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Good luck. It’s all about the rehab.
Had the first part of my second opinion today. Quite a different approach to treatment, acl surgery will probably in this Dr’s opinion delay the knee replacement by at least 10 years. Thus making 60 - 70 or 65-75 much better than it was looking. Also believes “oil” injection into joint to compensate for meniscus damage will be worthwhile and “nothing to lose by trying”. UK doc didn’t think it was worth it (also twice the price fwiw), Not final yet but first consultation done.
amazing how doctors tell you totally differing opinions on things! good luck, and sounds like progress being made.
I'll post on how my "nip and tuck" goes!
My job for this weekend is to try and work out how to do some exercise without putting load through my leg. Lack of CV workout is starting to send me mad, and the idea of nothing really for a year is going to actually make me mad.
Seated (light) weights, sit ups, straight leg raises (one and both) ?
I made a similar list after my injury and then just wasted most of my time on the internet 🙁
yep, its really hard to do any CV work. I've put on quite a bit of weight.
swimming with float between legs so you don't use your knees
Also wondered about rowing/boxing actions with hand weights. I think it should be possible to do a couple of seated kettlebells (though that isn't really CV) as long as I watch my back.
At the moment physios don't seem keen on me swimming 🙁
amazing how doctors tell you totally differing opinions on things! good luck, and sounds like progress being made.
Always a balance of cost, risk, benefit
Jamba, the synovial fluid injections (probably Synvisc) don't compensate for meniscus damage, more they lube up your knee again after your body's own stuff get all washed out during the surgery. It is something I wish I had as it took me a very long time for me knee to feel smooth again.
The main important thing is getting on top of it early which seems to have happened OP.
It took me a year before I got an MRI and had nearly another year wait for the surgery. I was young and did not appreciate how much one has to push a GP/ physio in order to make progress in the UK.
In terms of recovery, even if you [i]only[/i] have an arthroscopy, you still have someone prodding around in your knee and rearranging everything which will give different responses in different people. I had a massive amount of swelling, inflammation and stiffness afterwards and no NHS physio provided, no matter how much I pushed for it.
I would say the stories of people running around after a few weeks are more the minority and I guess it is pragmatic to plan for the worst and take your time. I pretty much had to give up any running or cycling for a year or two as I had so much pain, even after private physio got me functional again.
The most helpful advice I can give would be to push your GP/ physio/ surgeon if you feel something isn't going quite right, take your time to recover properly and get the very best physiotherapy you can to get everything back in balance going forwards.
Well I saw the orthopaedic surgeon this morning and I need surgery. The NHS waiting list is around 18 months and I can't wait that long so Ive decided to go private. He has a cancellation this afternoon and Im booked in for surgery at 1700 today in a private hospital in Belfast.
Irks me a bit that I have to go private (and self fund) but needs must.
Had my arthroscopy op yesterday for a complex medial tear. Apparently it went well and was just trimmed!
How were your 1st few days after op? I've only hobbled to the toilet a couple of times but things feel very odd in the knee (not really surprising), does it take long to settle down?
I was also surprised to not be given any crutches, just told to rest a couple of days and then start trying to walk around as much as I can, but to listen to my body....
I'm already feeling cooped up but know I shouldn't rush this early stage of recovery.
Had my arthroscopy 3 weeks ago today. trimmed my meniscus (about 20% gone)
Knee still slightly swollen but I think gradually going down. the meniscus tear pain has basically gone, so just need to get this final swelling down. Have been walking lots but no cycling or strength stuff yet.
So I'm still waiting for my repair and ACL reconstruction...6 months from my original referral, and 10.5 weeks from signing the surgery paperwork. Starting to go a little mad, so getting loads of decorating done, with the view that the house will be finished and 2019 can be full of adventures.
How's everyone else getting on?
Well I'm 8 weeks post arthroscopy.
First month recovery seemed to be going well
but kind of been the same the last 4 weeks, still got swelling in my knee, and can actually feel the meniscus...
Recovery seems to be very slow. I am seeing the surgeon on Friday so see what he says.
Been in the Gym and shortish easy rides seem OK. but does increase the swelling
I'm really hoping its just a waiting game for my knee to properly settle. as aged 42 really hope this isn't as good as it will get again!
Ran 100 miles on mine in January, I'm now of the thinking that running seems good for it, as long as I keep it sensible ie below half marathon distance, maybe building the muscle is stabilising the knee.
That's 18 months since it was done, pretty happy with it.
Best of luck folks.
Meniscus tear a 3 years ago. 75% removal of meniscus on left tibia.
