[Closed] Knee arthroscopy meniscal tear - anybody had one

Had 3 of them. Depends what they trim, but for me was 2 or 3 days awkward walking, turbo and road bike after 3 weeks and gentle MTB after 4. There was no way I was risking a knee fall for a good 8 weeks though. Still aches regularly 10 years later 😉

missus has had 2 and one acl...
First was serious and about 6 weeks before fully sorted
Second was straight forward and back to normal in 2 weeks though the other knee may need some attention now.

Hopefully 2 weeks then 😥

There was no way I was risking a knee fall for a good 8 weeks though

had 2 - first time was advised rest, keep elevated - 2nd timer no crutches , cycling will be good for it - use as soon as feel ok - I got a box so could get on turbo in about a week - rode up mont ventoux 3months later running in 8 weeks

did spend some time doing knee strengthening exercises - raises, balancing

hope your recovery goes as well

Think mine was 2-3 weeks, but don't rush it in the first few days and do all the physio, including making sure you understand what the exercise does, as some of it wasn't intuitive but was important.

I haven't been given any Physio ???

No pyhsio sounds bizarre, I would have thought you would have a few flexibility sessions. I would doublle check and if necessary pay for some sessions yourself, as a minimum I'd get the physic to show me the right excersizes.

FYI I broke my ACL 10 months ago and tore meniscus. Have been working on rehab to avoid major surgery. 6 months before cycling, cannot run/jog (was never a fan anyway) due to pain which I believe is meniscus related.

Okay, this is getting worse.

After the op (Monday afternoon) I could put weight on it and move okay (straight leg limp)

It's been getting progressively worse woke up this morning and I can bearly move.

This normal?

Anybody before I waste NHS time?

You need to ask your doctor not the internet! I'm stunned you haven't been advised on aftercare and physio. Mine was 20 years ago now and took a bit of recovering. I'd always believed techniques have improved since and heard of people being very mobile, very quickly but we're all different. Good luck.

Anybody before I waste NHS time?

You're findng it increasingly painful post op, stop wasting your time and visit your GP.

Go and see your doc or even better make an appointment to see the surgeon who did the op as they will be able to advise best as they saw what was in there with the scope.

Odd you've not been given a post op rehab program though.

Agree with the above re recovery. weird you've got no physio, I had it post OP then went back for more as it still wasn't quite right.
I also got a video of the op, weird to look inside your body!

Well worth it for 2 reasons...
1. Knee is 90% as good as the other one, which I'm happy with
2. The amazing feeling of euphoria when coming round from the general anesthetic! 😆

You're findng it increasingly painful post op, stop wasting your time and visit your GP.

But dear Eliza, I cannot move, so how shall I get there, dear Eliza, dear Elza..... 😀

If it's as bad tomorrow I promise I'll ring my GP

STW has solved so many of the worlds problems and I'm lying here armed with time and an Ipad. Goto be the first port of call for any medical question surely. Why bother trained professionals until your sure something is amiss.

It will probably go like this:

Me: my leg hurts
GP: MTFU
Me: yeah, that's what STW said
GP: well they are wise, why are you bothering me, there's a lady out there with Cat aids who I need to see and you sir are just a big girls blouse now get out while I treat real sick people
Me: sorry (hangs head in shame)

I am not going to give advice but as an orthopod (most!) people want to see/know about post op patients with problems.

In short this could be something it could be nothing but it is always nicer to reassure a well patient then miss a problem.

Bottom line - go see someone!

But dear Eliza, I cannot move, so how shall I get there, dear Eliza, dear Elza.....

How were you getting to the toilet?

I'm having my arthroscopy 3 weeks today - so getting free medical advice is marvellous

How were you getting to the toilet?

Pervert!

Knee much better today 😀

Op on Monday afternoon, walked (limped) out of award to car - no painkillers used
Tuesday okay, bit stiffer but not too bad - no painkillers used
Wednesday - oooooh this is sore can barely move it - couple of painkillers
Thursday - double ooch - couple of painkillers
Friday - better than Thursday but still sore - couple of painkillers
Sat - much more movement in leg, partial bending and now sporadic dull pain - couple of painkillers
Today - lots more mobile, been on my feet all day, tired and sore but no painkillers 8)

Tiger6791 - after the op how long were you before you were up and about? Did you need crutches?

I had the same op two weeks ago, was hobbling about without crutches after about 4 days and walking normally about a week later... Still not got full movement back but it is still swollen so that's probably why, can bend to about 90degs. Seems to feel better if I keep it moving but not necessarily weight bearing if that makes sense.

Operation seems to have done some good though as I can now straighten my leg without it locking which I couldn't before.

Hope everything sorts itself out, I'm hoping this is the end of 2 years of messing about for me!

