I took an awkward step and twisted it a few days ago. It’s getting progressively worse. I had a low grade non-surgical tear of the same meniscus about 8 years ago. So I’m familiar with the symptoms and what it feels like.
It’s obviously going to be some time before I can see a doctor. That’s not me bitching or being selfish. My little knee injury should be of no concern to any medical professional right now. They have bigger problems to deal with. Nevertheless I need to look out for my own health and do the best I can on my own for now and deal with it.
One of my brothers is a physical therapist. He sent me a bunch of PT exercises to strengthen and rehab the area. He said to avoid high impact stuff like running for a while.
I asked him about cycling and he said it was fine but to avoid high power intervals or hill type of riding.
I have a Model E Concept2 rower but the constant knee flexion and extension has me a bit worried.
So what’s your advice and experience as to cycling and rowing?
The timing reminds me of Lloyd Bridges character in Airplane. ðŸ˜
It all depends on how much pain you want to take the the risk of more injury. If you have a real tear (large’ish) your knee usually swells up and you don’t want to ride at all or can’t. I would judge it based on the swelling and go from there.
Text with my brother the PT…
Sorry dude. Hang in there.
No real advice - the only time I tore a meniscus I tore my ACL as well, so no real memory of which restrictions were for which injury.
Don’t be a tease
Share the sound !!!
My wife had a meniscus tear and played tennis with a knee brace for a few months before the surgery- the Doc told he she was doing more good to stay active and maintain muscle strength than resting it.
Let pain be your guide - my thoughts on the rower is to keep a moderate knee bend and not go into full heels-to-butt recovery but should be ok
You could also try to get a phone or teleconference appointment with a specialist. I had a previously scheduled back appointment that ended up falling a couple days after they started shutting down local shools and stuff in my area, so the doctor changed it to a phone appointment. It wasn’t ideal but at least it allowed the process to move forward and the doctor to give me a pain RX and schedule an MRI. Obviously I won’t be getting the MRI anytime soon but at least I’m in the queue for when things calm down.
tore mine a couple years back, cycling was OK as long as cadence high and not too much load. The rowing isn’t load bearing at least, try it and see…
My experience was the pain came some time after exercise, not during it, so it’s important to start with light sessions.
The doctor would most likely have sent you to a PT, so you just saved some money and time 
what did your brother recommend ?
I had a startlingly wide variety of hip/hamstring/quad/ITB/piriformis stretches as well as a few strengthening ones.
No pivoting or squatting to avoid torque at the knee. Avoid anything that hurts, like big gears, and strengthen those quads.