Last track season, (spring 09) I tore my meniscus… And I’ve been running on it ever since… I know I have a bad knee and can feel it especially when it decides to pop out.
But insurance company might switch so surgery could be a now or never type of thing b/c of pre-existing conditions. I’m still debating getting the surgery for a couple of reasons:
I want to be one of those 90yr old guys throwin down a 25min 5k at the local races… I’ve heard that this would not be possible. (I’m only currently 19 and thats along time without padding in the knee)
I also don’t want it to go out when I’m 35.
I can stand it now and since it’s fine while I’m exercising and racing, I can stand it right now.
My question is (and YES, I know that every condition is special) how many of you out there(if at all have ahd this procedure done (remedial meniscus tear) and who has opted for the no surgery? How has it turned out? How long has it been since surgery?
…and when I said opinions, I mean no “you should do this”
If it’s truly torn, you’ll either need to get it fixed when it limits you…or adjust your goals and deal with it. It sounds like you are making due (for now). Medial tears generally don’t heal themselves (not a doctor - but I have had two medial tears.) I went through 2 rounds of 12 weeks of PT before going under the knife…both rounds of PT only made the tear “feel” a little better…surgery…well you don’t want my opinion on that…
BTW - depending on what insurance you are going from/to (and your location), pre-existing conditons are allowed (employee groups plans).
This probably needs a bump b/c lots of people on this board have had medial meniscus repair.
I had mine done about two years ago. Mine was at a point that it was not optional; I could not run and could barely walk some days. That being said I probably have a small tear in the other that I considered having scoped/repaired but have not found it necessary to have done.
I have been told this by ortho docs (two actually), after asking about the long term results and arthritis.
If I have the tear and have it fixed, I MAY get arthritis; If is have the tear and DON"T have it fixed they GUARANTEE I will get arthritis.
There is lots of past discussion on this board about recovery time. I found I took longer than most to recover; I was on my bike on Monday after the procedure on Thursday. Swimming within about 10 days. I did not start running for about 8-10 weeks ()tho I was doing the elliptical alot) and even then it was pretty tender. I took about a year to run pain free without swelling and needing ice etc after. That being said there are still days I do a little ice and opt for some alleve after my run or I notice a bit of swelling.
For the one I did not have scoped I find using the foam roller and keeping things strong and stretched out has been enough.
FWIW, at the age of 19, you should heal much quicker than those of us who had to have the surgery later in life. Others have posted on the board about running within weeks of the procedure.
I just had meniscus surgery two weeks ago, my story (short version:-)): Initially injury probably in High School Joined the Army, cycled cross country, hiked Grand Canyon, HIM’s, IM’s…some would say active @ age 46 - Bike accident about 12 weeks ago Broken bones healed but my knee started locking up and felt like a piece of a rubber band was in the joint Doctor diagnosed a torn meniscus before and after MRI Had it cut out and was on the trainer (EASY spinning) after a week Maybe running in a few weeks but I am old and don’t want to re-injury, will likely use the elliptical
Short answer - Unless it is locking up or having pain, I would not do it. Mine lasted a long time.
Had mine scoped three years ago. I didn’t have a lot of options because the piece that was torn was continually getting squeezed and popping hard, it wasn’t so much super sharp pain as like a jolt of electricity. It would happen at random and it got to where I was afraid to do much because I never knew when it would happen.
Doctor told me that I should get it fixed if it was not manageable, with the strong implication to not get it fixed if it was.
I was 40 when I had it done in October 2007, I played basketball 2 1/2 months later. It bothered me for most of the first 6 months by being sore, weak etc. That summer I went on a mission to strengthen the knee and the muscles around it. Lot of one leg jumps, squats, cycling, etc. A year after surgery strength was as good as new. it has more of a tendency to get sore after long runs now but icing prevents that almost completely. I was never a speedy runner but set a marathon PR last December at 42, 2’ish years after surgery.
I have torn both of mine running (maybe I should quit running). I did not have surgery either time. The first time about 5 years ago I was advised to have surgery for a bucket handle tear (didn’t get a MRI till 3 months after injury). 1 week before surgery I meet with the Ortho for a pre-surgery meeting and I told him I was already back to running 5 km. He immediately canceled the surgery and said to continue what I was doing and let it heal.
Second time (other knee) I was in much more pain and got the MRI and saw the same Ortho within 2 weeks of the injury and despite the fact that I could not walk without crutches he said wait 3 months and come back if I was still limping. He said that he is advising clients to see if will heal on it’s own before going with surgery.
There is a paper out there that did an MRI on a large number of people over 60 years of age and found that over 50% had some degree of meniscus tear but only 10% reported symptoms. If I find it again I will post it. Basically what it is saying is that you can have a tear and be asymptomatic
I did take about 6 months off running after each tear and I have returned and completed 4 IM distance races with run times in the 3:3x range. I do feel some soreness and I no longer play any sports that require twisting (soccer, hockey, squash)
There are always risks to any surgery
Infection
Blood clots
adverse affects to sedation
surgery may make the injury worse. This happened to a friend who did have meniscus surgery.
I tore mine in college, did rehab & had fluid drained but opted not to have surgery. I’m now 36 yrs old, I’ve been running & riding bikes the entire 16 years since I tore it, and I was a AA-rated beach volleyball player (lots of high-impact jumping, sprinting, plyometrics etc) for several years before taking up triathlon 10 years ago. No ill effects from not doing the surgery, i havent had a scan but I’d guess it probably healed (in some cases meniscus can do that.) I can knock down 5 minute miles on the track I’m better on a bike than running, and I can ski absolutely anything.