Tiger6791 - after the op how long were you before you were up and about? Did you need crutches?

Wasn't given crutches and I survived so I suppose I didn't need them.

Like I say up and about within 2 hours of the op as I had to walk to the car.

It got worse before it got better (soreness) but today is 1 week on and I'm pretty mobile now although there is still a dull ache.

Won't touch a bike for a few weeks and then it will be gentle pootle

I was told it would be load bearing straight away but it didn't feel too happy so I didn't push it. It was load bearing after about a week. I was riding a Bromton ('cos it is a step thru frame) on the level after two weeks. It was six weeks before I was mountain biking but it was several months before I was back to normal, and even then I found hardtails were bashing me about too much for comfort. Thus I've gone back to full sussers. I'm still getting the odd twinge a year later but in the main...it's good.

my one piece of advice is to rest. I missed the last 8 weeks of the short cycling season here, but it was worth all the sitting around (and eating, eating, eating). 😀

I waited a long time for the MRI scan under instructions of do not do anything which causes pain. By the time the MRI scan came along, it had recovered enough not to need surgery. If i didn't rest, then i will have caused some more damage and possibly need surgery.

Point is, if it hurts then stop doing it.

there are lots of tales on a thread i started, at http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/tear-of-meniscus-and-other-knee-injuries

edit: consider visiting a running/walking specialist who can assess the way in which you move. It was suspected that i had a muscle imbalance in one leg which influenced the damage development. Also have a look at taking a video of your pedal strokes/walking/running to see if you can spot any odd movement which may explain the pain

I had the lateral meniscus repaired 5 years ago after busting it playing football.

Used crutches for 3 days, was hobbling about after that, had plenty of codeine about. Was back on the bike within a couple of months, but couldn't go back to playing football. Took me about a year to be able to run again.

Just had knee arthroscopy for torn medial meniscus, feels a little sore (at the moment) , no crutches, knee swollen. Have exercise sheet to follow. Have been given Ibuprofen and Codeine

Some debate as to when I can ride the bike, could be after two weeks, or after visit to see consultant in six weeks or according to Mrs W - March

After my mensicus op I was back on the bike after two weeks (in fact it was part of my part of my rehab). As soon as the knee swelling went down enough that I could bend the knee enough to make a complete pedal revolution I was on the turbo trainer with no pressure on the rear wheel at all and just gently spinning, gradually building up. I also had a six week physio plan including electricity and massage to help with the swelling and then some brutal excercises to get movement back. This was in 2004 and have had no trouble since. *goes off to find some wood to touch*

Knee making squelching sounds - which is interesting, and I can't sleep either

Squelching is weird but goes, it's because they fill your knee full of fluid.

I'm back on the bike now but nothing too mental so that's 4 weeks

Wow,I think I'll put up with the occasional locking out until its unbearable. Couldn't bear to go through this post-op recovery.
Interesting thread!

Good nights sleep. Day 2 after operation, no pain just a little stiffness, exercises start tomorrow. Sick note for two weeks / no driving for two weeks - so reliant on Mrs W. After op registrar said that there had been some wear on the bone so not sure what the implications of this are, have got follow up appointment in January . I haven't heard any squelching today

DezB - it isn't that painful

Worst thing was cramp in my toe that I couldn't reach 😯 Full on swearing at it

I'm due one of these after my knee started locking up and an MRI suggests I have "some floating tissue" in my medial meniscus area (rear). I'm unsure as to whether it is worth sorting or if the op will cause more trouble. The last thing I want is them cutting out swathes of tissue and leaving the joint less stable or more painful but unfortunately I've not even been able to see a Dr about this yet, after my GP told me it was nothing but Googled and decided to send me for MRI all I've seen is a physio who punted me on to surgery after one visit and a nurse for the pre-op. Feeling distinctly uncomfortable not speaking to the person doing the op yet and not speaking to anyone qualified to make comment on the MRI results. Physio was nice but just pointed at a lighter patch and said "this shouldn't be here, you should have an op to remove it. I'm not sure exactly what they'll do". Currently tempted to ring up and demand an appointment with then surgeon or cancel.

Coffeeking - I had a similar issue but mine was a pice of bone from fracture and a tiny piece of meniscus floating about my knee. I went through my gp who sent me to Orthopaedics and I saw a the Consultants registrar who said my instability and locking was nothing to worry about, but he sent me for a mri. The results of the mri the consultant asked if it's causing pain and instability he would tidy the knee joint up and booked me in.

Had the op on the 21st my post op notes from what I read ( they won't normally let you read them) said he washed it out with saline and trimmed the rough meniscus edges to hopefully stop any future tearing as my meniscus is the wrong shaped and thinner than a normal meniscus it should be a C shape mine is O shaped called a Discoid meniscus.

