Anyone torn a meniscus in their knee.

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Redgully

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So my knee has been giving me problems for a couple of years now so since it hasn't got better i finally went to dr. MRI shows i have completely torn the meniscus and it has flipped. No idea what it means but will see specialist and find out. Dr told me I'm not aloud to lift anything and limit walking. I moved three thousand pots in the nursery today, 12 at a time, will be doing same tomorrow, thought best not to mention that.... Actually I've worked out how to walk not to aggravate it.

Wondering if anyone has done similar and what action and recovery you took. Apparently a tear heals itself but this is torn right off, what a pain.
 
I have had it torn in both knees over the years. I disagree that it will heal itself. It's already torn so do what you please but you will make it hurt worse.
Easy repair with laser surgery. 2 small incisions. Hurts a little afterwards for a few days but nothing like before. Took me a week or so to be able to climb up in the tractor. Would definitely have it repaired again if needed.
 
kenny thomas said:
I have had it torn in both knees over the years. I disagree that it will heal itself. It's already torn so do what you please but you will make it hurt worse.
Easy repair with laser surgery. 2 small incisions. Hurts a little afterwards for a few days but nothing like before. Took me a week or so to be able to climb up in the tractor. Would definitely have it repaired again if needed.

I will definitely be having surgery if they say they can help it. I'm only 44, got a lot of walking left to do! Glad to hear you had a good outcome. To be honest my only hesitation is anaesthetic, always makes me really crook.
 
Stepped down off the tractor and heard a snap that sounded like a 22 short. Walked stiff legged for a few days. Bought a knee brace at the drug store. Surgeon told me a torn meniscus is pretty common and in most cases people over 40 years old unless they are an athlete they don't bother to repair them. This was a year ago. I never got surgery. Can't tell it was ever torn.
 
Sounds like you will need it trimmed up a bit Red. If a flap is between the joint it will obviously pinch when you walk. If no other ligament damage the prognosis should be good.

Ken
 
504RP said:
Stepped down off the tractor and heard a snap that sounded like a 22 short. Walked stiff legged for a few days. Bought a knee brace at the drug store. Surgeon told me a torn meniscus is pretty common and in most cases people over 40 years old unless they are an athlete they don't bother to repair them. This was a year ago. I never got surgery. Can't tell it was ever torn.

Pretty sure that is what happened to my left knee, but this one, my right, is locking and the pain just wont go away. Annoying because i don't have time for it.
 
wbvs58 said:
Sounds like you will need it trimmed up a bit Red. If a flap is between the joint it will obviously pinch when you walk. If no other ligament damage the prognosis should be good.

Ken

luckily all the other tendons and ligaments are in tact. There is some thickening of the tendons but i reckon we all have that.
 
The son who played college football had both done. My wife had one done at the age of 65. It bothered her a lot before they fixed it. Now 2 years later it seems to be fine. She was only down for about a week.
 
Dave said:
The son who played college football had both done. My wife had one done at the age of 65. It bothered her a lot before they fixed it. Now 2 years later it seems to be fine. She was only down for about a week.

That is good to hear, i could manage a week off but any more would be really tricky. I have an appointment on oct 13th so will see what the doc comes up with.
 
Went in yesterday, doc said it was worse than expected and he had to do a bit of work but should be good for another 50 years. Meant to be on crutches for 3 days. Apart from being a bit stiff i haven't needed any pain relief and can walk quite well. Will take it easy for a few days and then ease back into it.
 
Total knee replacement on the 6th of August and new hip joint on the 11th of Jan this year, same side. It has been a game changer.
Used tractor and loader to put out bales twice after the knee surgery. Now it looks like I may not get in the cab again, Jury still out on that.
Try to use rotational grazing as much as possible in summer so there is a lot of walking required as the paddock size changes all the time
depending on what is availible. Hip was easier than knee. The surgeon sawed my thighbone off in the morning pounded a new socket in,
sewed me up and I was on my feet that afternoon. Sounds good? It wasn't! My praise to the great I AM and to the sugeons whose hands
He guides and the host of 'angels' in the operating room. I know where my Help comes from. I am richly blessed, May you be as well.
 
Had a torn medial meniscus in right knee in a car accident in June 2007. Pain increased and finally had orthroscopic surgery to trim the piece and smooth it out in Dec 2007. Was good until about 3 years ago and the cartilage was completely worn down. Now both are bad and will be having both replaced sometime this year. One thing to understand about meniscus and cartilage in the joints.... there is no direct blood flow to the joints so they do not "repair" themselves like any other parts of the body that have blood flow to them that carries the materials for the body to repair its self.
If I had known about Prolotherapy and PRP and stem cell repair,sooner in my life, I might not have to have the replacements..... The PRP and stem cell helped the left ankle and the left knee for several years but the damage was too extensive and continued use, just finally could not be held in abeyance. Mine was too far gone when we started the PRP and stem cell. Constant sprained ankles as a kid set up the left ankle.... injuries to the knee as a teenager and after started the downhill slope of the knee. A couple of car accidents really accelerated the knee damage.
Hips are the easiest to have done and recover from. Knees more common, the response is very different. Ankles are much more of a "newer" replecement, and they say I have had exceptional recovery.....Shoulders are supposed to be the worst.

