To just leave a Meniscus Tear without surgery?

I had most of my cartilage removed when I was 11, way back in 1977. I have discoid miniscus, and had been limping and falling over from a very young age. They put it down to growing pains, until they eventually had a proper look, by which time it was completely fucked.

Anyway, didn't stop me doing anything, and it wasn't until I was 50, that I got out of bed and the remaining bit snapped again. A further arthroscopy and all was well again. Up and about in a couple weeks.

Further 10 years on, and the knee is a bit mis-shapen, and can get stuff, but I walk a lot, and that keeps it supple. No pain.

I have basically been bone in bone for 50 years, and will need a knee replacement eventually, but my story illustrates that it isn't always bad news.

It does remove the padding, but it also removes the pain and restricted ability to move without risking further damage. My second surgery was exactly that, after an injury that caused further damage, but I have since lead a fairly active and sporty life and it was only towards my late 50s that it started to trouble me slightly. It was probably about stage 3 then so I'd got quite far along, doing contact and racquet sports before having any problems. Even now, I know people at stage 4 who can't walk without a stick, or who have had knee replacements. I'm not like that, although I get stiff very easily, but that soon eases off. Pain is very manageable when it occurs, and it only occurs in certain situations. I think regularly exercising the joint is one of the factors in keeping arthritis pain at bay. but I really don't think it's the solution to a torn cartilage without surgery.

I had it done, it was clicking and locking. Made a big difference to me although my knees are already well arthritic and the cartilage is a state. So it want a miracle cure it anything, but defo an improvement
The pain wasn't terrible, but the weird clicky thing gave me the creeps, so I am well glad I did it .

Pain 6 out of 10?

That's rather bad if ongoing.

I know someone who said they hadn't realised how much pain they had until after a procedure.

Can you request a second opinion on your policy?

I had a tear aged 38. I was told that if the knee was locking or giving way, they could do an arthroscopy to clear out the floating bits, but I didn't have those issues, so had no surgery. I kneeled on my knee about a year later, heard a crunch and think I tore it even more. 6mths later, the pain became unbearable. I couldn't sleep and even keeping the knee absolutely still in bed- it was agonising. A further Xray/MRI showed arthritis.

My pain ran down the inside of my knee. I was finally given an off loader brace, which pulls the knee over, so the weight travels down the opposite of the knee instead, and slightly opens the bones on the affected side. I was also doing physio, but the brace was a game changer. I was able to walk more than a few steps and I could actually sleep again. I then lost weight and became more active again.

After 12mths, I weaned myself off the brace. That was 6yrs ago I've still had no surgery and the pain has almost gone. I still can't squat and its achy if I do a really long walk, but its SO much better than before. I have no idea how, because I've also since put weight on! I will knee a replacement in time, but I'm holding off as long as possible.

I can't advise OP what your best option is. I'm also unsure why seeing a different surgeon would invalidate insurance? Are you in America? Can you live with it as is? Does any analgesia help? What 'surgery' was being advised? An arthroscopy, meniscal repair or knee replacement?

I really wouldn't have surgery yet. My tear was very painful ... woke me up from sleep and my whole leg hurt. I saw a physio and was absolutely committed to the exercises i was given. After 3 months i thought it wasn't working but 4 and a half months later i am back to sports. So i would try the physio route first. Also agree with earlier poster about a pillow between knees at night. Good luck!

In general I don't think putting of medical treatment is a good idea. The long waiting list on the NHS seems to be cause of worry for you so perhaps deep down you would prefer to get it done sooner? Recovery can be easier at some times if your life than other e.g when kids are more independent but there's always some inconvenience.

My brother had his operated on about 5 years and was fine for a while but now in a fair bit of pain.
I'd been in pain on and off for several years before mine was diagnosed about 5 years ago. Apart from a rather large lump I haven't really had any problems with it for the last few years unless I overdo things.

I had a classic bucket-handle tear at age 13, in an era when surgery was the only offered solution. I was thankful for it as I was in agony most of the time, and no waiting lists back then. They didn't "repair" as such, they snipped off the torn bit. I was warned that either way I would most likely have arthritis when older, as it's bone on bone that causes the wear and tear, so it can still happen through the torn area, albeit more slowly. Had further issues in my 20s and the remaining cartilage was removed. Now in my 60s and have stage 4 arthritis in the knee, but oddly enough, not the pain that others at this stage have. I agree with a PP about sleeping with a pillow between your knees if you can. I use knee-warmers at night and they have been a gamechanger for me.

I guess what I'm saying is that if they are pushing you to have the surgery they must think you need it, so I'd go for it as you never know how the joint will change in years to come and you might regret avoiding it now. And arthritis isn't necessarily as bad as you might imagine - there are lots of ways you can look after yourself that minimise its impact and you can lead a relatively pain-free life with it.

I had a meniscal tear repaired at 21. I'm now 53 and do a lot of skiing abd cycling. I have arthritis but not in the knee. get it done!

Seems silly to continue to have constant pain when it can be sorted.

Whatever you decide, sleep with a small pillow between your knees. I had a bucket handle tear repaired 25 years ago. It was successful but started to hurt again recently, and cushioning it at night has made a big difference.

That really shouldn’t be the case, go back and have it looked at.

I really regret having surgery on mine, it does hurt every day now.

What sports and activities do you like to do? Can you do them comfortably now with little to no pain? I had a meniscus tear as a teenager and had it repaired (30 years ago). I had a further (probably mostly unrelated) injury to the same knee in my early 20s and needed another surgery. I’m mid 40s and it’s mostly fine. I’ve run several long distance races on it. I regularly hike long distances 8-16 miles in a day and live mostly pain free, maybe just some mild discomfort if I’ve had a particularly busy week. Definitely never have pain at night or at rest. Only time I had any really in recent years was after 80 miles of walking a Camino, but that cleared up with a few days of icing and rest.

You won’t be out of action for months. They’d want you up and going again. Even after my big reconstructive surgery, I was driving within a month.

I'm waiting for results from MRI but suspect I too have a meniscus tear. Have seen some videos on YouTube which look helpful,

I had surgery about 5 years ago and recovery was very quick however I was in agony with it prior to surgery , it was a bucket handle tear which they said was quite serious. I suppose only you can decide, but mine at its worst was unbearable - took me over an hour to get down the stairs

Do it whilst you've got the insurance.

You don't want to find out later that it isn't improving, you're sick of being in constant pain but the NHS is unable to fund surgery.

I decided not to have surgery for my meniscus tear (offered under the NHS) and a few months later it is hardly painful at all. I'd give it a bit longer. Your surgeon is right that it's hard to predict the recovery period or long term effects.

It's hard to describe them accurately and I don't think I would do a very good job. But I think that the "go to" exercises for this type of problem are on the NHS website.

One of the key ones at the beginning was sitting on floor with legs out in front, making sure that you begin by engaging the muscles of the lower front thigh (ie just above the knee) and then raising and lowering. Another was 'crabwalking' with a band around the legs at knee level.
Because I am a gym member, my physio also gave me exercises using the knee raise and knee curl machines at the gym. But I would say that these have to be approached with caution. Slow steady movement with minimal weight, or you can actually trigger more pain.
As I get older I realise that no exercise works effectively unless you are very mindful and know how to engage the correct muscles, so I don't want to even try and give a good account of any of these exercises. Really important to get guidance from professionals, either in person or via online videos.

Can I ask what the main recommended exercises were please?