Torn medial meniscus
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Torn medial meniscus
Postby cjrich » Sat Mar 30, 2013 6:15 pm
Just found out I need arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in my right knee. Happened playing soccer in December. Been riding with it without too much discomfort and doc says I can continue to ride, but atm I can't run, crouch or walk on uneven ground (bush walking).
Anyone here know how long the recovery might be and how long I may be off the bike after the surgery.
Cheers
CJ
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby malnar » Sat Mar 30, 2013 7:11 pm
- winstonw
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby winstonw » Sat Mar 30, 2013 8:17 pm
all depends on where and what type of tear it is. some are just cut and canned. others are stitched back onto the tibial plateau.
outcomes are variable. often the ACL, MCL, and cartilage have also been compromised.
just don't expect to go back to playing soccer or rugby and being bullet proof, no matter what your surgeon says.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby nathp » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:40 pm
As stated all depends on what they do, take it slow and easy.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby fixedlegs2012 » Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:35 am
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby cjrich » Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:07 am
Hope I can get in to see the specialist soon, wanna get it fixed ASAP. Only been my GP so far and had an MRI last week. Did find an interesting video on YouTube which shows the actual arthrosopic procedure on a real patient.
I'm not in a health fund so will have to either fork out at least a couple of grand, or go in the waiting list.
At almost 45 years of age I guess my days of heavy impact sports are over, too much of these sports when I was younger is starting to take it toll. Time to start preserving the body i think, one of the reasons I took up cycling at 40. Funny thing is that this injury happened during a fun casual game of soccer with some work mates, but they are much younger and seem to get injured just as much.
Cheers
CJ
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby scotto » Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:03 pm
Maybe 10 years ago
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby trailgumby » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:02 pm
So beware orthopedic surgeons - to him with a hammer, every problem is a nail.
As to your question, figure on six months for full recovery. The stretching of your ligaments as they pull and stretch yoru knee and pump it full of fluid to make room for the rotary chewy thing to do its work takes awhile to be undone and go back to its usual tightness.
Movement in rotation was particularly problematic for me, I used to get sharp stabbing pains from time to time up until the six months mark when winding up to pivot the surfboard on the back fins when surfing. I didn't cycle back then. Twisting the knee to dismount from clipless pedals would have been a nightmare I suspect.
Explain your concerns to the carpenter and maybe get a second opinion. If the repair is a genuine repair (eg, rejoining the torn parts) instead of a removal and tidy up, I'd be more open to it, but otherwise it might just pay you to wait the six months and see what improvement you get naturally.
I might have the video floating around here still, somewhere, if you're interested. I only had the stomach to watch it once.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby trailgumby » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:14 pm
One of the reasons I declined to join my local soccer club in the over-40s. They were a friendly and welcoming bunch. I was tempted.cjrich wrote: Time to start preserving the body i think, one of the reasons I took up cycling at 40. Funny thing is that this injury happened during a fun casual game of soccer with some work mates, but they are much younger and seem to get injured just as much.
Then I saw a match. Our guys were fine, played in the right spirit, although the braggadocio acceptance of injuries as part of the game I found a little disturbing.
But then I saw a couple of self-styled "hard nuts" in the opposition team were deliberately trying to take people out with rough tackles, and were not being restrained by their team mates nor the refs. If you didn't have the skill to avoid being taken down you were in trouble. I was disgusted by the attitude. No, thanks.
I was contracting back then. No work no pay. Not for me.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby cjrich » Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:08 pm
Rang the specialist this morning to make an appointment, WHAT THE, 4 months before he can see me. Have asked my GP to refer me to another specialist.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby cjrich » Fri May 17, 2013 8:41 pm
CJ
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby foo on patrol » Fri May 17, 2013 9:07 pm
Isn't that crap?cjrich wrote:Thanks trailgumby, as usual you're post is very informative.
Rang the specialist this morning to make an appointment, WHAT THE, 4 months before he can see me. Have asked my GP to refer me to another specialist.
