Medial meniscus knee surgery: have you had it done? (I have) here's my report 20+ days after surgery (allergy, back pain)
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It sounds like you are doing well, Pavarotti. When your knee is sore, back off and rest it a day or two and ice/heat as instructed. That soreness is your body telling you (every so often) that you are doing too much.
Salutations, one and all.
I had (right) medial meniscus surgery on September 17th (2008). This is my first time posting and have read, with interest, the comments and experience of others. I'm hoping to learn more and, if possible share insights (and mistakes I've made) in the event that they might illuminate.
My first post-op follow-up with the Orthopedist will be Tuesday, September 23rd (6 days following surgery). My doctor was surprised to learn of my a) severe pain and b) inability to bear weight, *at all*.
I was told by a now-retired (and superb) PT that icing and *not* "over-doing" were of utmost importance. While my Doc thought it was "over-kill" that I borrowed a walker to have at home with me, I am very glad that I did.
For the first 3 days, post-op, I used crutches (I was told I could "use a cane" when being discharged - - NO WAY!). Today, Day 4 following surgery, I "graduated" myself to the walker, with tentative ability to (tentatively) apply weight-bearing to the right leg.
I believe I've been helped alot from having been a dancer and massage therapist. But, even more importantly, from being reminded (by others, when I'm often too thick to follow my own advice/instincts) that one must trust their own sensibilities and not be intimidated to tell a practitioner that they believe (aka *know*) that something does not feel right, ie: "STOP! THAT'S PAINFUL!" There are many practitioners who, sadly, do not know what they're doing. And, even if they do, they must get feedback from the patient if they're not intuitive enough to automatically understand what's going on with their patient.
I'm totally new to surgery. I've much to learn along the way. I'm doing lots of icing. And resting. And also, when it feels right, as of today, taking tiny walks within my apartment, using that "over-kill" walker AND making sure I'm wearing socks and supportive (running) shoes to absorb shock (I'm so accustomed to going barefoot indoors, it was a mega-DUH! on my part when i realized I should have been using supportive, shock absorbing footwear indoors from the get-go.
My usual workouts over the recent years have consisted of Pilates mat work (with a mega-intelligent instructor who teaches at my gym), most recently the stationary bike (my Acupuncturist took me OFF of the cross-trainer and it made a world of difference for me: I had been working out on the Xtrainer and, it turned out, the weight-bearing and motion was doing disservice to my knee) and (before the knee-thing kicked-in) doing lots of daily walking (I'm a New Yorker and walk most everywhere, whenever possible. If using subways, there are lots of long walk-ways and stairs).
Water therapy is great, but - - depending upon the person's situation, post or pre-op - - the resistance that would normally be most beneficial to one's muscles, tendons & ligaments, could/can actually aggravate (been there/done that). So be careful/seek good professional feedback per your particular condition when considering swimming (or even "just" doing range of motion exercises in the water) as part of your PT regimen.
Guess that's all I have to write at this time. Except that I hope all are doing well in their recovery processes. I look forward to reading and learning more.
Be well -
ToughButTender
Here's my knee story; I went from healthy to debilitated overnight!
10 years ago, I was carrying cartons of heavy floor tiles from the car to the house & placing them on the floor - trying not to put the weight on my back. Unfortunately, I squatted wrong with my knees extending past my toes. The next day...... I could barely walk from the discomfort and weakness in my knees .
To make a long story short..... went to the doctor / I declined to take NSAIDS / went to see an orthopedic surgeon / he wanted to do the arthroscopy / I said no / went for an MRI / it revealed horizontal clevage tear of the meniscus / I refused surgery or drugs and asked for PT / X-Rays revealed osteoarthritis / my knees hurt so I retired from work / my walking was impaired / couldn't run, jump, squat.
Three months after the injury I retired from work because of the pain and I was eligible, anyway; I bought my first PC and spent all day researching knees, arthritis, diet to reduce inflammation, etc. I wanted to know..... will the meniscus ever repair itself? will the arthritis ever go away? will I ever be back to normal again?
