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Damn Rick that sucks, no help here but wish you all the Best going forward with this.

Paul

Nothing torn I don't think but I just got x-ray'd last week and discovered my knees were bone on bone.. got a couple shots but he said it was just a matter of time..

Sure hope they can fix you Rick..

I tore ( and I mean TORE, NO **** micro rips or partials with burrs) my meniscus
way back in late 84-85?
Before MRI's ( were invented) or were only used on regular patients with $$$ Super expensive health policies...I was a graduate student on a college health policy....

It was painful as hell, the doctor ordered like
THREE weeks of solid rest then very slow therapy.
He said you'll never run again, but you'll be able to
Walk and ride a bike, but if you try and run again?
Forget the previous two I mentioned...

My question to you?
WHY THE **** ARE YOU STILL RUNNING?
That's the stupidest thing you can do,
Ride bike, treadmill, walk...whatever...

BUT STOP RUNNING TILL IT HEALS OR THEY FIGURE OUT THE BEST TREATMENT FOR YOU.

***** = *****

I have had my right knee replaced because the meniscus was worn and torn. It was caused by thirty years of running and tennis. I first developed chondromalacia in the knees after 6-7 years of running. Went to see the orthopedic doctors and they said I should quit running and tennis. Part of my problem was that my patellas are congenitally off track, they are rotated a few degrees towards the outside of the knees.

I used ice, heat and knee braces, including those with metal structures designed to reduce the load on the joint. They helped with tennis, but not with running. I eventually gave up running: it was too painful. Continued playing tennis until that became too painful. The pain kept me awake sometimes and I was taking large daily doses of tylenol, naproxen and ibuprofin. Not good for kidneys and liver.

Went to see the Kaiser docs, and they suggested I quit tennis as well as running, and take supplements, chondroitin and glucosamine. After two years, no improvement. Still played tennis, just not as often, and the pain kept up.

I went back to Kaiser orthopedics, and they recommended synvisc shots to lubricate the joints, every three months for a few years, then steroids/cortisone shots. If that regimen didn't help the pain, then arthroscopic surgery. The last resort would be knee replacement surgery. Then the pain escalated, mostly in the right knee, lesser pain in left. Couldn't walk long distances or play tennis without severe pain.

Decided to see a non-Kaiser ortho/knee specialist. He took MRIs and discovered both meniscuses were worn to less than half the usual thickness and had micro fractures throughout. No cartilage under the patella on the right knee and only a little on the left. He suggested immediate knee replacement for my right knee, and monitor my left knee. He gave me a cortisone shot in the right knee and it did relieve the pain for the two months before surgery.

After knee replacement, major improvement in pain and mobility. I am able to walk 6-7 miles at a time without pain, just fatigue.No tennis, except an occasional light game of doubles. No singles tennis, no running or any athletic activities involving running, jumping, sudden stopping and starting. Doctor suggested I take up golf, biking and swimming. Left knee is still OK, since I quit tennis. I ride a bicycle for 35-40 miles occasionally, without pain.

So the only pain relief for me was the cortisone shot. I was able to walk pain-free for two months of pre-surgery fitness. A friend of mine tried the synvisc (artificial cartilage like lubricant) and it didn't help him.

Good luck, DED.

I noticed no difference with the cortisone shots. My reg doc said the next step would be what he called "rooster juice" which is a lubricant maybe same as synvac? Once he saw the MRI he said that would be of little help. The next step according to him is the newer stem cell therapy but it is not covered by insurance at this point and is very expensive. The last resort is total knee replacement.

I continue to run because that is who I am but if the docs tell me that I will never heal unless I stop all impact activities then I will switch to other activities like bike riding which I have done for distance also over the years. Been awhile since I have done any century rides but still have the bikes hanging in the garage. Probably drown if I tried distance swimming.

I had forgotten that bassman had meniscus surgery. Need to hear that outcome.

If I'd known getting fat would do this to me I wouldn't have done it...

Thanks Obama..!!

Or you could go split some wood......