The ops nothing to worry about. I went for surgery at 1610 and was discharged on crutches with co codamol at 2130. First few days I was a bit sore and couldn't bend more than 90 degrees and used crutches and by day 5 I was walking and bending my knee near normal. Day 12 now, bruising nearly gone and apart from the odd twinge going upstairs my knee feels much better. No locking, crunching or instability. For me it was well worth it.

You will most likely see your consultant or his assistant (registrar or doctor) who will answer any questions about the procedure. And then your anethetist. You will most likely be put to sleep you will have morphine before being put to sleep, morphine post op and local anesthetic in your knee before the surgery finishes for pain relief. Then taken to recovery.

That's how it was for me, hospital Royal Bolton and Mr Shepard the Consultant.

Good luck and don't worry about it.

See my earlier post, still get the odd twinge. I may have overdone the walking / cycling over the Xmas / New Year break as knee looks a little swollen

Coffee King - If there is a problem I would get it sorted as soon as you can

I had the operation done approx 2 years ago due to knee constantly locking or giving way when standing. Wish I'd never of bothered as the knee is now 10 times worse than it was before the operation.

I wasnt given any physio to do after the operation, wasnt even given any crutches. Had to beg for ibuprofen when I left the hospital.

After numerous visits to the consultant and an MRI scan, it has now been decided that the knee has severe arthritis, but due to my age I am too young for a repacement knee. Its now Tramadol and anti inflammatory tablets for me.

I've had my knee done twice. First was advised to rest, etc. Second and things had moved on and the advice was to start walking straight away and not to limp. I actually had more work done the second time than the first, but recovery was so much quicker. I even went to a Steel Panther gig a couple of days afterwards (mind you it did hurt that night!!!!). Fine now

I think mine seems to be better for the op but early days yet

Well thanks for the comments guys, though one or two are a bit worrying! I'm booked in for an op on Saturday morning. Finally got to see the registrar who said it's a "complex tear" and that it was very hard to tell what it was like until they are in there but I'm being done by the consultant who is top of the game, so should be positive. What still worries me is that SOME people still have issues and some people are worse afterwards and he said approx 1 in 10 regret ever having it done! At the moment it hurts a lot even on small hill walks but I don't want it to be worse afterward and I dread the thought of choosing to do something that makes exercise even worse!

Tiger - how you getting on?

My leg has now been amputated, thank god for SPDs

Good luck for Sat though 😉

lol, im not sure I like reading between those lines!

Cheers!

Very happy after the op, knee is much better.

In fact I'd not thought about it until I saw this thread so that speaks volumes.

Cheers, appreciated!

Has it this morning. No info back from surgical team yet but sent home without crutches and told to take it easy for a week and then get back to light exercise. No limits on extension or bending, put weight on it as much as feels safe but don't sit for hours at a desk, no exercise for a week or two but bring it in slowly and see hw it goes.

Had mine on 21st December and my knee has vastly improved. No locking, no pain. Hurt for a few weeks. Had a meniscus tear and A Osteochondral lesion, so they discharged me on crutches and touch toe weight bearing for a few week, then full weight bear. Pretty much back to normal now, just got to build strength up in muscles.

My operated on knee actually feels more free than the other unoperated on knee

Has it this morning. No info back from surgical team yet but sent home without crutches and told to take it easy for a week and then get back to light exercise. No limits on extension or bending, put weight on it as much as feels safe but don't sit for hours at a desk, no exercise for a week or two but bring it in slowly and see hw it goes.

Its amazing how much medical advice changes. I have had 3.

One when I was 8 years old - 3 days in hospital. One when I was 16 - 3 days in hospital. Final one when I was 28 (10 years ago) - turn up in the morning, surgery, physio asks me to walk up some stairs after recovery - discharged in the afternoon with light duties. Its been all good since but left leg is no where near as powerful as right leg.

Although the knee surgery was a success, I still suffer with a Bakers Cyst (Popliteal Cyst) usually after sitting at my desk or after driving. The Dr says I could have a steroid injection,. Has / does anyone had / have the same problem and had a steroid injection (or other treatment)

about 3 months for me until mine went back to "normal" it was never quite the same though.

Do the physio exercises, they really help.

Im waiting for another one on my right knee as well as getting my ACL rebuilt, Judo, keeps you fit. And mildly crippled.

Eight months on from mine and knees perfect. Well worth having done. Just Achilles tendon tear now in my other leg 👿

Cheers

I'm now joining the arthroscopy club. Had MRI results yesterday and told i have a horizontal tear in the meniscus and scar tissue. Been told if its just clean up, then its two weeks, but if it needs trimming/cutting then it will be six weeks with no weight on the leg. Was in knee class for two years for my acl op on the other knee and i really, really dont want to go back there!