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Has anyone had a knee meniscus op (arthroscopy)?
After twisting my knee in an accident 3 years ago I tore my meniscus (according to an MRI). I now have the option of arthroscopy. Whilst clinical trials have shown arthroscopy for degenerative meniscus damage has no proven benefit , I'm told traumatic damage can be addressed successfully.
If anyone has had the op, I'd love to hear your views.
I have a dull ache in the knee most of the time, but it's not deal breaking. The knee stiffens up after sleeping, driving, periods of inactivity. Occasional twinges or surges of pain but they go quickly. The knee can't take any twisting or side loads so skiing etc is out for now. I can't run on it for long but afaik it doesn't affect my cycling unless I do a really big ride (Dragon) when it can get a bit painful.
The tear if left alone shouldn't detonate further so do I leave well alone or face the knife?
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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Well I was about to go ahead with the traditional arthroscopy when a club mate told me about stem cell treatments that will soon be available both privately and on the NHS. Approval is imminent, costs are approx £3.8k for 30 minute day surgery. Huge win for the NHS are the new treatment should drastically reduce the need for knee replacements. So pending a reply from a surgeon who's going to specialise in this I may well change course.
That's about 800 quid more than a knee replacement costs the NHS ?
Could be, I read the fact that knee replacements need re-doing (hence not generally offering them to people under 50) plus the lack of an overnight stay meant it was cheaper.
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
I seem to be having issues posting a full reply. Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
yeah, both knees had it done, about 15 years ago in my twenties.
no sport was possible before, walking was a pain, sleeping with knees unaligned wasn't possible.
After giving it a good recovery period walking was fine again.
took up cycling a few years later, all has been fine.
keep an ear out for body feel, it's probably worth getting a bike/shoe fit sorted
good luck
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
Just had 15% of my meniscus removed (obviously a weight weenie/marginal gains thing
Late to the party on this one. Overall you'll be fine. Mines was in a bad way after a football injury at 18, had it operated on at 20. Couldn't cope with side-loads or twisting and I still wanted to play so it was a no-brainer. Within 4 months of the op managed a sub-45 minute 10k so recovery is simple enough with a few easy weeks at the start to build you up.
I'm 27 now and it still gives me some trouble - but it's when I least expect it! Never an issue on the bike or the football pitch, even skiing is ok! But walking up stairs once in a while or playing with my niece it'll sometimes just go.
Overall though I'm sure it's better than it would have been - I don't mash gears and have a high cadence (high 90's when in a group and high 80's solo), so I'm sure that helps.
Thanks for your stories, confidence inspiring. I'm going to approach the surgery with a much more positive state of mind now.
Colin267's post reminded me - mine was also a 'bucket handle' tear (indicates the shape), but if the consultants sketch was vaguely accurate then maybe 50-60% was removed - but that was only one knee, doesn't explain why my other is also sensitive to twisting, and recently made worse by sleeping awkwardly whilst camping :o I guess just different physiology/activity.
5-10% certainly sounds relatively small.
Batchy - any limitations to movement with the new knee, eg allowable bend angle ?
Can't bend knee all the way back, though this is quite normal in replacements. This does not hinder full rotation of cranks or in any way hinders walking ability. Kneeling back on haunches for eg is out of question as is lotus position in yoga. I stuck rigidly to physio's instructions and worked hard and was back on easy 10 min turbo sessions after about 8 weeks. Back out on road within 5 months.
Bad 'bucket' tear of left medial meniscus in 1994, resulting in pain whilst using and unable to straighten leg completely. Arthroscopy performed within 2 weeks. Approx. 50% of meniscus removed. Followed physio instructions religiously and all working OK after a couple of months. Still felt uncomfortable running for the next year (suspect that was partly psychological!) Now 60 and still running, cycling and mountaineering with no issues - doing a 2-day mountain marathon in a couple of weeks.
Obey your physio and put in the work on those exercises and you'll be fine.
had two in the same knee both successful - probable the need for the 2nd was caused by me hitting a tree off (not on!) the MTB
I'm mid fifties and first op was about 15years ago after knee locked out running pushing baby buggy up a steep hill - small tear slow recovery but back to running, cycling and climbing after lengthy physio. 2nd op about 8 years ago after slowly increasing pain and not being able to bend to floor, again a small tear - quite different post op' surgeon anti-crutch and keen to use as soon as possible - with aid of a box to get on bike was using turbo inside of a week and back out doing decent mileages in a month or so. Had a lot of strengthening exercises to do and could really feel the difference. Running is fine, just back from a weeks skiing (funny time of year but was in NZ).
