To just leave a Meniscus Tear without surgery?

[Kenclucky]

Really not sure what to do -

MRI scan has confirmed tear with small cyst in the "white zone" eg unlikely to repair itself.

Currently causes me mild constant pain, definitely not unbearable. At times it flares up and is worse. Still nothing a painkiller can't handle.

I've seen such conflicting info online. That if I leave it, will only get worse. That if I have surgery, means almost certain arthritis in future, huge pain and months out of action.

Surgeon was not overly helpful to be honest. Couldn't really say if recovery would be 2 weeks or 2 months. Very flippant with advice like well you can get taxis if you can't do the school runs for 2 months! I'm really not sure how we would cope with my work, the kids etc if I couldn't drive or get around at all for months. Our dog also needs a lot of exercise and I'm the only one home.

I can't change surgeon or it voids our insurance policy. And likewise if I don't make up my mind soon and get it done during this policy year, I'd have to go onto the NHS list instead which can be years of waiting.

Aibu to just leave it? Or do I get it done whilst I've got the insurance, is it a crazy thing to put off?

How old are you? Is your sleep affected or your function reduced?

Unfortunately a meniscus tear is the start of arthritis. If it's not locking or giving way then you don't have to have surgery. if it's just pain then they don't always operate. It's hard for the surgeon to say for definite the outcome as everyone is different and many people live well with meniscus tears, so they actually sound quite sensible to me not telling you to definitely operate. Although I wouldn't expect you'd be out if action for 2 months after an arthroscopy.

The best way to manage is exercise, keeping healthy BMI, not overdoing it, pain killers for a flare up.

I knew someone who had a knee issue, not sure if it was this but like yours it was said surgery would most likely mean arthritis in the future. They didn’t have surgery and have had no further knee problems 20 years on. Sorry probably not that helpful as I can’t remember the exact issue!

I've just had a partial meniscectomy on both knees.

It wasn't particularly sore and they had me up and down stairs with no crutches about an hour after the anaesthetic had worn off.

I'm a couple of months post op and played tennis yesterday.

I was told that not having surgery was more likely to end with arthritis than having it.

Having said that they were very keen for me to go down the physio route first to see if that helped prior to surgery. My tear was complex and didn't get better with nearly 18 months of physio, and it was stopping me sleeping at night.

Oh and I could have driven after 2 weeks no issue.

I think it is quite common to leave them untreated. I had one diagnosed over ten years ago and the consultant mildly recommended against surgery on balance.

Over the following months the pain reduced but now aged 61 I have had a longish period of pain that was once again diagnosed as a meniscus tear. Not sure if it is the 'same' tear or a new one. Again, surgery wasn't recommended and I have improved my comfort and strength massively through physiotherapy and exercise. I got the impression that they would be very far from making a routine recommendation in favour of surgery

I tend to think that unless the pain is very severe and unimproving surgery is best avoided, although of course that will vary massively depending on individual circumstances

My tear was complex and didn't get better with nearly 18 months of physio, and it was stopping me sleeping at night.

Gosh, yes, 18 months of physio without improvement does seem like a good indicator that surgery was needed! It shows how different each case is.

I had just one steroid injection, which enabled me to stop favouring my knee and get it to do some appropriate exercise, and it was transformative for me. The reduction in pain as a result of the jab really made me realise how much the pain had been affecting my use of my body. I was dreading it wearing off ... but it never did because of the physio I was able to do while the steroids lasted.

It depends on how bad it is.

I had a lot of pain and was limping, so I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees simultaneously about 20 years ago, aged 50. I recovered very quickly - easily within two weeks - looked after my knees and strengthened my leg muscles and did very well until recently - I’m due to have both knees replaced in turn in the next year or two.

I don’t see advice to take taxis flippant. It’s common sense. Also, dog walker.

Can I ask what the main recommended exercises were please?

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.

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.

Hi I'm quite young. And they are telling me to operate - they're being quite pushy about it actually but ita private so feels a bit like a hard sell. It's me who has the doubts whether I really should.

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.

To those who've asked - it's uncomfortable at night but not stopping me sleeping. Not stopping me doing anything really. On pain scale id say about 6 out of 10 maybe. But mri did show the tear is there, and surgeon said it isn't repairable can only be cleaned up and removed.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

Which surgery type did you have please