Background: 38 yo, 6’4, 193lbs, 25+ yrs playing high level soccer, running, only 1.5 yrs triathlon (longest is Oly). Yesterday, I had my lateral meniscus tear repaired (scraped), and that part went well, but doc found 5-6 “cracks” in upper cartilage indicating arthritic condition. Recommended NOT running, or at least dialing it down a lot. I typically only run 5k, maybe 10k, not nearly as much as many on this forum put in.
I want to continue training, racing, ultimately to do an IM, but I don’t want to ruin the true quality of life, like end up unable to play with my kids, etc.
Any experience with similar injury, and what words of advice can you offer? Is this injury manageable, or must I take a reality check?
wow, that sucks. I’m in the that same general description, except your slightly smaller than me. That’s my big fear - I go to the doctor and am told to stop running. Tuesday group ride, I was talking to a 65 year old man who told me he had a heart condition and was told to stop riding, but he decided he needed to keep moving. Good luck and I’m interested to see what advice you get.
I’m 52, 6’ and ~187lbs. I’ve had 7 knee surgeries, including 2 in the last 4 years, most of those for miniscal tears. I was told essentially the same thing clear back in 1982. Doc said I was finished with running, and to consider myself just a biker. I did back off of the running back some then, and ramped it up slowly. I now have multiple IM finishes; many, many Halfs, a bunch of marathons, have done hundreds of miles of trail running (including an annual double crossing of the Grand Canyon). Do I ever have issues with my knees? Yup, in fact, I have one that’s been sore off and on this spring, and right now I’m wondering if I’ll be able to run IM CdA like I want to in 17 days. I take Glucosamine every day, and take three tablets (500 mg each) all at once in the morning rather than spreading them out through the day, and though it takes a while (I’ve been told as much as 3 months) for it to reach maximum effectiveness, it has seemed to help (also helps with the arthritis I have in a couple of fingers). I can’t say that your situation is the same as mine, and I would suggest you get a second opinion from a sports oriented doc. (Mine treats Olympic athletes, and now has a finishline photo of me from Kona on the wall of his office) But don’t lose hope, you may still be able to do most of the things you love, and I hear there are some new therapies coming down the pike (I certainly hope the rumors are true!) Good luck, but remember, YMMV.
Wow, I don’t know whether to applaud or cringe at your experiences; you must have a pretty high pain threshold, afterall. Thanks for the advice: I have been taking Glucosomine, as well, and will continue to. I also want to talk to a couple athletic oriented docs and PT’s-I swim with a high level triathlete PT who I trust. I realize that the correct therapy is vital.
Weight loss? You’re not overweight, at least by BMI standards, but dropping a few pounds might lessen stress on your knees. I know that I notice a remarkable difference by moving 7-10 pounds in either direction. I was 167 a couple months ago (I’m 6’0"), certainly not overweight, but I felt “fat” for all the running I was doing. I’m down to 159 now, and feeling a lot “lighter” and it’s really noticeable in my stride. I’m not as sore after runs, either. My best running/tris were done at around 153, so I’ve got a ways to go yet…
start running barefoot. almost zero impact and you’ll be able to do it for life. I do it and it’s all true. You can run and run and run and your knees and other joints are virtually untouched. Check out http://www.runningbarefoot.org
Barefoot? I’ve got plantar fascitis issues, so that’s not going to happen. Also, down here in FL, we’ve got heat and asphalt, a combination my dogs are not happy to share.
I live in Texas and run with my dogs and had foot issues too… don’t count out barefoot until you try it. It’s not anything like what you think it is. If you are really interested in finding out solutions to your prediciment, barefoot running is not something you should blow off as ridiculous. you could not run at all, run with shoes and f up your body, or run barefoot. Since I’m 6’3" and a few pounds shy of 200, I started doing it to reduce joint pain and it worked. it eliminated it completely. Just read the website.
cool! the central character is a mega-hippie, but don’t let that turn you off. Basically, you run barefoot some to dramatically improve your form and learn to land much more softly. Then when you race or do longer runs (in shoes), your training keeps you from pounding the pavement too hard. lots of pros do it. it’s really no big deal and can make a huge difference in your overall health. It’s been promoted by runner’s world and tons and tons of doctors to help people exactly like you and me avoid joint problems and to help badass runners get even faster.
When I run barefoot, it not only feels like it’s about 20% more efficient than running with shoes, but I can finish 6 miles and just about the only thing that’s fatigued is my heart and lungs. legs feel like I haven’t done anything at all. it’s tha bomb!
Just make sure you don’t run when the pavement’s hot. evening and mornings in the summer are perfect.
Barefoot running is also recommended by Michael Yessis, PhD in his book “Explosive Running”.
He claims that wearing shoes makes feet weak because they learn to rely on the support/cushioning of the shoe. Then weak feet will cause problems further up the legs.
We frequently suggest these measures in people with early or pre osteoarthritis because it seems like common sense, but there is very little evidence either way that running can produce or worsen arthritis (see the chapter in the new edition of the Lore of Running).
Do you know what compartment of your knee it was - lateral or medial? Also, was the tear scraped or repaired? - they are different, and may have a different prognosis.
I did not ask whether it was scraped or repaired, although I believe it was scraped (it was slight). The cracks were all over the cartilage, several different lines. He “smoothed” it over, or burned it, I can’t recall. The tear was lateral, not medial, but I can’t tell you about the cracks.