Torn Meniscus Surgery. What Happens?

[TPC]

Blew my knee out deluxe and going in only because the pain hit level 8+.
How is the surgery? I know it doesn't fix it, but makes it tolerable I'm told or is that inaccurate?

Do they put you out or is it twilight?
How do you get around after or can I go skateboarding?
Painkillers until it heals or ironman it?

WTF happens?

Thanks for tips and tales.

 

[Gramps]

My first torn meniscus was in the mid 1960's......full week in the hospital then. Today is a super fast scope job and you will walk out on your own. Take it easy for a few days, pain is pretty much nil.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Don't know your age or physical condition, but been told by two friends now, do the physical therapy and then try to stay active. Even if limited, do stuff, and not baby it. One is a youngster, 17. The other is a few years my senior, about 50. Both are very active, and seem to be miles ahead now.

 

[2Driver]

Had 3. I thought it wasn’t quite as easy as you hear, but it’s not bad. Yes you are under full anesthesia, at least I was. You have to take it easy for a few days, ice and ibuprofen then more progress over a few weeks. Don’t push it, the knee will blow back up.

One of the biggest concerns is blood clots. You need to follow docs orders and you‘ll be fine. My buddy had the same surgery and was therapy walking with his wife in the neighborhood and dropped dead in the street from a blood clot that left the knee and traveled to his brain or heart. He was over weight so maybe that was part of it.

Youll be fine and back to normal in a few weeks, just listen to the doc and dont try to be a hero.

 

[Mikes56]

Tore my right meniscus 16 years ago loading a dirt bike in the back of a truck by myself. Had to drive myself to the ER. Orthoscopic surgery a couple weeks later. No biggie, I was out for the surgery and woke up feeling fine. Ice after the surgery and light exercise after a week. My knee was 100% within a couple months.

The difficult part was the two weeks before I could get in for surgery. My knee would lock up when the chunk of cartilage would move into the wrong place inside my knee joint.

 

[havasujeeper]

I've had several torn miniscus surgeries. Back in the day, it was common just to grind the tear down, which is the cushion between bones. One too many surgeries and you'll end up with total knee replacements, which suck. Ask your surgeon if his plan is to stitch the tear, which is the right way to avoid total knee replacements.

 

[white tortilla]

I’ve torn mine twice riding motorcycles. Both times it was minor enough to dodge surgery. Was in a brace and crutches for a couple months both times. Healed well. Still gets sore on cold days

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Welcome to my world, Ross....LOL.

My right knee was done 4 years ago, they get an IV going, put you out, a couple hours later you go home. They scoped mine. If you do what the doc tells ya to your pain won't be as bad as if ya don't listen. I have had zero problems with the right knee since then. He did tell me next time I saw him It would probably be new knee time. So listen to the docs, for sure.
When you answer "yes" to all the pre op questions...
"Play sports in school?"...yes
"Ride dirt bikes etc?"....yes
"Previous knee injury?" Yes...fractured knee cap.
"Work require strange moves?" yes...

You get the picture.

Last summer, while humping ass on the house I tore the left one. Doc wanted to cut, frankly I was too damn busy, so I got a good brace, the kind with a hinge deal, and lived with it. It actually has gotten a lot better. I know, with out a doubt, the next time I say a word about " knee" they are going to want to replace both. I am avoiding that, know too many guys with horror stories.

 

[Mcob25rg]

Tore my inside left 5 years ago - 61 yrs old then, couldn’t walk on it, pain around 11. Went to er, sent me to ortho guy. He told me they don’t fix it, they trim the ripped part away. Could happen again anytime, recovery was 2-4 weeks. Said I could try rehab, gave me some squat excersizes, said if it didn’t heal on its own, just call. Many ibuprofen later, all good, strong as ever, I really watch how I move now, never twist - I move my feet FIRST and am very careful how I lift. Leverage, get help, or wait, but I don’t want to start the surgery stuff.The pain is from the swelling. It will go away. Ortho guy said nerve endings can only send the spark sooo many times before it burns out - pain subsides. You think it’s all good, but really the nerve endings just died - I’m pretty sure that’s where I am now.

