did you have the damaged parts of your meniscus removed, or did you actually have it repaired?

I've had both done(in two different years), and you will be better! In both cases, the pain lasted for almost exactly a year, though it was in different places than the pain when injured. As long as there is nothing structurally wrong, keep reminding yourself of that fact when the pain happens. As far as range of motion, that takes quite a while as well. In my case, the best thing was water running, which i was very consistent at. I also was extremely aggresive in my rehab, which had me running 10 miles within 1 month. I worked very hard to get back, and became much better than before the surgeries. Just keep consistent, and work very hard at it and you will be as good as before, at the very least. Good luck!

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Gary Geiger
http://www.geigerphoto.com Professional photographer

TEAM KiWAMi NORTH AMERICA http://www.kiwamitri.com, Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com, GU https://guenergy.com/shop/ ; Salming World Ambassador; https://www.shopsalming.com

I have both knees done. Get in the water an run your ass off.

While running the water you will not have to baby your knee. You can get a ferocious workout without any chance of reinjuring your knee.

Patience!

DougStern

I have both trimmed. Rightside when I was 20 and left side when I was 28. For me, recovery time was almost exactly equal to the period between injury and surgery. For the first one 18 months - I had 18 months of restricted mobility before the op, which caused the tendons and ligaments to stiffen. It took the same period to loosen them off. For the second one, 14 days from injury to surgery. Six days after surgery I was back on a bike (although I had nothing like full flex, and it was very uncomfortable). 9 days after surgery full mobility on the bike. Fourteen days after surgery I was skiing bumps.

It'll come back. Just be patient.

I had it done in April, was swimming(no breaststroke kick)within 3 weeks and biking within 5....no running for 2 months though.Main problem was numbness around wounds and I worried I wouldn't be able to feel any potential injuries.Physio was ABSOLUTELY key to getting range of motion back with an ongoing emphasis on building core strength in hamstrings and adductors/abductors to prevent any future injuries.Didnt race hard unrtil early Sep but was/am fine now.

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non illigitamus carborundum

removed.

What has your physical therapy comprised of?



have just been through this exact same thing

They didn't really give me any PT...they just said not to run on it for 6 weeks, but ease back into everything after that.

After the first few weeks, I swam a lot, starting the 6th week I added a little bit of running and a little bit of biking.

From the sounds of things, I should add water running.

I'd recommend the water running, as it helps more than any therapy I've seen to recapture range of motion. The nice thing(probably the ONLY thing) about the water running is that since your mind's engaged in the motion of running, and you're busy, the same motions that might be more painful while doing actual "therapy" is easily done. But....get a water radio, as the sessions can be brutal! I did 2-3 hour runs before and after surgery, and the radio or music helps. Take your water bottle too, as you'll get very hot! I did tempo workouts, and the time passed a bit better. That sadi, how does it feel? Where is the pain in relation to the injury? Imobilizing the knee is the worst thing you can do, tho.

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Gary Geiger
http://www.geigerphoto.com Professional photographer

TEAM KiWAMi NORTH AMERICA http://www.kiwamitri.com, Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com, GU https://guenergy.com/shop/ ; Salming World Ambassador; https://www.shopsalming.com

When I run my 30 minutes with 1 minute run/1 minute walk, it's tight for the first 6 minutes or so, but feels fine after that. After the workout, it doesn't feel bad at all.

Today, after my 30 minutes straight of running, it is pretty sore and hard to straighten. The pain moves around - outside or inside of the kneecap. Sometimes below the kneecap.

My initial guess about todays run is that it is just swollen (eventhough the knee looks fine). It may be swollen on the inside of my knee where I can't see it.

Below the knee is exactly where mine felt very tight and swollen as well. Try icing after, as you may be getting a bit of swelling as you suggest. I know it's scary, and tough, but believe me, your symptoms and pains sound just like what I went through. It now is just a memory, and the knees are great! Be patient, and just stay vigilant. It needs to hurt to get better, as long as it's not the same hurt as before surgery you shouldn't worry. Keep at it, and it will be fine by next race season, although as I said, you'll feel "twinges", etc for about a year, then all of a sudden you'll be on a run and realize it's gone. Good luck, and if you want any more "experiences", just ask.

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Gary Geiger
http://www.geigerphoto.com Professional photographer

TEAM KiWAMi NORTH AMERICA http://www.kiwamitri.com, Rudy Project http://www.rudyprojectusa.com, GU https://guenergy.com/shop/ ; Salming World Ambassador; https://www.shopsalming.com

Get yourself to a PT. Call one that deals with runners, and get in there. I did NOT get a PT after my first knee surgery, and it was a huge mistake. It never really healed right.

FWIW, I am on 3 surgeries. I have about 20% of my meniscus left. I have had two partial menisectomies, and have very little articular cartilige left as well. I have had a failed microfracture, and multiple debridments. My last surgery was in 2002, going on 4 years now. I have limited range of motion, and quite a bit of pain. I am bone on bone in places and my knee locks quite frequently. You will not see me running more than 2-3 days a week, (and never consecutively), running more thn 3-5 miles, or doing any wierd yoga shit.

My orthopedist's goal for me is to see how long we can go before we do an articular caritilge transplant (cadaver), and possibly a meniscal transplant as well. He is hoping two plus years, but said a year is probably more likely. I have an MRI about every 6 months (insurance company LOVES me :-)).

Everyone is different when it comes to this stuff. For every one "oops, that didn't really turn out right" story, there are about 50 "I'm better than ever" stories. A lot of which determines which is in YOUR hands--and one of the best things you can do is see an excellent PT. In the last couple of years, I have seen a very good one and have made loads of progess. BUT I can't undo what was already done :)

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