That sucks, sorry to hear that!

I had Pickle Ball once but a round of Antibiotics cleared it right up.

That is ESSENTIAL with any post-op recovery plan. It will hurt doing the therapy. If you don't, you may never recoup full use/extension/rotation/flexion in the joint.

Sorry to hear of all you brothers who have had or have such problems. It seems the surgery is just to cut out the torn meniscus instead of suturing it back so it can heal? Guess I will find out next week when I see the surgeon.

If I understand the MRI report I have a large tear 9X14 MM on one side a small tear on the other and a 15 MM popliteal cyst with mild osteoarthritis. Been living with arthritis in lower back and many other parts of the body for the last 40 years but that has not stopped me from being active.

One article I read said that surgery should be the very last option and that cold pacs could promote blood flow and healing but they were selling those so I figure that advise was tainted.

Fixed

Avoid surgery if possible.
If all you have is tears, and no big floaters, and you're not experiencing mechanical issues (locking, etc) then it's simply swelling and pain.
No more tennis, no more running. There's many other ways to get some cardio work in. It will "heal" in due time.

I had my entire lateral meniscus removed in 1973.............that's what they did back in the stone ages when you tore it.
About 20 years ago, I was at Stanford having that knee looked at.......you can imagine the shape it's in by then, after 20+ years of various sports and follow up injuries, etc.
At the time I was still big into power lifting, judo, skiing, tennis, basketball, surfing, etc.

The doctor said quite simply...
No more running, no tennis, no basketball, no mogul skiing,........oh, and quit the power lifting and lose 40 lbs............and you MIGHT be able to avoid a knee replacement (I was 220+ at the time.)
I took his advice, and I'm glad I did! Although, I only lost 25 of the 40 pounds............still trying to get to 180.........got 15 more to go, but my knee has been really good these last 10 years or so......good being a relative term of course.

Had a partial meniscus tear in my left knee, laid off tennis and running for a few months while doing exercises that my orthro recommended. Basically strengthened the outside knee muscles. The rest and exercises seemed to work but I cut out the running and returned to tennis. No real problems after that but two shoulder surgeries later and arthritis now in my right shoulder so no more tennis. Getting old sucks!

As someone who has run 15 marathons, twice rim to rim in the Grand Canyon and twice up and down Pike's Peak I sure as hell ain't afraid of a little physical therapy. But as others have said getting old sure sucks big time!

Ice is your friend.

I appreciate the advice and your concern but you seem to have a few things incorrect in my case:

Meniscus do not grow back so will not heal. As you state you have been living with the problems for many years. Both my regular doctor and the surgeon confirmed this. The surgery would just cut off the torn tissue which can impinge on surrounding structures.

Running is not making the problems worse but the twisting and other forces associated with pickel ball are what caused it in all likelihood. Stopping running will not make the problem go away and it will only lessen the pain somewhat if at all.

I am not on a 40 year endorphin high. Due to major back issues, a motorcycle accident bone surgery and other injuries over the years I have had to stop running for weeks or months at a time and never experienced symptoms of depression, etc.

Although I did a stint as a vegan for a few months once, I am 6' 200 lbs and have never been particularly thin. I have always been an athlete all my life and running is only one of the many things I have always done to stay active.

It was a loose stone ya basted!

ummmm......................................................afraid to ask......................................................................................how do you crap?

frank's slide is nearly complete....couple of fart jokes. (or one tea bag crack) and the transformation is complete....welcome down to the cellar, Frank

I just stiff leg, bend and fire. At first it was messy, now I'm shooting about 85 percent.

Glad you're doing well... Had my first PT session today.. bitch hurt me.. but she's pretty cute so I'll go back...

Awesome!!! I've actually been bowling since I last saw this thread. I wore a brace and walked away without any pain.

I don't plan on surgery at the moment, but I also don't plan on joining any leagues any time soon, but I'll definitely be following this to see how it all works out for you guys...

I have a feeling I'll probably have to do my knee at some point in the future.