is the surgeon you saw? I am due to visit Simon Roberts at Gobowen Orthopaedic Hospital who purely does sports injuries (i.e. no joint replacements), who has been recomended to me. I believe he works with a lot of premiership footballers, rugby players etc.

The strange thing in all of this is that l have never done anything to my left knee that should in theory make it tear. Cycling should cause this type of injury should it? All l do is swim and bike???

I’m based in Germany and the surgeon is the official doctor for the local professional volleyball team.If you are interested this is their website. (in German).

I’ve been to see a very good sports physio in Manchester. He used to be a surgeon, specialises in knees and works with the GB climbing team.

Let me know if you want his details. If nothing else I’m sure he could point you in the direction of other knee specialists.

Perhaps see a good podiatrist as well to get your feet checked! Ended my knee issues almost immediately.

Tallgavin is spot on – you need a sports specialist and I am a believer in getting as many opinions as you can. Also as a “layman” I’d say take it easy and build up the mileage / difficulty only increasing when you’re pain free

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medial_meniscus

hope the link is of any use, as for the fat pad issue i had torn one in my left knee and it had to be removed ,as far as recovery its 100% fine but since then i’ve strained my pattela tendon (pain just below the knee) could be worth building up your quads to see if it helps you

Surgeon to physio seems like a dubious career path to me.

Crapknees – i’m pretty sure I saw Simon Roberts at Gobowen for my last knee op 7 years ago. I screwed my knee up 20yrs or so ago (treatment has certainly moved on since then) needed several ops, but i found him very good – on his time scale i’ve got another 5 yrs on this knee 😀 Oh, and its amazing how easy it is to injure you knee badly.

where are you from??

Have a mate who is doing a lot of therapy/biomechanical stuff -worth a call

e-mail in profile

Mike

Personally i wouldnt have the rest of the meniscus removed. You will be likely to be pain free for a while but then you will be v prone to develop arthritis as you will be bone to bone.

I would see a specialist as over the internet diagnosis isnt great..

I have had 4 meniscus ops, 1 ligament and i leg straightening op so that the forces go through the knee correctly.

Not a doctor but just had a lot of experience…(of course each case is personal but its my 2p)

Here some very good stretching, had kept me running injuriefree for years, it deals with your big muscle on upper leg, and will loosen tension on your kneecap.
I mostly do it standing, putting my bend leg on the kitchen table.
it is exercise: 3A. Short Gluteal Muscles—start position 3B. Short gluteal muscles
Maybr it could help 🙄

http://www.fitstyler.com.au/news/174/258/Stretch-your-abilities/

Hi guys, thanks for the feedback.

I’ve had my surgeon’s consultation. Although he didnt have all my records and MRI scans to date, from what l have told him, the type of tear, my age (28), my activity levels prior to my first operation and how long i’ve been out of the game, he has suggested an investigative arthroscopy.

My muscle strength (particularly quads, vmo, hams hip adductors etc) is very good from being determined to keep my self in shape – provided l keep this up he said my knee should be fine in the long term provided l dont run, which l never did anyway. He said l was probably born with crap knee cartilage – the tears were never caused by a specific injury.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this – i’m still worried i’m going to grind my knees into dust. I’m seeing the surgeon again soon before any surgery to discuss, but l need to know if anyone has had a trimmed meniscus and got into racing again.