Think outcome can be variable but if bones in good form and rest of cartilage sound then could be like me and fully active, good luck.
Thanks for the replies guys. I'm told the cartlidge is in otherwise good condition with no osteoarthritis present, and that the tear is pretty small with 5-10% meniscus removal predicted. I guess if it all goes to pieces I can get a knee replacement, especially if its good for 8000 miles a year at the age of 66 Batchy!
You will be OK so go for it .But please listen to your surgeon regarding recovery as it is vital to follow all instructions to the letter. Do not rush your recovery, though in your case, which seems to be fairly minor, you will be back to it in no time.
Regarding my knee replacement - I took up cycling when I was 42 as my fell running days came to a halt, that's when I had the arthroscopy and was told that if I was 60 I would be on a priority list for a knee replacement. However in those days life expectancy of a replacement was only about 5 years. Consequently I was told to nurse it for another 20 years and that's when cycling came into my life. Cycling, being non weight bearing, provided me with an excellent way to keep fit and healthy. Eighteen years on my knee finally gave up the ghost and as I live in the north west I had my knee done at Wrightington Hospital. Wrightington is probably the best place in the UK for hips and knees .
So six years on ( touch wood ) my knee is going strong. Life expectancy of a current knee replacement is up to 15 years. My last check up after 4 years showed practically no detectable wear despite thousands of miles of cycling. Mind you I would not recommend running this would be asking for trouble.
I had one two years ago this January coming up. I had a bad click in my left knee which quickly developed into pain, especially when climbing stairs and anything that bared weight on my knee.
I had an arthroscopy mainly for diagnosing what the issue was inside as we couldn't see much on the mri, I was just adamant that something wasn't right with it.
I had the surgery and found out that there was quite abit of loose cartilage floating about and that was causing the pain.
The procedure was fine and quick. Didn't need crutches like some, but found it very uncomfortable walking as I couldn't bend my knee (stairs very difficult for first two weeks)!! Took a few weeks to get moving ok again and maybe 4-5 weeks before I tried pedalling.
The overall result nearly 3 years on is good. The pain has gone, the only thing I notice is it stiffens up quite abit but that's sorted with regular stretching however that's only when walking a lot. Very glad I went with it and persisted. I was abit apprehensive as I had heard stories of unsuccessful treatment, making it worse etc! Also my knee feels the most comfortable when I am cycling with no problems at all.
My surgeon always said that when removing something like cartilage it's never going to fix it back to normal because it's something that doesn't replace itself. Once it's gone it's gone, therefore it would never make my knee 100% again, it was just a case of trying to improve it. It certainly did that for me and very glad I went with it.
Hope this helps in some way, the main way of deciding is can you put up with it how it is?
Regards.
Had one 20-odd years ago, had no pain from the tear but would lock up running for the bus!. Was great for maybe 10 yrs but the combination of unicycling and learning to snowboard in hard boots (and some idiot setting up a board daffy) was the final straw for both knees, been sensitive to twisting and running has been a no-no for years. Tho mebbe kneeling/sitting on my heels as a teenager playing guitar stretched ligaments. .? At 52 both are now a bit crap, ill hang on as long as possible but I suspect knee replacements will feature at some point.
I'm sure it'll work out well but just watch what you do with it afterwards - personally I'd avoid running but ymmv..depending on where/what the tear is you may be surprised how much gets removed (or at least I was !). Might be worth enquiring on possible repair options - and *certainly* what the planned work would comprise. If id known that a bloomin big chunk was going to be excised I may have put it off in case something better came along, which is what I'm doing re knee replacements.
The op may be your best option but best to establish the facts first, I'd suggest - hope it goes well, either way.
Yep! But mine was to clean out tiny fragments of bone and debris due to chronic osteoarthritis. The arthritis was caused by an original meniscus tear going back to forty years previous (football). Back in those far off days they slashed open the knee to sort out the problem. 25 years latter,once the arthritis had set in due to the original trauma, I had the arthroscopy and it definitely improved my condition. However the best thing that finally sorted my chronic knee problem was a complete knee replacement 6 years ago when I was 60 years old. I now no longer have any knee pain or problems and cycle around 8000 miles per year.