 

[185EZ]

I’ve torn mine twice riding motorcycles. Both times it was minor enough to dodge surgery. Was in a brace and crutches for a couple months both times. Healed well. Still gets sore on cold days

Me too. My knee swelled up to twice the size.
My doctor suggested a good knee brace and take it EZ for a couple months before poking around in there.
Feels great and i avoided surgery

 

[shunter2005]

Had my right knee done last year. Interior side. From the time they rolled my out of pre-op till I woke up in recovery was 45 min. Surgery itself took about 15 minutes. Two little holes in the knee. Had a bucket handle tear, so they cut the handle out. Wrapped it for 24 hrs. Walked to the car and No rehab. Good as new in 4 weeks.

To some extent it is correct that they don't fix it. They cut out the bad part. You only have so much meniscus and when it's gone it's gone..... My doctor told me to do no sports for 4-6 weeks or until they release you. You will need to do some rehab on your own to get all your range of motion back. It will be tight for a while. Walking or bicycle will help a lot.

 

[BabyRay]

I had both knees done, a year apart. Post-surgery pain wasn’t too bad. Took one pain pill after surgery both times, them smoked a bunch of weed for a few days.

One thing I did learn from the surgeon, which I applied to the second knee, was to keep the knee mobile as possible before surgery. If you baby it, particularly sleeping with a pillow under it, (as I did with the first one) it’ll make recovery more difficult. Keeping the knee bent while sleeping causes it to tighten up. When the surgeon found out I’d done that, he about blew up.

 

[Canuck 1]

Double cut with a chainsaw, couple whacks with a big hammer, half roll of ductape, some crazy glue and they are done. Hurts like a mother fucker for years....

Or you could listen to some of these others and it is a simple deal..... but maybe they are wrong

 

[~JM~]

What happens?

You limp.

 

[Bobby V]

Had my right knee done last year. Interior side. From the time they rolled my out of pre-op till I woke up in recovery was 45 min. Surgery itself took about 15 minutes. Two little holes in the knee. Had a bucket handle tear, so they cut the handle out. Wrapped it for 24 hrs. Walked to the car and No rehab. Good as new in 4 weeks.

To some extent it is correct that they don't fix it. They cut out the bad part. You only have so much meniscus and when it's gone it's gone..... My doctor told me to do no sports for 4-6 weeks or until they release you. You will need to do some rehab on your own to get all your range of motion back. It will be tight for a while. Walking or bicycle will help a lot.

Had mine done 4/4/22 and mine was about the same. Little rehab on my own. Played golf with @DWC a month or so later.

 

[DWC]

Had mine done 4/4/22 and mine was about the same. Little rehab on my own. Played golf with @DWC a month or so later.

That’s impressive as hell. I can’t imagine swinging and thinking about tweaking it again. .
We need to get the group back out again. Should be warming up at some point.

 

[Bobby V]

That’s impressive as hell. I can’t imagine swinging and thinking about tweaking it again. .
We need to get the group back out again. Should be warming up at some point.

Well I did tweak it again a month ago. Was carrying a chair down the stairs and thought I had 1 more step to go. It was actually 2 steps. Fell on my a$$ and twisted my knee again. Not as bad a before my surgery.

 

[brgrcru]

On what hole did this happen ?
Front nine or back nine

Sorry for your misfortune
Kerlan Jobe would be my go to .

 

[havasujeeper]

Yep. Dr Kharrazi from Kerlan Jobe. The best in the west!

 

[coolchange]

Had 2 don’t over work it. Had to on one, I had to be at a show 2 weeks after. Hurt for long time. Other one was cake. 2 replacements since.
Dr. Tarik Bitar,Santa Clarita

 

[rrrr]

My first torn meniscus was in the mid 1960's......full week in the hospital then. Today is a super fast scope job and you will walk out on your own. Take it easy for a few days, pain is pretty much nil.

Mine was 10 days. Not everything about the 70s was groovy.

Add 45 years, over 20 surgeries, and three replacements (one was a repeat).

