To think I could run a marathon with a torn meniscus

[alittlebitdelusional]

Well, a suspected torn meniscus.

I injured myself last year and have been running since then, but I finally saw a physio at the start of this year who has referred me for imaging. She has a pretty confident feeling that I’ve torn my meniscus with potentially some ligament damage. My first consultant physio appointment is in three and a half weeks.

I still love running. I’ve had to reduce it over the last few weeks because of pain, but I think part of that is down to running in some seriously worn out trainers that are not designed for running. Think Primark £10 memory foam trainers 😬 I keep seeing the marathon runners this year and I really, really want to do it.

AIBU to think I could? Should I just shelve this dream?

Don't be foolish. You will seriously hurt yourself.

Look after the injury and train for next year instead.

Speechless you’re asking

Put it like that

Oh I’m looking at next year, not this year. My trust isn’t keen to operate on younger people with joint issues and I’ve been told that the most likely outcome will be a steroid injection and being told to get mobile again while I have the relief from that.

Aye thats a grand idea, go for it 🙄

Crazy talk if it is in fact a torn meniscus. I ended up on crutches and paying for private physio as I was I agony. There will be other runs you can do in the future.

Well go ahead, what's the worst that could happen?...make it much worse by running, need surgery that might not cure it and as you get older, face never being able to walk/run without pain.

Possibly not if your knee is never fully fit after the op.
Please get some proper running trainers, decent ones are usually around £100 but they reduce injury. Saucony, Brookes, Asics etc are designed for runners.

Nothing wrong with entering the ballot now and dreaming whilst seeing what the doctors say. The London marathon is an amazing event to take part in, and watch.

If you're knee is not up did a marathon then look after it and you. Swimming is the new running!

DD1 recently had an operation to repair her torn meniscus. Her consultant has told her she can never run again!

Unlikely, I’ve had the steroid injection and it’s done nothing. I’m 2 years post injury and sometimes I can’t walk.

This come under ‘just because you can, doesn’t mean you should’

I’m not going to get surgery, and the physio has told me it’ll likely never heal by itself. The best I can realistically hope for is to get steroid injections

I’d question that physio as depending on which surgery you can return to running up to 6 months after!

How old are you OP? DD is 44 and was in a lot of pain pre op.

I’m younger than your DD. I’m in pain everyday but it’s the same whether I run, walk or do nothing - so I may as well still do what I enjoy

Sure, but you may damage your knee even more by trying to run.

The advice from the physio so far has basically been to do what I like within the limits of the pain. If it’s suddenly sharp, locks, catches etc., then back off. But she’s stressed that I’m not likely to get surgery at all.

How about you ask her?

and watch her face!

I’ve got degenerative meniscus damage, started with a running injury. I haven’t been able to run for the past 12 years and it’s only in the last year, with losing 4 and a half stone and strength training, that I’ve been able to walk decent distances again.

i have done London marathon in 2011 and I did love it but running is just so bad for your knees, I would really think very carefully as you have an injury already.

I'm working really hard at the gym to strengthen the muscles that support my knees but I still struggle with flexibility in my knees that impacts every day life. Things like getting on and off the floor are harder than they should be. For years I couldn’t kneel at all, thankfully I can now.

I’ve asked her before about running, and that’s what she’s told me. I live in an area that’s a lot more heavily skewed towards an ageing population (I think it’s something like 75% of the population is over 70). The orthopaedic department is overrun with arthritis cases and traumas, which are basically just broken hips from falls. She’s said I would be very lucky to get surgery because of this, because it isn’t as valuable to the trust.

That isn’t what I said

ask her about running the marathon not “running”

Why aren’t you getting some proper running shoes? If you love running so much surely you would?

I don’t know about where you live but here’s its fighting tooth and nail for appointments at the physio department. At least if I tried and ended up in a&e I might get some proper treatment (I’m joking, before anyone jumps down my throat)

I’ve ordered some! I only really put two and two together over the last few weeks and needed to wait for some overtime payments to be made to afford them. I’ve ordered asics nimbus 28

Well pay for a one off private
and ask them
I can guarantee that when they hear the word “marathon” they will start shaking their head