Biked the next day, and water ran for 2 weeks. Ran exactly 2 weeks from surgery day BOTH times I had it done (Each knee). While each case is different, my Doc said there was "nothing structural" wrong, so I kept that in mind as I ran. For me, both times I had knee pain, while not the same as before surgery in the same place or even same feeling, for almost a complete year. It gradually went away and that is many years, many miles, and many Ironman races ago. Ask your Doc as to the structure, but know that you may feel discomfort for a while as things settle down in there. Good luck and I hope your experience is a great and successful as mine has been.

Same surgery, 30% removal, left knee early March of 2018, started PT at 4 weeks, swimming at 5 weeks, cycling on rollers at 6 and easy running at 8 weeks. Raced IMMD in September with my best IM run yet. I tried to build up safely, biggest obstacle was my own impatience. Good luck.

Swimming in a week, biking same tho easy, started running at 6 weeks with lively walking at 4 weeks. That was at age 58. Watch for compensating with stronger leg, and if biking ramps up much faster than running address muscle imbalances, quads vs hamstrings in my case. Adhere to 10% rule and maybe give the BarryP plan a shot for run. Good luck.
Not sure if enough time for well prepped Roth run portion. If older like me, some pain could be muscles (trigger points) vs joint. Load up on collagen, cut back on inflammatory foods & maybe try glucosamine chondroitin.

Thanks
I am 61 :(
Hope to recover for Roth!

Thanks, did you wait for running for 8 weeks because of pain or because it was part of the plan?

Each athlete is an individual. For the young, with an uncomplicated scope and no (and I mean no) arthritis, you have likely given permission by your surgeon to advance using pain as a guide. In addition, any of us taking six weeks off and then getting back to us might have some degree of mild distress. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it may difficult to quantify the pain and then to put that into words. So if it's only a bit of distress, maybe stiffness, worse at the begining of your run, keep stretching your limits slowly and good luck.

John

---

John H. Post, III, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Charlottesville, VA

Hate to hijack the thread somewhat

Been having right knee pain, my ortho is thinking a micro meniscus tear. Will have MRI this week

He mentioned, if tear is not that bad, going the route of Gel Injections instead of arthroscopic.

Anyone ever have these injections?

In a quick google, they only seem temporary and not a permanent fix

 

research viscosupplementation.

John

---

John H. Post, III, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Charlottesville, VA

I had an aggressive PT schedule with home exercises twice a day, I was concerned about injuring my right knee due to compensation. My right has been trouble in the past. I tried some short runs about a month after and it was clear to me that I wasn't ready. The PT brought back range of motion quickly and then the focus became strength building-lots of band walking, band exercises and bridges. Slow and steady worked great for me, I had a good IM in September and a pr at the 50K distance this past November.

Water running, while terribly boring, will get you VERY fit. I was doing 2 to 21/2 hour water runs and besides the flexibility and mobility I gained in the knee, it got me fit. If you want it bad enough, I think you should be fine.

---

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

Gary, did you actually "run" in the water (i.e. you're feet made contact with the pool bottom or were you in deep water and doing running motions without contact?

Hey, thanks for the question, and sorry I wasn't specific. It was DEEP water running where I could not touch the bottom. I used a vest to help float, and actually tethered myself to the starting blocks or lane line hooks. By angling my body I could use differing muscle groups. I know a number of runners who have done that and have been amazed at the fitness gains. It sure helped me both before and after surgery. In fact, a friend who was national class runner did it for 3 months after having 2 femur stress fractures and when starting running again PR'ed a 5k within 3 weeks.

---

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

It happened to me.

1. No walking for the fist three days post-op
2. Swimming and bike on day 7...it hurt
3. No running for 30 days
4. day 31-60 I could still feel some pain while running. No pain swimming or on the bike
5. At the 6th month mark I ran a marathon. No problems

Hi, how did you manage the running with pain!
So far I ran 4 km with pain around 3 k distance.
Pain is low, may be 4/10 but I am nesitant to run through pain while in recovery
Did you increase miles gradually based on pain or just using 10 % rule.
Were you pain free for the marathon?
Thanks for yiur feed back

Thanks. I tweaked my right knee this past October in a cyclocross race and having run since. The Ortho said it's patella tendinitis. I can't run and can ride on a trainer but at less than 50% FTP. I'd like to regain my running fitness and I thought water running would help. My employer has a lap pool (3.5 - 5 ft deep) but not something for deep water running.

ETA: I was diagnosed with a meniscus tear in the right knee (and confirmed via MRI) in 2015. After a couple of weeks off I was back on my feet with no surgery. The tear hasn't bothered me since.

I noticed you are a Salming ambassador. I LOVE their shoes. I do my long run in their Miles and race in their Speed 5.

Oh no; sorry about the knee. I actually struggled with that a while ago. It took a long time to get rid of it for me, but I think any downhill running, especially while not warmed up caused mine. Hard efforts on the bike did not help me either in retrospect. You may want to try running in that pool at the deepest point to see if you can clear. I did use a water vest, so was a bit up and buoyant.

I made the switch to Salming and oddly enough a bout with Morton's Neuroma went away due to the ramp and fit with the roomy forefoot and flex. I mostly use the Enroute, which I LOVE and also the Race. I have an older version of the D5 but I bought a little bigger size than I should have, so not a huge fan of that one. I may try the new Miles Lite which is supposed to be really nice too. I'm glad you like them and I think they are making great headway and gaining a lot more support. The quality is really nice IMO.

---

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

Thanks to all for your posts.
I am now 9 weeks post surgery.
I biked after 3 weeks on home trainer and started to run after 6 weeks.
Very short and slow at first with 1 km, then 2 slowly building to 10 km after 2 weeks
This week I did 11 miles twice without too much pain but I didnt want to push it further.
I am planning to go to 13 miles within two weeks still at slow pace then I would move ar quicker pace.
What surprized me is the loss of strength of the knee which had surgery!
I can do for exemple 20 leg raises easy on my left knee but only 10 on right knee!
While good knee didnt exercise during the same duration the “bad” knee lost a lot of strength.
I do a lot of strenthening of both legs and plan to be 100% within 6 to 8 weeks.
I am quite happy with the outcome of the surgery.

Following this. How is the recovery? Where was the tear?

I tore mine and PT and I are taking a conservative approach and trying to avoid surgery. Meet with surgeon in a few weeks but just to see options but PT thinks we can avoid surgery if we take conservative approach by no running for a while and just bike/ swim