I changed my diet to an "anti-inflammatory" eating plan. I started taking glucosamine-chondroiten daily, I try to be as active as I can. Ten years later here I am...... no pain except when I walk too fast or too long - then my knees ache. I still don't run, jump, squat but, at age 70, I'm OK
ConeylsBabe; Answer to some of your questions. To begin with, you should of had the Arthroscopy surgery done. Orthpedic surgeons know their trade. I had both of my knees done. Meniscus cannot repair itself. During my surgery, he took pictures inside my knee that showed the internal condition and the Arthritic pock marks on the bone. Bone spurs that would dig into the flesh as my knee bent causing sharp pain. No more cartilege and I have basically bone against bone with NO cushion. Swollen knees is the norm depending on my walking or usage. As too weather, the DR said that I would know the weather changes and I sure do. I'm 77 and had the surgeries 15 and 20 yrs ago. Wish you well. Steve
I had my ACL replaced 4 weeks ago, those electric shocks just started a couple of days ago. I see you posted this a while ago, did they go away on their own??? What was it?? I can't stand it anymore!!!!
Here's my knee story; I went from healthy to debilitated overnight!
10 years ago, I was carrying cartons of heavy floor tiles from the car to the house & placing them on the floor - trying not to put the weight on my back. Unfortunately, I squatted wrong with my knees extending past my toes. The next day...... I could barely walk from the discomfort and weakness in my knees .
To make a long story short..... went to the doctor / I declined to take NSAIDS / went to see an orthopedic surgeon / he wanted to do the arthroscopy / I said no / went for an MRI / it revealed horizontal clevage tear of the meniscus / I refused surgery or drugs and asked for PT / X-Rays revealed osteoarthritis / my knees hurt so I retired from work / my walking was impaired / couldn't run, jump, squat.
Three months after the injury I retired from work because of the pain and I was eligible, anyway; I bought my first PC and spent all day researching knees, arthritis, diet to reduce inflammation, etc. I wanted to know..... will the meniscus ever repair itself? will the arthritis ever go away? will I ever be back to normal again?
I changed my diet to an "anti-inflammatory" eating plan. I started taking glucosamine-chondroiten daily, I try to be as active as I can. Ten years later here I am...... no pain except when I walk too fast or too long - then my knees ache. I still don't run, jump, squat but, at age 70, I'm OK
I screwed up my knee when I was in my late 20s, but it stopped hurting pretty quickly so I ignored it. Eventually, it got more and more painful and I kept telling my doc, and he said it was arthritis, and I'd have to get 'used' to it! After 12 years of that, and after untold numbers of times having my knee give out and collapse, leaving me face down while walking along a road, I finally had a temper tantrum in his office, and he sent me to a specialist in another city to confirm his diagnosis. Actually, the specialist ended up doing arthroscopic surgery - durning that 12+ years, my meniscus was torn beyond repair, my kneecap no longer tracked where it was supposed to, and he had to create a new groove for it and clip some ligaments on one side to allow it to move over where ut bekibged. Now, my meniscus is more of an O-ring than a pad, and he told me to be prepared for knee replacement surgery in the future. He also said it would never be stable, but he'd done the best he could, and asked why I hadn't come to see him sooner. I told him what my doc had said, and also that I'd have come in a heartbeat if he just took patients rather than requiring referrals! But the main thing now is that it no longer hurts whenever I stand, and I can walk all I want as long as I don't go further from home than the rest of my arthritis will allow and still get me back again. In fact, as far as I can tell, both from my own experience and my gran's, staying active does a lot to keep arthritis in abeyance.
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/ went for an MRI / it revealed horizontal clevage tear of the meniscus / I refused surgery or drugs and asked for PT / X-Rays revealed osteoarthritis / my knees hurt so I retired from work / my walking was impaired / couldn't run, jump, squat.
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