 

[CarolynandBob]

Back in 92 I had the right knee done. Haven't had a problem since.

Last December I tore my left in 2 places. Had Mri and it show the 2 pretty big tears. Dr says that if he cleans them up then in about 5 years I will be bone on bone and need a replacement. Said lets try cortisone first. That made the pain bearable, but knew I would need surgery. Was hoping to make it until April when the sports slow down here. Last Friday playing volleyball I tweaked it. Today I meet with the surgeon again to schedule surgery.

On a side note. I am around a bunch of old people here that are very active and they have have had a lot of knee replacements. Every one of them said they wished they had the replacement done sooner.

 

[endobear]

Had my meniscus fixed and arthitis cleaned up in September. Fought getting it done for 5 or so years. Easiest/best results of any orthopedic surgery I've ever had.
Fully knocked out, 3 small incisions.
My surgeon is the go to guy for Denver athletes. Had me off crutches in 2 days going to physical therapy on day 2 for 2 days a week for 3 months.
Most probably won't need as much PT as I did. We/I was working on other issues than just the knee.
Pain wasnt terrible. Narcotics the day of surgery and the following day then only at night for a few days after. Tylenol and ibuprofen worked to keep me comfortable.
My knee feels the best of all my worn out joints.

 

[78DiMarco]

Blew my knee out deluxe and going in only because the pain hit level 8+.
How is the surgery? I know it doesn't fix it, but makes it tolerable I'm told or is that inaccurate?

Do they put you out or is it twilight?
How do you get around after or can I go skateboarding?
Painkillers until it heals or ironman it?

WTF happens?

Thanks for tips and tales.

I screwed up mine a long time ago. I never had it taken care of and even snow skied a lot after I recovered from the initial event. Then about a year ago it went totally South on me. I had the MRI and x-rays and the doc said I need a partial knee replacement, or we can try a jell-shot (Durolane injection). It's a super thick substance that they inject into the knee capsule, and it goes into the meniscus and fills the gaps and sort of repairs it. The doc said it is still considered experimental even though it has been around for years. My insurance approved the procedure and about a week after the inject I was back to normal. I had bone on bone before so something to consider.... Not cheap but if your insurance covers it something to consider. Good luck with your case.... Also you can have the shot every 6 months if needed.

 

[jetboatperformance]

Partial Knee was in at 9 out at 4:30 walking , you got this >>> My Doc is a Rock Star

 

[78DiMarco]

Partial Knee was in at 9 out at 4:30 walking , you got this >>> My Doc is a Rock Star

glad to hear as I may end up having it done at some point....

 

[The Capt]

I just had the surgery a month ago. They drilled 2 holes fixed/cut the torn meniscus. Was walking the same day. Going back to work March 3rd. My Dr. said if I sat at a desk I could be back at work in a week. If I was a ball player off for a couple to 3 months. It’s a pretty painless surgery and rehab isn’t too bad. At least for me it was all good. I am the Capt on a 90 foot fireboat so the Dr. wanted to make me wait a bit before going back to work.

 

[DaveH]

scope surgery is pretty simple. right knee done when I is was about 44. you can walk and do mild things right away. getting full recovery and skiing and boarding.....6-9 months before that. longer if you are older, or shorter if you are younger.

 

[jetboatperformance]

For those that end up with something other than Orthoscopic repairs.... Abit of advice for the inmates , I was told by the "first recommended" Knee Doc "you need a total knee TKR " in no uncertain terms , Went for a second opinion Doc #2 said I can fix that ! and He did so my partial (PKR medial inner) was a breeze , Twilight sleep , home that day back to work in a week (limited duty) Pays to get a second opinion

 

[CarolynandBob]

Surgeon today said first day use crutches, because he will use a nerve/pain blocker that will make the leg numb. 2 Day in the morning make sure blocker has worn off before ditching the crutches. Said he will see me 5 days after. After the 5 days he said I can do anything I want as long as it isn't to painful. Said pain will be your indicator if you should do something or not. I said I play a lot of sand VB and how long did he think it would be before I could play. He said 2 weeks. Almost laughed out loud.