Has anyone here had Meniscal surgery?
Discussion
Looks like I'm heading under the knife later this year for a Meniscal tear and wondering what I'm letting myself in for.
I'm guessing some pain and a stint on crutches with no driving. Followed by quite a stint in physio therapy. Whats the expected heal time etc? Personal experiances are more than welcome.
I'm guessing some pain and a stint on crutches with no driving. Followed by quite a stint in physio therapy. Whats the expected heal time etc? Personal experiances are more than welcome.
I've had three knee ops for meniscus tears, and never needed crutches once. I found I could walk almost normally after a day or so, and for quite long distances. No stitches - just steristrips - and the joint itself doesn't have to do any repair. It's really just the swelling and muscle-loss that the physio sorts out.
I think I was cleared to drive after 2 weeks.
I think I was cleared to drive after 2 weeks.
Yes, I have. IIRC they don't repair as such but they cut away the part which is torn and may catch and cause pain or cause the knee to lock up.
To my amazement, following the OP at about 10am, they wanted me to talk up and down a flight of stairs at 2pm! Pretty much as soon as the GA wears off.
It looks very swollen after as they pump a lot of fluid in to make access easier, but I don't remember it being very painful. I had some other work done as well at the same time. You only get 3 or 4 small scars, about half an inch each, around the knee (one for the fluid, one for the camera, one for the cutting tool, I believe).
To my amazement, following the OP at about 10am, they wanted me to talk up and down a flight of stairs at 2pm! Pretty much as soon as the GA wears off.
It looks very swollen after as they pump a lot of fluid in to make access easier, but I don't remember it being very painful. I had some other work done as well at the same time. You only get 3 or 4 small scars, about half an inch each, around the knee (one for the fluid, one for the camera, one for the cutting tool, I believe).
Here's what I wrote on another thread:
We consider: age of patient, age of tear, lateral or medial meniscus, potential for healing, zone of injury, stability of knee, secondary damage to meniscus.
All before trying to stitch the thing back together. And you should be doing quite a bit of it ( >20/year) before you claim to be any good.
And even then, the chance of needing another operation for any reason on the knee is 20% if you attempt repair.
As for ACL healing, there is no doubt that some ACL injuries heal/scar-down in a semi-functional position. This gives some people stability and others not. If it scars onto the PCL it looks funny on the MRI but can function OK.
You can also have single bundle ruptures of the ACL. It has two main bundles which act differently, and some people can manage with one bundle.
Only took me 20 years of training to get here!I am a sports knee surgeon. Meniscal removal (part) is one thing. Meniscal repair is a totally different recovery.
The_Doc said:
z4chris99 said:
they just sew it up, not too bad...
your ACL hasn't reattached, it has no blood flow it cannot heal, or do anything.
go see your doc ASAP
Meniscal repair is quite a dark art really. Not such a simple process.your ACL hasn't reattached, it has no blood flow it cannot heal, or do anything.
go see your doc ASAP
We consider: age of patient, age of tear, lateral or medial meniscus, potential for healing, zone of injury, stability of knee, secondary damage to meniscus.
All before trying to stitch the thing back together. And you should be doing quite a bit of it ( >20/year) before you claim to be any good.
And even then, the chance of needing another operation for any reason on the knee is 20% if you attempt repair.
As for ACL healing, there is no doubt that some ACL injuries heal/scar-down in a semi-functional position. This gives some people stability and others not. If it scars onto the PCL it looks funny on the MRI but can function OK.
You can also have single bundle ruptures of the ACL. It has two main bundles which act differently, and some people can manage with one bundle.
Only took me 20 years of training to get here!
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