Trying to get perspectives of those here that have had a meniscectomy on what recovery was like for you. I’m in need of one to repair about a 6mm tear on the medial side of my left knee along with scoping out some roughness under my patella. I’m not too concerned about when I can get back to regular training, I’m going to be work that back in by feel and be cautious, but would love to hear how getting back to it went. I’m thinking more of daily work and other life. I’m 50/50 on desk time and out and about time traveling to and working in schools.
Age 44. 10 percent Menisectomy with a little sub patellar clean up at the end of January this year. Super easy trainer ride on post op day 1. Swam on post op day 2. Gently running by post op day 7. Half marathon at about 10 minutes off of my usual pace at the end of March (2 months out). 2 minutes off my PR at Boston in April.
My surgeon repeatedly assured me that I could run on it as soon as I could tolerate the discomfort. I felt better walking out of the hospital after the surgery than I did walking in.
I had this surgery on my right knee in January this year (58 years old, long time triathlete) After the surgery I walked (limped) out of the hospital. and took one week off work , I probably could have gone back after 3 days off but didn’t want to push it. I work similar work mixture of 50/50 desk and walking. The less time you spend on your feet the first two weeks the easier the recovery will be, of course it is different for everyone. I started physiotherapy two days after surgery (3 times a week with exercises at home) the first three weeks were mostly range of motion. I started spinning (very easy) on the bike after the first week, at 10 minutes (no load on the trainer range of motion). Recovery progressed very quickly from there. I managed to build fitness and was able to complete IM France in June (slowly). I still have some knee issues as I have significant cartilage loss in left knee and this is significantly limiting my running. I hope things go well for you.
I’ve had 3, one was during an ACL reconstruction; so it isn’t really super relevant.
Six months after that ACL I tore that mensicus again. Doc was surprised I could walk in on it because it was a long tear that went up under my patella. He said I basically have no medial meniscus left. I’ll quote, “You didn’t leave me much to work with; you have about 5-10% left, but call it nothing.” I was 28 and walking an hour after surgery and running within 7 days. Not much swelling and two weeks out I was fine doing just about anything; just slightly limited since I was still actually recovering from the ACL. Football and soccer would have been out - but basketball and softball were fine.
20 years later, tore my other medial. Walked immediately post surgery as well. Much slower recovery. I could run, gingerly, after two weeks. Had swelling when I did for about 3 months. Didn’t feel 100% for 4-6 months. I blame it on age.
Have had both done years ago. Surgeon made me promise no run for 2 weeks, but started that day and up to 10 miles in a month. I rode the trainer day after on the second one. Piece of cake, for sure, and I have many years on new miles on mine. Go for it; it’s easy to get back. Water run helped a ton too, as I was in the pool on both 2 days after.
Similar stories to the others here. 48 years old and had the surgery in January. Used crutches out of the clinic and into the house. Didn’t use them again. Back to riding In under a week and running a few days later.
With a meniscetomy, the only real healing is the trauma of the scope site. There’s no healing of the meniscus itself to wait on since they’re just cutting out the part that hurts.