REGARDLESS, DO THE REHAB. Whether you are disciplined enough to do it at home and with outpatient PT from the start. or do some "inhouse" rehab for a couple weeks to get started....KEEP DOING IT. I am still doing some exercises for the ankle to try to keep increasing the range of motion and flexibility....keeping it supple. And to try to keep the knees working enough so that when the time comes, I will be able to get back to "normal" ASAP.
There is a newer procedure called the MAKO procedure that is mostly robotic. It is said to be less traumatic to the tendons and ligaments and the joint is supposed to be more fitted to you individually. My physical therapists mom had it done, both knees, total surgical time for both was 2 1/2 hours. She was totally off canes and walking at 8 weeks and just released from the surgeon at 12 weeks. He has been a PT for 25 or 30 years and said that his mom's recovery was better than any he has seen. He does this for a living....

It took me 5 years to find a dr to do the ankle replacement and I am glad for every day of pain that I waited to find a dr that I truly liked and trusted. I considered him because he also did stem cell and wanted to get another opinion on the stem cell since I had had some done already. He point blank said he would do it, but he honestly did not feel I would get any more benefit. I could not be happier with the ankle replacement.
So, after my PT told me about the procedure his mom had done, and her very very good recovery, I am going to that clinic for a consultation appt. I had already been researching that particular procedure and was pretty sure that was what I wanted. Then to get that kind of recommendation, it seems like a "DUH" why would I go anywhere else, kind of moment.

Obviously you have to do the initial consult with the dr..... but do some research. Prolotherapy and PRP is a much more common practice in Europe and I believe Australia...... do some research on the internet. It won't hurt. I am very thankful to have done many hours of homework for the ankle and although I keep saying I want more flexibility.... my PT says that I have gotten more than he ever expected and laughs when I try to push for more. There will be some restrictions since the mechanical joint is not exactly the same as the one God gave me, but I am continuing to try to get every last bit out of it that I can. I intend to do the same with the knees.
 
Both my doctors said it is best not to try and repair a tear in the meniscus, its best to trim the torn tissue(?) and smooth it up, so movement doesn't continue to create frayed edges. After surgery the doctor said I could be as active as I wanted, the more I used that knee the better, said I couldn't hurt it, but it could hurt me. And that it did, I'm not good about taking pain pills, and the first 2 or 3 days I was climbing the walls with pain. Rehab/therapy I would strongly encourage.

Interestingly, when I got a tear in the other knee and was told I would have to have surgery, I mentioned this to my chiropractor and she put some sort of clamp(?) on the back of my leg while she finished adjusting my back. She said sometimes this helps. It did, so far I have not had to have surgery on that knee.
 
My son had both knees done at the same time. Granted he was young. But on day 3 he started riding a bike 3 miles to the gym. By day 10 he was running.
 
Yes. Did the big three once, meniscus, lateral-colateral, and ACL. Doc did not recommend surgery since it was only a partial ACL tear. Said if it got to a point where I couldn't live with it anymore, come back in. Doing well 20 years later. Sometimes need to wear my brace, but not often anymore. And, yes, everything wrong with me is cow related!
 
Tore my medial meniscus and partial ACL tear in my right knee, playing football in high school. Had surgery in 1974... back in the day before arthroscopic surgery... they laid that sucker open, and took out the entire meniscus... nothing between bone ends for nearly 45 yrs. I got a total replacement in 2017. Still not 'my' knee, but it's stable.
Had had no problems with the other knee... until I had the replacement... but the surgeon said, just before they did the replacement, "Heck, that other one doesn't look much better!". Since the replacment, I've had the other kneecap luxate a couple of times, putting me on the ground.

Wife had a meniscal tear probably 10 yrs ago. Orthopedist went in arthroscopically and trimmed the flap off. No more problems.

Had to have rotator cuffs 'rebuilt' in both shoulders, 6 months apart, following the total knee replacement in 2017. I thought the knee rehab was bad... it was a piece of cake compared to the shoulders... and 2 years out, I realize I'll never be right (never said I was normal) again. Can't do squat with my arms much above waist level, though I can at least get them up over my head on my own now. Was kinda disappointed this hunting season... had deer close enough that I could have hit 'em with a rock, but my shoulders are so screwed up, I couldn't raise and hold my rifle up to shoot. Guess I'm gonna have to start taking a shooting stick along or something.
 
@Lucky_P, I vicariously understand about the rotator cuff. Husband had rotator surgery 3 times - because he didn't do the PT the first time & learned his lesson. Still, never the same. Couple that with a laminectomy (2 year recovery) and there's no chance raising his arms above his head without significant pain and loss of balance. "Hunting" is essentially sitting in the blind and taking pics (especially since if he actually got one, I'd have to be the one gutting & dragging. Hard pass!).
 
Yeah. My RCs were just GONE; nothing left to try to sew back together.
Last one... I was unloading sacks of mineral out of the back of the Suburban. Something went POW!... I screamed like a little schoolgirl... and could no longer lift my arm at all.
I now have pieces of cadaver dermal tissue in both shoulders, which my own fibroblasts have infiltrated, taking the place of some of the original RC.

I could definitely drag and gut... but would have to take a break or two during the skinning/gutting process. Just can't lift and hold a heavy rifle any more.
 

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