OT: Torn meniscus surgery

[PSU87]

Going in Monday for arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus. At my age they don't actually "fix" it, just clean it up.

Anyone with personal experience on recovery time? Standard doctors line is 3-5 days on crutches, 2 weeks for full range of motion/pain free, 4-5 weeks for full activity including running.

My PT guy says that's conservative and I can get back to full activity quicker than that. Also said it's more of a "how much pain can you bear" vs actually reinjuring the knee.

TIA

 

[mal106]

Had my left knee done in 2006, just had right knee done 10 weeks ago. There are a lot of variables regarding recovery time. Age and your occupation is a big factor for recovery, along with what actually is done once he gets in too see. Just finished up therapy (3x a week), and doing on my own now. Last surgery took almost 10 months to be ~pain free~..Good Luck

 

[cvilleelkscoach]

I have had both knees done. I was off crutches in 24 hours and off pain meds in 48 hours. If you have a good ortho, it shouldn't be anything. 20 minute surgery. Go to your PT sessions and work like hell on your take home exercises. If you do that you should have full ROM in far less than 2 weeks. Both times I was released from PT early as I met all the requirements for ROM, steps, pain level, strength, etc.

Good luck and work hard.

 

[Delco Lion]

I am 58 and had both knees scoped in the past 3+ years. Your docs numbers seem pretty sound. Some things can impact your recovery and future. Weight and percent of the meniscus that remains will impact future pain and arthritis. I never used the pain meds.

 

[PSU Soupy]

Had my left knee done in 2006, just had right knee done 10 weeks ago. There are a lot of variables regarding recovery time. Age and your occupation is a big factor for recovery, along with what actually is done once he gets in too see. Just finished up therapy (3x a week), and doing on my own now. Last surgery took almost 10 months to be ~pain free~..Good Luck

Torn miniscus 14 months ago, age 52 still soreness today.

It is much better than before surgery but still sore.

Had meniscus surgery in my 20s and was 100% within 2 months.

Lots of variables.

 

[lionlurker]

As these guys have said, lots of variables involved. Age, weight, concomitant medical issues, lateral or medial meniscus, type of injury, etc etc etc. No way to make apples vs apples comparisons.

 

[Monty2007]

Good luck. There's been lots of advancements in the last few years.

Anyway, my wife is 57 and out of shape. She's given up on gel shots and has finally had enough knee pain that she had an appointment with Dr Meade in Pittston. She's bone on bone in both knees. Meade told her she has the knee's of an 80 yr old. He's going to do the first surgery in Allentown in June and the other at least 8+ weeks later after recovery. He told her total knee replacement is rare. Actually going clean up any bone spurs and the arthritis. It's more of a cap on the bones than a new knee. Same day out patient surgery. Recovery at home.
He seems to have a good rep. Residency was at Rothman.

 

[lionlurker]

Total knee replacement is anything but rare. Not sure what he meant by that. There are a lot of new things being tried to avoid arthroplasty, but most of them don't live up to the hype. Hopefully your wife will be one of the exceptions.

 

[duber]

I'm 48 and one year out from meniscus surgery. Use to run about 26 miles a week now I don't run at all.. I tried but he must have removed a lot of cartilage. Now I use an elliptical but not the same.. good luck

 

[mjh218]

Of shoulder and knee surgeries the meniscus clean up is easiest recovery.

 

[Delco Lion]

Good luck. There's been lots of advancements in the last few years.

Anyway, my wife is 57 and out of shape. She's given up on gel shots and has finally had enough knee pain that she had an appointment with Dr Meade in Pittston. She's bone on bone in both knees. Meade told her she has the knee's of an 80 yr old. He's going to do the first surgery in Allentown in June and the other at least 8+ weeks later after recovery. He told her total knee replacement is rare. Actually going clean up any bone spurs and the arthritis. It's more of a cap on the bones than a new knee. Same day out patient surgery. Recovery at home.
He seems to have a good rep. Residency was at Rothman.

Rothman has become quite large. DR Ciottie did a a great job on one of my boys in 2004, Rothman- not so much when they did him again and my other son for ACLs and minencus repair. I would travel to Philly for that op.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

I have had both knees done. I was off crutches in 24 hours and off pain meds in 48 hours. If you have a good ortho, it shouldn't be anything. 20 minute surgery. Go to your PT sessions and work like hell on your take home exercises. If you do that you should have full ROM in far less than 2 weeks. Both times I was released from PT early as I met all the requirements for ROM, steps, pain level, strength, etc.

Good luck and work hard.

My experience is nearly identical to yours coach. The crutches were just to insure I didn't fall wrong the first 24 hours. I was bearing full weight on it. As coach states: "DO YOUR HOMEWORK" on the PT!

 

[tgar]

It all comes down to how torn your tear is. I ripped my interior minuscus clean at an indoor rock climbing boot camp ( over compensated for my other leg / knee as it had been replaced a couple of years prior ).

I wear a brace that pulls the inside of my knee open but still have a considerable amount of pain and can't run.

If it's a little tear you have nothing to worry about.

Going Fly fishing Saturday. It's only pain.

 

[delcoLion]

Going in Monday for arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus. At my age they don't actually "fix" it, just clean it up.

Anyone with personal experience on recovery time? Standard doctors line is 3-5 days on crutches, 2 weeks for full range of motion/pain free, 4-5 weeks for full activity including running.

My PT guy says that's conservative and I can get back to full activity quicker than that. Also said it's more of a "how much pain can you bear" vs actually reinjuring the knee.

TIA

Had one 10 years ago. As the other posters mentioned, there are lots of variables. Those recovery numbers seem aggressive/optimistic but YMMV.

One thing I would strongly advise: listen closely and follow your Dr.'s instructions completely. I tried to be aggressive and actually caused a lengthy setback. Did make a good recovery in time, however, with the aid of Synvisc shots, which has fallen out of favor, IIRC.