A torn meniscus?!
Question: I have been told that I have a torn meniscus as a result of a skiing accident a couple of weeks ago. The next step I was told was surgery. I know I can't go on the way I am now because I can't hardly bend the knee. I was just wondering from people who have been through the surgery if they thought it was worth it. I've done some research and there are many mixed feelings about it. I am also wondering what the recovery is like? How long does it take? How long before I will be back to exercising regularly?
Answers: I have been told that I have a torn meniscus as a result of a skiing accident a couple of weeks ago. The next step I was told was surgery. I know I can't go on the way I am now because I can't hardly bend the knee. I was just wondering from people who have been through the surgery if they thought it was worth it. I've done some research and there are many mixed feelings about it. I am also wondering what the recovery is like? How long does it take? How long before I will be back to exercising regularly?
I've had medial meniscectomies on each knee. As long as you are JUST having a torn piece of a meniscus removed, it's not a huge surgery.
The last one was three years ago. I walked out of the outpatient hospital after both procedures. I had a little tenderness at the scope holes (there were three in each knee each time) but otherwise felt no pain whatsoever afterwards.
Let me warn you, though, I follow doctor's orders to a tee. I did the exercises, stretches, rehab, and PT they told me to do. I took no pain medicine; didn't need it.
My procedure was done in about 30 minutes each time. I was told I could return to my normal work outs in one week. However, I was up walking that day and walked 1 block the next day, 3 blocks the next, and was up to 6 blocks by 3 days.
Good luck. You won't be sorry. My knees have been great ever since!
my dad had this surgery a couple years ago. he recovered quickly i'd say. he was able to drive again in a couple of days.
but he used to run marathons and now he can only jog.
you can probably go back to excercising quickly, but you may have to adjust your routine.
I think you should get the surgery, i dought they would advise it if your knee would get better on it's own. I injured my knee about 7 months ago which included injuring the meniscus. I couldn't walk for days and i still can't sit on my knees (however there was ligament damage too). You definately won't be skiing again this winter ;) and probably nothing too active for a while. Stationary excercise bikes are great by the way. You should talk to the surgeon and a physiotherapist as they can answers these questions.
The benifits were great. It may take anywhere from 2-3 months ( my longest) to 6 weeks ( full function), to begin. PT...well that's anouther sotry...who likes PT? But heck, even that's not too bad. The scarring is very minimal, and you are given drugs to deal with the pain. I did not have to take my pills long at all, so I expect you'll recover pretty quickly.