Calorie intake post knee surgery

[Heathwood]

Hi folks,

Interested to see what your thoughts are here.

I underwent surgery on my left knee a month ago to repair a meniscal tear. From the initial injury, resulting in being unable to bear weight on my left leg, together with post op recovery, I’ve lost a fair amount of muscle from the leg quad area, which I need to rebuild, albeit slowly and taking care of recovery.

However, relative inactivity over this same time period has resulted in a few pounds being put on in other areas which I’d quite like to remove.

I’m unsure therefore as to whether my body requires a modest calorie surplus to assist in rebuilding my leg (and deal with any fat gain later) or whether it’ll bounce back without too much concern. If I try to cut a little fat, I would assume this may elongate the recovery of my leg? It may be that maintenance is the best way to go and my body will recomp over time.

Yes, I’m overthinking this, but does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

[mcelliott]

Heathwood said:

Hi folks,

Interested to see what your thoughts are here.

I underwent surgery on my left knee a month ago to repair a meniscal tear. From the initial injury, resulting in being unable to bear weight on my left leg, together with post op recovery, I’ve lost a fair amount of muscle from the leg quad area, which I need to rebuild, albeit slowly and taking care of recovery.

However, relative inactivity over this same time period has resulted in a few pounds being put on in other areas which I’d quite like to remove.

I’m unsure therefore as to whether my body requires a modest calorie surplus to assist in rebuilding my leg (and deal with any fat gain later) or whether it’ll bounce back without too much concern. If I try to cut a little fat, I would assume this may elongate the recovery of my leg? It may be that maintenance is the best way to go and my body will recomp over time.

Yes, I’m overthinking this, but does anyone have any experience or thoughts on this?

Overthinking, just follow the protocol set out by your Dr/Physio as regards your recovery, if you are concerned about diet search out foods high in anti inflammatory properties, these maybe or maybe not of use to you.

[anonymous-user]

Healing takes a huge amount of calories. However, you’re doing fk all so balances out.

[sherman]

Walking to start with will take more effort so burn calories. I would eat as normal. Dont snack through boredom and you will reach your goals with weight and distance soon enough.

[Heathwood]

Thanks for the responses all.

Just for clarity, I’m no longer sat on my arse. I’m doing daily exercise in line with my Physio’s instructions which, whilst not hugely exerting, is aimed at rebuilding range of motion and strength.

[gazza285]

I don’t know about you, but I knackered my meniscus in December, now waiting for the op, sat here a stone heavier…

[Heathwood]

gazza285 said:

I don’t know about you, but I knackered my meniscus in December, now waiting for the op, sat here a stone heavier…

Thats a pretty lengthy weight. Do you know what sort of damage you’ve done? Mine was a bucket handle tear which caused a locking of the joint. Had mine sorted privately but I got the impression it would have been sorted pretty quickly under NHS as a repair would not have been viable if too much more time passed.

[gazza285]

Mine is a vertical tear, so it’s a bit more complicated than a bucket handle, plus the joint doesn’t lock up, so it is also a lower priority. Still cannot run on the bloody thing though.