Biking lots. 180km rides are no problem (for the knee at least!).
Walking lots too.
Running career is over. Tried again last October to resurrect my running shoes, but to no avail. Hurty knee and other injuries means I've admitted that it's not going to happen. At 44 I'm also thinking about longevity as I still want to be riding/walking/windsurfing etc when I'm 70, so given how punishing running is to my body, I'm happy to drop it.
Only issue is the cold. My left knee feels it, but not when riding so much. More often when I get back into the shower after exercise, it gets a bit painful when it gets warm again.
Overall, not hugely life changing, but no more running or squash. Not the end of the world really.
I’ve managed to live with mine (don’t know if it’s a lateral or medial). Went in for the op, but the surgeon sent me home as I had a snowboarding holiday booked and the knee was ok at the time.
Sort of glad I didn’t get operated on – I can run around refereeing rugby, riding is no problem. Just the wrong angle of bending the knee and pop, it’s locked up. So painful.
Same here except for different reasons I never got it seen to.
In fact I did it back in 2000-2001 and just didn't get time.
It really doesn't trouble me..and now it hardly even seems to lock up for years - probably a decade.... a few niggles but way less than many other injuries I've done.
@freeride from what others have told me meniscus recovery longer than acl replacement
French Dr gave me some injections which may/may not help my knee re meniscus damage. Next few months will tell. Didn’t propose ACL replacement, was surpirsed knees where in as good a shaoe as they are given 34 years woth no acl in keftnknee and 5 years without in right knee. I suppose that’s good news 😐 Anyway can resume “sports” now amd hoping leg is strong enough to ski late March but don’t want to risk further damage and write off summer riding/sailing
Injuries are a buggar
Cool. Good to hear some others are making progress. Keep going Freeride. I understand from my pre-op physio that everyone goes through plateux stages and then makes progress. Fingers crossed for you.
I've been back at the hospital as I have a blood clotting complication which has to be taken into account, but hoping to get that sorted and fingers crossed for op by the end of the month (which runs the risk of being on my birthday!).
Thanks all. yes my physio said it will be a long road, and several I have spoken to said it took 6 months plus to fully recover..maybe my expectation was slightly to high!
will update Friday after surgeon review..
I had my meniscus done last December and its much better. I can manage steps and stairs that were just too painful prior to the debridement.
Total rest for first 2 weeks then started weekly physio and daily exercising - walking,squats, lunges, step ups etc - and recovery was coming along very well. But a couple of weeks ago I think I overdid the squats/lunging and my knee became painful at the rear and along the front where it had originally been painful prior to the op. Physio ceased the squats etc and gave me mostly stretching exercises to do and its slowly recovering.
Saw my surgeon on Monday and he was unhappy I had been doing squats etc. He said physios were too keen to start strengthening the knee but it needs more time. Needless to say my physio disagreed with that opinion today!
Anyways,my knee is much better but not 100%. Whereas the left knee just works effortlessly Im aware of tightness and occasional discomfort in my right knee post op. But there was a fair bit of trimming involved and a bit of bone scraping so its only to be expected.
Hope to be back to work next month too! 🙂
I'm wondering if I've done this in a fairly minor way to my knee. Over the Christmas break I stopped cycling to give myself a break as I commute 5 days 40+ miles a week. Just before new year I got up from the sofa and felt my knee twist. It was something that had happened before but had cleared up within the week, but this time it's still about. The previous time it happened I had also stopped cycling altogether for over a week. I've not been to the doctor about it as assumed it would clear up soon. Been difficult to rest as I need to cycle to get to work but for the first couple of week tried to take it easy. Then the discipline would suddenly break and I'd go off and do something strenuous like riding rocks/steps/drops between stretches of XC on a rigid mtb. Have a problem with battered wrists also not helped by wanting to get into bodyweight exercise! So took the full suss for comfort on commute duties this week. Which just encourages me even more to do stupid stuff.
Wondered if knee injuries ocurring during a resting period sound familiar? It is slowly getting better, it's not stiff, just a dull ache, movement has improved can bend fully if careful.
Oooh oooh a hurty knee thread!
I’m in my (very) late thirties and today had my first consultation with a specialist. Had trouble with my knees for years but lately they seem to be getting rapidly worse.
No strength, grating, fluid on the knees etc etc, now waiting for a date for an MRI. Neither my doctor or specialist want to speculate until I’ve had a scan.
Tried slowly getting back into some very light running this past few months to try and get things moving but no chance, no matter how easy I take it I’m left in agony for weeks afterwards.
