meniscal tear

[Lorib]

I am probably having surgery for a meniscal tear I got along with a mcl sprain 2 months ago playing broomball. I have had physio, with some improvement, but still not able to tolerate much lateral movement, so no running, baseball etc (or even dancing wildly!!!) just wondering if others have had arthroscopic for this and how long was recovery and were you good as new. Thankfully I can bike, I don't clip in on that side, can't clip out without a lot of pain. I already have missed a duathlon I had been training for, and am now worrying about some late october events I had in mind. thanks for any info

[Trek420]

Welcome to TE. Surf on over to the getting to know you thread

Many of us have boo boos and such. It's not the end of life. If I was a horse they'd shoot me (no offense to all horse lovers here, self included. No horse were harmed in the making of this post).

Ok, so my promising pro football and basketball career is over I train in martial arts (Aikido) which has a ton of lateral movement. I wear a brace as a preventative measure then and look like a borg but I'm fine. There's no surgical option for me so I have to "remake my knee from the inside" which means cycling, stair and hill climbing ... anything and everything that strengthens and stretches the muscles surrounding the joint.

How long have you been recovering?

What are your goals athletically?

[Imperfectstorm]

I had torn both the lateral & medial meniscus. I tried to rehab it for a year prior to surgery. Now I am biking 20-25 miles comfortably

[sundial]

I've had several arthroscopic surgeries for torn meniscus and it helped me get back into the game pretty quick. I call it my spring cleaning surgery.

The technique and technology in arthroscopic surgeries have advanced in just the last few years and it is helping to promote more complete recovery and less trauma to the tissues.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[MomOnBike]

I got scoped for a medial meniscus tear this spring. While he was in there he vacuumed out some arthritis damage. I'm only now walking like a human being. In fairness, the tear was pretty bad & I'm bone-on-bone at one point.

Going to the gym and walking in the pool helped more than anything else, both before and after the procedure. That took the weight off the knee and I could do some stretches and excercises that I would NEVER attempt on dry land.

[stacie13]

I had a small meniscus tear and it took over a year to get the surgery. I injured it playing pond hockey one winter, hit a crack in the ice and I went one way, while my lower leg stayed put. Ouch! The next week was brutal in attempting to walk, and my knee felt "loose" and was getting worse right up until the surgery. Or at least it felt like that, I just didn't trust it from giving out on me. I was SO careful too, and I'm super active so it was annoying!

I opted for the arthroscope surgery and even though for about 5 days after the surgery, I was wondering WHY I had it - the pain and "looseness" of my knee was intense! But sure enough, not long after that, maybe a couple weeks, it felt WAY better. Within a month I think, things were totally fine with the knee. Now, a year and a half after the surgery, I forget I even hurt my knee.

So, I say go for it, my experience with the surgery was great! You'll feel like you have a new knee!!