Hope all works out well for you.
Foo
Goal 6000km
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby Tokyochiq » Sat May 18, 2013 12:06 am
Good to hear you've had it done. Had mine done a couple of years ago - if you're serious about your riding maybe even spend some cash on a few physio appts once you get the go ahead from the doc, always worth it to make sure you get full mobility and equal power distribution.cjrich wrote:Well I had my knee operation 2 days ago. Ended up paying myself because didn't want to wait 18 months in the public system. Back to the docs next Thursday, hoping he'll say i can get on the trainer doing some easy spinning in a couple of weeks. Really hate not being able to ride, but gotta think long term.
CJ
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby moosterbounce » Sun May 19, 2013 12:40 pm
I'm speaking to my physio this week re referral to a knee man.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby eeksll » Sun May 19, 2013 10:33 pm
My referred surgeon has suggested a wait and see .. but not to stop exercising unless it hurts. So i can still ride and run.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby Dr_Mutley » Sun May 19, 2013 11:32 pm
Can u explain the reasoning behind this, and how orthotics would've fixed your problem? Acute bucket handle tears of either meniscus are usually fairly resistant to any sort of remedy except surgical repair/removal. Chronic degenerative tears in the older population less so...trailgumby wrote:I had a bucket handle tear in my right lateral meniscus. The "repair" was to gobble the torn bit out with some rotary chewy thing, I seriously regret having it done. As it turns out, it was ridiculously unnecessary, orthotics would have fixed the knee instability issues.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby lgbran » Thu May 30, 2013 4:09 pm
Torn left knee cartilage in the late 1990's slower recovery managed 1 more marathon.. Discovered cycling 1999.
Over the years right leg pain now late 2013 looking at getting right hip resurface ( my right hip has been compensating for my right knee over the years).
I've been told I'll be able to run again after the hip resurfacing but will be grateful just to get a leg over the top tube and keep on riding pain free.
Wish I'd discovered cycling years ago instead of doing lots of long slow hard runs.
Your knees are never the same again.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby trailgumby » Thu May 30, 2013 5:48 pm
My presentation symptoms were:Dr_Mutley wrote:Can u explain the reasoning behind this, and how orthotics would've fixed your problem? Acute bucket handle tears of either meniscus are usually fairly resistant to any sort of remedy except surgical repair/removal. Chronic degenerative tears in the older population less so...trailgumby wrote:I had a bucket handle tear in my right lateral meniscus. The "repair" was to gobble the torn bit out with some rotary chewy thing, I seriously regret having it done. As it turns out, it was ridiculously unnecessary, orthotics would have fixed the knee instability issues.
* pain in right knee medial ligaments, often ocurring when walking up and down stairs repeatedly.
* unable to walk on uneven ground without right medial knee pain
* right knee locking up if kneeling and sitting on heels
Operation didn't fix any of those issues. Surgeon said he'd hoped the "repair" (see notes on what he *actually* did above) would resolve the knee instability.
What the real issue was is this:
* Foot pronates inwards under load
* Knee turns inward
* strain on medial ligaments
Getting orthotics stopped the foot pronating. The knee now folds in the correct axis. Knee pain resolved.
However, the orthotics were not helpful for cycling, as I have a varus forefoot, and the heels don't really come into play.
When I worked out I had a varus forefoot, installation of both shims supplied with the Specialized BG insoles stopped my knee swinging inwards, making it much easier to keep the knee in alignment with my ankle.
The third presentation symptom I avoid simply by not sitting on my heels.
