Medial meniscus tears

Just found out I have done mine. Tell me your stories of a quick and full recovery.

It’s all down to the individual as I’ve had both knees done in the past. The key is not to try and do too much too soon and make sure you rest well for a few days after the op. Lots of stories to come though as it’s a popular subject on here!

Checking in as I found out yesterday I’ve also done mine, as well as fully torn my ACL.

I had this about ten years ago. I’m based in Germany and have private medical insurance (it was actually cheaper than state insurance at the time) and so was able to be seen straight away by a doctor who only specializes in knees. After the op I had problems with swelling for two weeks or so but apparently some peopl could walk out of the hospital after waking up from the anaesthetic.. Once the swelling went down enough for me to bend the knee enough to ride I spent a week on the turbo (in fact the doc encouraged me to do this) initially with no resistance. I had two months of physio as well and wa riding normally again after three months once I had built up the muscle mass in the leg again. Not had a problem since then.

I tore the cartilage so badly I couldnt bend my leg. That was 3 or 4 years ago. Its fine now. When doing the surgery they found I had snapped my acl so had to have that repaired a few months later. The knee is pretty much ok now, fine on bike but I still cannot really run. I struggled with the acl rehab due to it causing problems with pre existing hip issues but all told they nailed me back together pretty well.

@Rotorstern. Not liking the timescales you are talking about here.

So far hurt it last Wednesday. Saw GP on friday morning, MRI friday afternoon. Back to the GP this Thursday for official results and am expecting a referral to a specialist from the brief phone conversation yesterday morning.

How did you go prior to the OP? I feel pretty much fine now. I would not like to try and squat but have full extension and can walk and sit normally.

 I feel pretty much fine now

Was it locking up or just painful?

@ Shermer- just painful and very swollen.

I had mine done about 4 years ago now but mine was locking up so incredibly painful whilst locked but I worked out that when I kicked my leg out it would generally unlock it again.

Anyway, as above, the recovery seems to depend on the person. For whatever reason I seem to hold the swelling and fluid for quite a while after injuries and surgeries but I was back playing rugby after about 5 weeks. However, another lad in my team was playing just 2 weeks after having his done so it does seem very subjective. In terms of rehab, my experience was that I was encouraged to do what could, when I could.

How badly?

I did mine about 10 years ago. I think 8 weeks of Physio got me back to a light jog and after 12 weeks I was cycling and by 16 weeks I was fully recovered (i.e. back to competitive football). I was very diligent in sticking to the exercises prescribed by the Physio and I didn’t try to rush anything. Never had so much as a twinge since.

Mrs Dubs has had considerable amounts of knee surgery before (2x ACL repairs, LL Meniscus repair) and had a RL meniscus repair, with ACL tidy up and some removal of bone calcification three weeks ago.

She was up and walking out of the hospital same day. About a week later she was driving, and went back to work on Monday just gone (She’s a PE teacher, so won’t be on full demonstration duties).

She is expecting to be running in a straight line in the three weeks time (depending on what the physio says) and doing some light skiing at Christmas – it depends on conditions, ice is a no-no, blues and easy reds no problem.

She will probably be back playing hockey just in time for the season to end…

I have officially hung up my tennis racquet as of this point. All I want to do is get back out on the bike and not go backwards too much.
Been a crap few years for injuries and I had just managed to get through a winter without taking two steps back.
I was not too down about it but the spiral of despair is starting to wash over me.

I can’t give you a story of a full recovery. You should prepare yourself for that outcome too. You can’t repair meniscus just cut it away to stop pain. It is one area that stem cell research may hold benefits (they regrow your own) – just not quite yet. Lots of physio (maybe done at home as nhs won’t pay). Wobble board is my new friend, poir discipline means I am not doing enough. Speak to specialist Dr and physio, biking is good for me – start very gentle, possible that lots of rutted dh is permanently out of the question

Despair washing over you 🙁 sadly sounds familiar after getting somewhat in shape and going to Alps in 2015 (latest injury end 2012) in the last year I have ridden 40k max, last rides of over 1hr where 18 months ago ….

