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?

Because to be honest, I’m a bit of an idiot and didn’t think about it properly. I own that and that’s why I’ve done a lot of research to get some proper ones now

I DO NOT WANT TO RUN IN PRIMARK SHOES!!! I HAVE ORDERED ASICS. But yes I do want to run with an injury because I’ve been told it’ll never be fully healed and I can’t live my life like I’m 80 for the next 60 years

I had a fall and I have torn my meniscus. I am also missing some cartilage. I couldn’t run for a bus let alone a marathon. I struggle daily and have been at physio for 10 months. Good for you if you think you can do it but invest in proper running trainers from a shop where your gait is properly measured. Dont be foolish and try it in trainers from Primark. May be you are fortunate and you’ve not got a significant tear or any other issues.

Well having injured my knee meniscus a few weeks ago (not torn thankfully) and seen a physio, he said definitely don't do anything like running, because it will be perpetuating the injury. Leave off running until it recovers, you're not going to do yourself any favours.

I was told that as long as I work within the limits of my pain (e.g. stop if it becomes sharp or unbearable), and it’s not unstable, I can carry on like I was. Thankfully I’ve only had a few instability episodes

I tore my meniscus and had the op to trim it. The things I learnt were:

1. First, find out if you've actually torn your meniscus. Hunches, even from physios, are no basis for decisions (like running a marathon).
2. It's definitely worth trying to find the money to get a one-off private consultation with an orthopaedic surgeon to get an answer to your questions.
3. Exercises to strengthen the muscles to support the knee are vital but neither that, nor a steroid injection, will ever heal your torn meniscus.
4. I loved skiing but decided it wasn't worth risking my longterm mobility for. I'm still really active and play a variety of sports.

Look I get it, I love running, sometimes I feel I just need to run, but if you’ve got an injury the worst thing you can do is run on it, you’re only going to make it worse.

Yes but the damage is done. If you couldn't afford running shoes, you should have shopped around. Previous seasons' shoes are often half price.

And I’ve admitted I made a mistake. Not the end of the world really

On point one - I’m really hoping I get a scan and it’s not. I think it explains a lot of my symptoms but really weirdly, it can go one of two ways when I’ve been active. It can either be really quite painful, and I’m left in pain for a couple of days above where I’m at, or the movement can somehow make it feel better for a couple of days.

I shall swim against the tide here and say go ahead, enter the damn ballot for London 2027 if you want. If you do get picked, you're not committed until you've paid the entry fee, and with a ballot place you've got the option of deferring for 12 months for any reason or none (though that means paying again). Putting your name in the hat is a low risk thing to do.

As for actually running the marathon, I'd recommend going online and having a really good ratch around the evidence regarding knee cartilage damage and running. You may find it more reassuring than not. Surgery is offered much less readily now than it used to be because statistically it doesn't change the outcome (this is at population level and doesn't apply to all individual people).

I did that over 6 years ago. In summary, I had a sore knee, an MRI showed a cartilage tear at the site of the pain plus a collateral ligament hanging by a thread, and an orthopaedic surgeon told me to stop running and listed me for arthroscopic surgery. Then the pandemic landed, and by the time routine operating lists opened again I was much better and starting to build up my running again and was happy to be removed from the waiting list. My first marathon back was the virtual London marathon in October 2020 and I've done several more since then without any further knee problems although it's likely that the MRI abnormalities will still be there because cartilage has a very poor blood supply and tears tend not to heal.

If you go on a long distance runners' group on FB and ask the same question you're likely to get broadly encouraging responses from other people who have been there and come out the other side.

If you get in, you'll have 12 months to train. Being able to run 7km already isn't a bad start.

If you do have another physio assessment, say that you intend to run a marathon next year and would like your rehabilitation to take this into account.

(I will add this: the marathon is a stupid distance and the training, done properly, is tedious and gruelling and disruptive. I recommend training to run your best possible 10k or even 5k instead.)

I’ve done a lot of reading around it and it feels like the only surgery worth going for is the full repair. If I was offered the trimming I’d more than likely say no due to the increased risk of arthritis as you age.

How did you manage to rehab, if you don’t mind me asking?

don’t be stupid.

Daft idea, very silly.

I cut right back on my running for around six months. I didn't do zero running, but I kept runs very short and didn't race from mid-2019 until February 2020. I walked a lot, cycled a lot, and did a little strength work though not as consistently as is recommended. But I suspect that time was the major contributor to the improvement.

If you think you can run 10k, why not enter a 10k? As someone who has done a lot of racing I would encourage you to consider the view that shorter distances are also great fun and worthwhile.

Interesting

I have to admit the more I’ve read the less keen I am for surgery. It just doesn’t strike me as a good option at all. I’m hoping with my new trainers they help to ease some of the pressure and it becomes more enjoyable again. I’ve noticed such a difference in my moods between when I’m in pain and when I’m not, that I’m wondering if at least some of it is in my head

I’m looking for some running clubs near me and some fun runs, but I don’t really live in a very active area (aforementioned 70+ population)

Have you got a parkrun within reach? That's often a good point of contact for finding out about other running resources locally. And you may discover surprising things about some of those codgers in your community.

I do, but I do worry about running with others. I think I’m going to strip it back to basics, complete the runna 2k to 5k plan and go from there.

Not sure there’s a need for the “codgers” snipe, im just saying it how it is. I live in a deprived area that’s got an ageing, and unhealthy, population. It’s part of the reason that I’m unlikely to get surgery, and why community groups are so rare near me.

You are very unlikely to be able to train for a Marathon with a torn meniscus.

It is hours and hours and weeks and months of preparation. It takes a MASSIVE toll on healthy joints and your knee is not healthy.

You can strength train and do all the physio possible and you will be able to run, but training for a 42km race with a torn meniscus is unwise.

You've done 7km up to now.
Try a few 10km races. If you love running and want to do it long term, years from now, then take care of yourself. Manage your injury and your expectations.

You should still get your gait analysed to see what type you are OP, even if you don't buy anything there. I know people who go for try ons then buy another time in a sale. So many types of cushioning, toe box widths etc. Even with a decent make if it's not right for you your risking more injury.
Most people size up at least 1/2 a size if not a full becauseyour feet swell. It's worth getting proper socks, not cotton anyway.

I'm not sure what you mean by fun runs but I agree with others, start with booking a 10k.

Learn from Lindsy Vonns mistakes...

I'm not a slow coach and I'm regularly beaten by 60 and 70 plus year olds. One of the things I like about smaller trail running events is they tend to skew older. I marshalled a marathon recently and it wasn't all youngsters by any stretch. So take your time to heal properly because you have decades ahead to get back to it.

husband has meniscus issues - dont do it! Find out, see what they propose and plan from there. They dont heal, only get worse. Most repair surgeries fail, which is why they dont do them anymore - typically they let it get bad then remove it, it’s not your age (only that youre more likely to see the repair fail as youre younger). The impact of a marathon is huge; it might be alright on and around the race BUT if you wear it even more, you could end up in trouble. DH had his repaired years ago, continued as normal with exercise which and it ended up locking after tripping in my DDs room and it was stuck for the best part of 7 weeks, ended up needing urgent surgery and has been told never to road run again NHS and private. Risk of running is to the other knee which has a torn meniscus and needing a knee replacement in the one with none. He’s in rehab/pyhsio for his knees, but regrets road running.