Bear in mind my meniscus issues were a "bucket handle tear" of the lateral not the medial.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby winstonw » Thu May 30, 2013 8:22 pm
...and this is a presentation I see time and time again, day after day....though because I don't "sell" myself as a bike guru, many cyclists take more note of Cycling's super coaches, who don't 'believe' in varus wedges. incidentally, the medial mensicus usually cops a beating with varus forefoot (forefoot pronation, excessive tibial internal rotation), in addition to exacerbating ITB friction band syndrome, superficial peroneal nerve irritation, and subluxed fibula head or lateral malleolus, general peroneal mm tendonitis, and MT5 base chronic pain.trailgumby wrote:Getting orthotics stopped the foot pronating. The knee now folds in the correct axis. Knee pain resolved.Dr_Mutley wrote:Can u explain the reasoning behind this, and how orthotics would've fixed your problem? Acute bucket handle tears of either meniscus are usually fairly resistant to any sort of remedy except surgical repair/removal. Chronic degenerative tears in the older population less so...trailgumby wrote:I had a bucket handle tear in my right lateral meniscus. The "repair" was to gobble the torn bit out with some rotary chewy thing, I seriously regret having it done. As it turns out, it was ridiculously unnecessary, orthotics would have fixed the knee instability issues.
However, the orthotics were not helpful for cycling, as I have a varus forefoot, and the heels don't really come into play.
When I worked out I had a varus forefoot, installation of both shims supplied with the Specialized BG insoles stopped my knee swinging inwards, making it much easier to keep the knee in alignment with my ankle.
The third presentation symptom I avoid simply by not sitting on my heels.
Bear in mind my meniscus issues were a "bucket handle tear" of the lateral not the medial.
nevertheless, I attended a MRI dinner/workshop last night where a well respected orthopod held the floor. In his humble opinion, moderate to severe lateral meniscus bucket tears have a very poor prognosis if not repaired (the lateral compartment cartilage degenerates at an astounding rate). though from the sounds of your op, you didn't have a "repair".
btw, I am a genuine admirer of Specialized's BG efforts.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby trailgumby » Thu May 30, 2013 10:24 pm
Myself as well. Hopefully they will continue to develop this as a niche for themselves, based on sound research. They deserve the rewards. Hopefully they will avoid the temptation to descend into a war of marketing spin in future years when others observe their success and try to join the bandwagon.winstonw wrote:btw, I am a genuine admirer of Specialized's BG efforts.
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby Dr_Mutley » Fri May 31, 2013 12:43 am
winstonw wrote:
btw, I am a genuine admirer of Specialized's BG efforts.
Apparently they are terrible because of the material challenge principle? Lol
I've got the Spec BG green insoles in my sidis and have found them cheaper, and streets ahead of esoles or G8s
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby moosterbounce » Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:57 pm
Got my MRI results yesterday. Oblique tear in medial meniscus in posterior horn and body associated with relatively large parameniscal cyst. Mild patella chondral degeneration too which I don't think is related. All other bits fine
Anyway, see surgeon in August and I'm guessing that because cyst is on the large side and that I can't manage a full trip round the isles at Coles without being in eye watering pain (and that's not pushing the trolley - that's heaps worse!!), that surgery will be my only option.
From what I've read, I'm above average - only 5% or so of tears get a cyst. These average 0.3-7mm. I'm just over 20mm.
I am finding the wait frustrating. I want to know what needs doing and start working out my recovery strategy. Also finding it difficult to curb "regular exercise eating habits"
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby Crunchy_NuT » Tue Jul 16, 2013 10:50 pm
long story short, the surgery is only a lifestyle thing eg. pain relief -- will not magically make my knee better as such, purely relief...so I've decided to hold off for now until my flare up's get more common, just glad that private health is on my side being able to pick and choose my timings
we wont go into how I was told my knee is stuffed and will likely need a replacement in my twilight years
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby moosterbounce » Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:30 pm
Apart from the mental trauma of a knee replacement, they are brilliant these days. Dad was telling me tonight about a mate in his 70s who had it done 6 weeks ago. No limp now and had been back on the golf course. Sometimes I think the larger things are easier for healing and fixing than the littlE ones.
Good luck with your management strategy
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Re: Torn medial meniscus
Postby Crunchy_NuT » Wed Jul 17, 2013 12:02 am
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