Had mine done last year, it’s brilliant until I bend the knee beyond 90deg, which I did coming off on WC track at FW on sunday. Takes a few days for swelling to go down, then usually okay to cycle a few days after that.

I’s okay running, but not the likes of tennis or footie sadly, that just knocks **** out of it.

As above, everyone is different, but I see it as a sticking plaster tbh, only delaying the knee being gubbed in the future…

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.
But found sitting on my foot and pressing down unlocks it and can carry on like nothing has happened.
Not sure if I can snowboard anymore though, because the knee gets so painful – feels swollen inside. Still, that saves money eh?!

As I said, a week on and I am walking without issues. I am pretty sure I could go for a ride, almost certainly if it were flat and steady.
I am lucky in that work has payed for the medical bills so far and will continue to do so, I hope. Therefore access to physio/rehab will not be an issue.
@Jamba- some googling suggests that depending on the location of the tear and the form it takes healing is possible. Something about plentiful blood supply on the outer edge boding well.

Thinking a little more, I am tending to worry more about work long term rather than riding. I have a reasonably active role at the moment. Lots of up/down/off the floor etc.

Been referred to an orthopedic surgeon now. Bodes badly I think.

Wooo hooo. No surgery needed at this point. One relieved boy is what I am.

Just had MRI scan this morning. my knee is constantly swollen,stiff, tender for last 6 weeks following 5 days walking in the alps. Can’t put it down to any one particular incident though so may just have been there but the rough terrain finished it off.

Not back to see Surgeon until early December though…so a waiting game. His initial feeling was that I had torn something in my meniscus

Knees are a pain, literally 😐

they bloody are..had to put all adventures on hold for the moment…can hardly walk the dog for 20 minutes!

I had this done in 1978 well before key hole surgery. Knee area has always felt kind of numb! Since early 2000’s have now developed arthritis. Something to look forward to!

Mrs Dubs has been on the turbo this week. Talking about going for a gentle pootle this weekend if it’s dry.

I’m jealous of the speed of your results…I’m still waiting for the follow up apt with the consultant which will be 4 months on from the original injury. In which time I got my GP to get the results of my MRI! 4 months to then almost certainly have to wait several more months for an op!

I snapped my ACL , tore my medial ligaments and tore my cartilage in one go back in 2004. At a and e was told I had sprained my knee. I knew this wasn’t the case and had a two year battle with the NHS to get my ACL sorted. I had to go to knee class every Wednesday and eventually a consultant told me not to have it repaired but change my lifestyle to fit. I was 24. Eventually got it sorted against the consultants advice. However, the 2 years had taken its toll and I now have some arthritis in the knee and through compensatory walking had damaged the meniscus in my other knee. I had that fixed 10 years after. Touch wood though, it’s all ok now. I ride clipped single speed with no issues. Keep the muscles strong as they help pull the knee together!

My MRI confirms medial meniscus tear…
probably arthroscopy in the new year if it doesn’t settle down, which it’s not currently.

Well back from my appointment. Confirmed torn ACL, medial meniscus tear and expected further ligament damage. Surgery planned for early new year. Expecting a total of a year off the bike, especially considering I’ve only managed 3 short rides in last 4 months.

eventually a consultant told me not to have it repaired but change my lifestyle to fit

Seems this was common some years ago – Mrs Dubs was told to give up hockey at the age of 17…

Edit: BTW, she’s been cleared for running in straight lines (no team sports yet) and for “light” skiing at Christmas so that’s a win.

Good news for Mrs Dubs. Gives me some positive vibes.

@ashat you shouod be riding gentiy by 6 months, rough ground is a bit of a buggar following the surgery/injury

I just paid my £25 to get the MRI images as I have a meeting with consultant in Paris ina few weeks, second opinion needed.

@ashat you shouod be riding gentiy by 6 months, rough ground is a bit of a buggar following the surgery/injury

Thanks, thats what I’m hoping and his 12 month figure was to full activity levels?!

Good luck with the second opinion.