Tougher call because your young. I chose to let mine heal on it’s own and it has.
As you say, each is different. If portions of the tear start interfering with joint motion, surgery is likely a good idea. If it’s a simple tear it’s possible to leave it, take care of your knee, and move on. As mentioned above, lots are out running on meniscus tears without realizing it.
My protocol once the MRI confirmed the tear: Off running for 3 months, (lots of bike and swim), Glucosamine Sulfate - high quality stuff, and reintroduce running in Vibram 5 Fingers to eliminate heal striking and retrain myself as a mid/for foot striker. Running fine (pain free) now 1 year out.
FWIW - the other knee was operated on 15 years ago and is more troublesome than the “healed” knee.
Tore mine back in 1988, i was around 15, 16th yr of triathlons and around 20 yrs worth of climbing mountains. My dad did not want the doc to open my knee up, used to lock before–10 yrs back but have been running with no pain/swelling, a bit hard to squat really low but then again im 37 now :) Doc John did say that given time, this will heal on its own and hopefully it has already. i can run everyday with no issues but im not pushing it because i just transferred to a hilly part of town. for what it`s worth, i had pain in both knees when i ran sloppy, i was able to change to a mid foot stance so far so good.
Speaking as someone who has worked in the medical field for a little over 15 years, you should also keep in mind the changes in treatment in the past 15 years. I don’t know for certain but I think the “surgery” used to be much different than the “scope” repair that is done now. An ortho person could speak to that better but I know in cardiology the standard of care changes in 15 years are pretty significant.
I’ve had meniscus surgery on both knees. Tore my right one 3 years ago(42yrs old). I was back on the bike a week after surgery and running shortly after that. I’ve raced (sprints & olys) for the past 3 years and no issues. Tore my left one basically at the end of last season. Was back on the bike a little more than a week after. Took quite a bit longer to get back running, just didn’t feel as strong nor did I trust it as much. I’ve raced on it this season no issues. I know after this last one I feel like I’ve changed my running (shorter strides) and feel I’ve lost some speed. (part of that could be cause I’m older and did not focus on running as much this season too).
Speaking as someone who has worked in the medical field for a little over 15 years, you should also keep in mind the changes in treatment in the past 15 years. I don’t know for certain but I think the “surgery” used to be much different than the “scope” repair that is done now. An ortho person could speak to that better but I know in cardiology the standard of care changes in 15 years are pretty significant.
Thanks, my doctor talked to me about this and is trying to find a specialist right now who is really knowledgibel on specifically medial tears… but haven’t gotten that far yet.
And I’m not so much worried about immediate recovery as much as long term effects…
If you can have it done then have it repaired, no guarantee if later in life youll have arthritis or not if you have it repaired or not. I guess im lucky and doc j did tell me these heal on their own, so far so good…knocking on wood now treatment back in the 80s here in asia is very different now and we have specialist. If my knee starts hurting, i`ll have it repaired in a flash
Is it a trimming of the meniscus or a repair? If you need a repair then get it done asap. I had mine “trimmed” 2-weeks ago. I hope to start some light running this weekend.
By the way, nobody specializes in medial meniscus tears. It would be like a hand surgeon saying, “Oops, sorry, I only do left hand surgery.”
JOhn
I had it diagnosed after it happened via x-ray, then had a second doctor get me an MRI, but said it came out slightly blurry so he couldn’t tell whether it needed shaving or repair… he said the only way to tell is by scope when they open me up…
But I meant specialist by dssomeone who deals with joints on sports patients. (I think that makes sense)
Another question I just thought of: my right knee is swollen permately now. Not huge, but definately larger when side by side. Someone said that they had the fluid drained, how can you tell if it’s excess fluid buildup or scar tissue?
Swollen Knee? MRI positive for meniscus tear, just uncertain as to type? If you were my offspring or my patient, there’d be no question as to the next step. In my opinion, having done thousands of scopes, you need to just do it. You’re passing a window of opportunity if you don’t. Where do you live, maybe I can help you find the right doc?
I probably tore mine 8 years ago, but dealt with it just fine until last December. I really did not have a choice, but to have the surgery. I was on the trainer 48 hours after surgery, running within 3 weeks and PRd in Boston 11 weeks later.
I only had about 25% of my meniscus removed, which I am sure contributed to my reletively easy recovery. I have no lingering effects of the surgery, except that I no longer have the occasional flair ups that I had for the 8 years I nursed the injury.
if you are running 60 mpw - - I have to wonder what kind of tear you have - I think someone else asked, but how was it diagnosed as a tear?, and at 19 years old- - depending upon where the tear is, how bad it is, and the blood flow, it if actually could repair itself. I would have never had the surgery if I was able to have the lifestyle I wanted. My injury made me choose between running and not running, and with Boston looming - I did not want to take a bunch of time thinking about it.
Let my knee go for too long, its been maybe nine years or so since I had my surgery done, I’m 36 years old now. Got to where I could hardly do anything, walking backwards up steps because it was too painful, knee would give way while mowing the lawn… not fun, couldn’t do anything athletic. I don’t know what the future holds, but I don’t have any issues presently.
I’d find a good doctor or two, get their opinions and take their advice.
Broken bones healed but my knee started locking up and felt like a piece of a rubber band was in the joint Doctor diagnosed a torn meniscus before and after MRI Had it cut out and was on the trainer (EASY spinning) after a week Maybe running in a few weeks but I am old and don’t want to re-injury, will likely use the elliptical
treatment back in the 80s here in asia is very different now and we have specialist. If my knee starts hurting, i`ll have it repaired in a flash