Meniscus tear anyone?

[ElCubano]

I have a horizontal flap tear, MRI confirmed. I'm an avid runner and got injured during a run. The pain was unbearable at first now it's pretty much gone. I'm not running or doing any crazy activity which would make it hurt I'm sure. If I twist my leg a certain way there is pain though. I've read and have been told by the Orthopedic I need to have surgery. Has anyone had a tear and not done surgery? More specifically a complex tear like one with a flap. This happened like 2 moths ago and I've been focused on knee strengthening exercises which I feel have done wonders.

 

[Big AAPL]

I had both knees done. The surgeries yielded great results and almost 20 years later I am still without pain. Not a runner, but a weightlifter with a lot of up and down on trucks. If you can get away without surgery, by all means continue with your current regimen. Good luck!

 

[Baron]

My son just had it done. He went in for surgery and they lifted his kneecap and trimmed off the the torn flap. The procedure did not require a huge scar or anything like that. He had three very small incisions around the kneecap and the entire procedure took less than 10 minutes.

However...

He has been going to physical therapy every week for at least four or five months trying to get that knee and the surrounding muscles back up to the level they were before the surgery. It has not been an easy road for him, but the PT has definitely helped a lot. He told me the PT workouts have been very intense, but I can tell from the way he is walking and his attitude improvement that things are starting to get back to normal now.

 

[tango29]

A close friend had the surgery 2 years ago. His may not have been exactly the same as yours as his pain didn't go away after he injured it. It wasn't as bad as the initial pain, but he knew something was wrong at all times.
I can't remember how long he did rehab/physical therapy, but it seemed like quite a few months if not a full year.
At this point he says he forgets it even happened.

 

[Aisone]

There is no reason to fear this surgery, but do your research. I've had a few meniscectomy surgeries in recent years from playing hoops, including a displaced tear in the medial meniscus posterior horn, and technically it's not really a big deal and can prevent a worsening in the future. That said, I've found the most important thing in surgery is who you choose to cut you. Use one that is very recommended, experienced, and of high quality character (and that you are personally comfortable with), as many sports orthos are arrogant pricks. Quality of physical therapist and your own patience and discipline while healing is very important too.

 

[speedo]

I had a scope to trim a tear years ago. Was on stationary cycle in a couple of days and back to running within a couple of weeks. I've been a runner for many years. Find a sports orthopedist who has done a number of athletes knees. My surgeon was from a practice used by the Dallas Mavericks and the university of Texas at Arlington and was referred.

 

[Aisone]

I had a scope to trim a tear years ago. Was on stationary cycle in a couple of days and back to running within a couple of weeks. I've been a runner for many years. Find a sports orthopedist who has done a number of athletes knees. My surgeon was from a practice used by the Dallas Mavericks and the university of Texas at Arlington and was referred.

I've heard of people being back in action very quickly after a meniscus surgery, but in one case of mine, trying to be back quickly was an absolutely horrible decision I still deal with consequences of. Give the knee time to get the fluid back that it's going to, let all the tissue heal properly that's going to heal, and so that any scar tissue related to the surgery is going to be minimized (and so that muscles can strengthen and range of motion is restored before trying to put equal strength on both legs when exercising again.)