I’m not too bad pootling on the bike for an hour once a week but anything more and I’m struggling. Just hoping to get some answers soon.
bluearsedfly - I think it really takes the MRI to confirm the extent of the injury, anything else really is just speculation. I didn't have typical swelling or some other common symptoms, yet still had significant damage that only the MRI confirmed.
From my experience Id advise against impact activities like running and stick to walking, cycling and stretching until the diagnosis.
Good luck!
Thanks penguinni. Just finding it frustrating at the moment. My consultant recommended keeping up the biking and made a point of not loosing any fitness.
Hoping I don’t have to wait too long for a scan.
9.5 weeks post Op. Still some swelling and pain spots in the medial part of the knee. Everything I read should be way past this and back at it...
so frustrating.
anyone else take ages to recover
concerned this is as good as I will get - maybe I have arthritis, surgeon assured I didn't and said just a waiting game.
It took me many months, so listen to your body and try to hunt out a decent physio
Thanks DanW
Good to know I'm not/wasn't the only one
what were your specific issues post Op ?
I think the recovery time can really vary and also depends on the shape your knee was in pre-op. This is just what I have been told by physios, not from experience as I am still waiting!!! Keep your chin up freeridenick if you can.
cheers ahsat...
You are right but when you hear about people skiing and playing rugby 2 weeks after the op gets rather frustrating!!
Oh you have my full sympathies. I guess it depends on the degree of the repair though?
some more info I garnered from another surgeon
"If it was an isolated medial
Meniscus tear in an otherwise perfect knee then here are my thoughts :
Not everyone settles in 6 weeks especially if they overdo it.
Sometimes the inflammation that sits around the edge of the meniscus can take longer to settle- occasionally a steroid injection is helpful. Ultrasound scan it a good way to look for persistent inflammation.
Rarely, in a 42 yr old, the loss of the piece of meniscus really unsettled the knee lagging to bone bruising
At nine weeks I’d probably do and US scan with a view to steroid injection.
Repeat MRI at nine weeks is a bit premature
Had my MRI on Monday, the lady who carried out the scan wouldn’t tell me anything. How long does it usually take for the results to come back?
11 weeks on from my op and I'm still in a fair bit of pain, in both the tear location and from one of the incisions. I've had two courses of antibiotics for a deep set infection and still have swelling around the infected area.
Numerous friends have recovered quickly from their own ops which makes my slow recovery so frustrating. I guess being unlucky and early 40s hasn't aided the healing process.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I'm finally seeing the consultant on Monday, but not holding out much hope for a quick fix 😕</span>
@bluearsedfly you normally need to wait to see the consultant next. For me this was 8 weeks. After a lot of chasing, my GP got the results for me after 6.
Only had to wait two weeks in the end thanks ahsat.
Turns out I need an arthroscopy with the medial plica sorting on both knees.
Consultant reckons best case scenario is two weeks no driving, three or four off work and six weeks off the bike per knee.
Dreading being stuck round the house, I get agitated doing nothing for an hour or so.
Good news on getting seen so quickly (I'm wondering if Leeds are just super slow!). Sounds not much fun and sortable.
Having had 7 months with no major activities and another 6 months ahead of me, I know what you mean about being stuck indoors. I have forced myself to discover new things... rediscovered reading and drawing for example .
Good luck
I'm in a right brain pickle today....I should be having my ACL and meniscus surgery today, but its delayed to next week. That isnt the problem, but rather it has triggered me thinking why on earth I am putting myself through all of this. I did my knee 8 months ago (thats the short version of a very long story!) and I am now up to walking 5-6 miles of flat/gently rolling terrain. We had a lovely walk in the Yorkshire Dales on Sunday. However people kept riding past me and i felt really sad. Today I find myself thinking I cant even imagine getting myself back on my mountain bike - it seems far too scary - so why on earth am I about to put myself through surgery knowing in a weeks time I wont be able to walk down the lane, let alone 5 miles, with 9 months of hard work rehab ahead of me. All seems totally overwhelming.
How is everyone else getting on?
Im back to work, can ride my bike and Im regularly trekking over some local mountains.
Before Christmas I couldnt manage the stairs at home, had difficulty walking across the room and couldnt do my job.
My knee often feels “tight” but stretching and walking eases this.
Finally 4.5 months after Arthroscopy my knee is feeling much better ! Been out on the bike riding gently
it was a long old road to get here and though many times I had made the wrong decision having the surgery but now much more positive.
Seems everyone's reaction to the procedure is very different....
I still have some stiffness if I've been seated for a while but that goes after a minute of two of walking.
ahsat - did you have your surgery ?