I had a quick and full recovery and didn’t need surgery. I was early 40s, had to be on crutches, no weight on it for a week or two – I got told off when I attempted to ditch the crutches sooner. Working in the same building as a physio was quite helpful for that – the telling off bit. I was then told that I should keep the joint moving without weight bearing and was to cycle for rehab not for fitness / enjoyment etc. I did many towpath miles. Six to eight weeks and as good as new.

I’ve been offered surgery on 14th december. my surgeon is actually a good friend of mine – which I suppose is a good thing! Physio really suggesting I put of surgery until the new year and try and let it settle. so hard to know what to do as not getting any better and feels like I am delaying the envitable…

@ashat those who I know who have had the dual meniscus and acl reconstruction say the meniscus actually takes longer to recover from. Restart activity in 6 months and roughly somewhere betwen 1 and 2 years to be as good as its going to be. I personally tried to manage without surgery as I broke my left one 32 years ago and have managed but breaking right one too has been more troubelsome (I assume as I am much older) and of course two dud knees means I have no “good one” to rely on

@freeride French specialist I saw in 2013 said for my meniscus he can’t “fix it” just cut stuff away so it doesn’t hurt – so if its not hurting he said just leave it. TBH it has never been right and tends to swell with any decent amount of excersize

@jambalaya – Yes just a clean up and trim of the meniscus..
problem is I currently can’t do anything, very swollen, extremely tender and diffculty doing anything!

If I thought slowly settling down would be inclined to wait, but no sign of that.

I could be the same come march and then make decision to have op, and wasted 3 months of recovery?

In July I had a minor fall of my bike and the following day I had a bit of a painful knee. Pain was posterior and slightly medial. No swelling and I was able to palpate but I slowly developed a limp and after a few weeks I finally saw a doctor as it wasn’t getting any better and was quite painful (actually thought I was developing a DVT one night when the pain woke me – but it wasn’t) Saw the doc who thought I might have damaged my meniscus and advised lots of rest. I took 3 weeks of work ( most of September) and rested it as much as possible and returned to work. I was able to walk without limping and other than a tiny bit of stiffness my knee felt fine. On the third day back at work we had to bring someone down a flight of stairs and half way down I put my weight onto that knee and felt a stabbing pain. It felt like a crunch but again there was no swelling. This time the pain was all medial and radiated under the patella.

Again the knee could be palpated and moved and there was no swelling but any weight bearing was painful and I could only walk with a limp. Again the Doc suggested rest and after a fortnight he reviewed me and as there was absolutely no improvement he has referred me for an MRI scan.

That was early October and I have my scan next Monday. In the meantime I have weekly physio (organised through my work) and daily exercise but there isnt any real progress that I can see. Exercise is pretty painful and I cannot weightbear on that knee. Negotiating stairs is awkward and I can’t run. I limp after a short walk. The thought of me running up stairs is just ridiculous and to be honest Im a little bit despondent about the whole thing.

Hopefully the MRI will identify the problem and the Doc can specify treatment accordingly but if surgery is needed it sounds like it could be weeks more of waiting, resting and discomfort.

Hard to believe such an innocuous fall could be so damaging. 🙂

Surgeon said to me if they have to just trim the meniscus, you are back on your feet quite quickly (off crutches within 2 weeks). If they have to sew it, its a brace for 6 weeks and no load bearing. As it has no blood flow it cant repair itself.

@freeride yes certainly sounds like you’ve given it a bit of time but that its not going to sort itself. I get no real pain from meniscus just swelling after excersize / a ride or walk

@penguinni.. Sounds just like my symptoms..

@jamba, yep. Already got surgery fixed in my mind

Luckily I got another cancellation and had the MRI on Monday. It has confirmed a medial meniscus tear and today I was referred to a knee specialist.

Glad that things are moving but a tad annoyed it took several weeks before they opted for the MRI and confirmed the injury.

Bit anxious now as Ive only about 8 weeks full sickness pay left before I drop to half pay. Times like this I wish Id taken that private health insurance policy!