Meniscus tear

[tigertummy]

Steroid injections and physio or surgery

Please share your stories about your meniscus tear and which route you went down and what success you had...

Hopeful bump

I had to have surgery. I was in agony. I feel your pain.

I’ve just been able to manage mine with physio and rest which surprised me tbh. I’m about 12 weeks in with a view to investigating surgery if it doesn’t improve by end of July. But it has massively improved and I’m not great at doing the exercises. That said, I still haven’t been able to run on it.

First time surgery, second time surgery.

Third one, about five years ago physio and strength training, consultant send they really don't go for surgery anymore as the outcomes are pretty much the same.

Skiing and me don't get on too well!

Surgery and it is great now!

Thanks all

@tukker how was your recovery?

@SellFridges I'm also a similar amount of time in and although the physio is improving things it still feels so unstable. I live in fear it's going to lock and I'll be back to square one

Rest and physio - like pp, I was also surprised. I’d say don’t jump to the surgery route immediately, it might improve significantly without intervention.

@Yodaisawally and @Devastatedyetagain how were your recoveries post surgery? I'm anxious about going the surgery route as I have young children who need a lot from me

I had a steroid injection which calmed things down enough to enable me to do physio exercises and strengthen it. No real issues now with running and walking, but I should do more strengthening than I currently do as the naturally weak muscles that contributed to the original problem are still there.

@astridforty how stable does your knee feel?

@tigertummy I went in for the afternoon and slept well that night. Spent most of the next day with my leg up but able to move around and pretty much back to normal a couple of days later although couldn't drive for a week.

Surgery on one knee . I had a bucket tear so was unable to straighten my leg.

Second knee no surgery.

The knee with surgery now has really bad arthritis and is pretty painful.I have had physio etc and do have to be careful with it.

The knee that had no surgery is much stronger and healthier than first knee.

I would not rush into surgery personally- give it time to settle and heal . It can take a while but tbh the same time as waiting for surgery and the healing after

Tear or has it rolled right right up ? tear I hobbled through with phsio, rolled will need surgery most painful thing ever (tear)

@tigertummy I took a week off work and didn't have kids at the time. The first day back into work with the commute was pretty hellish but hobbling around the house was ok. I had keyhole with three incisions and they did a trim and tidy.

I was fine after getting that first commute out of the way.

Went back to the gym after a couple of weeks for arms and was back on legs after 5 weeks with adaptions so squats instead of squat jumps, no lunges.

Both knees I have no problems with now. The physio one took longer to get back to full activity but got there.

@Ivedonethisthreetimealready sorry to hear you're still suffering. It's interesting that you say the knee without surgery is stronger!

@tootiredtobother a tear. Horizontal and vertical

@Yodaisawally thank you

I had my surgery 12 months ago now and my knee is about 98%. It does sometimes ache and I can't cross my legs for long periods. I wasn't a runner before but feel like I could start to do some running now which I'm planning on doing soon. The surgery was worthwhile for me.

I did the physio and exercise route. My consultant recommended surgery and I did spend many hours debating it. But stuck it out with the physio and it’s fine now . I am a runner and no residual problems . I would say it did take ages to heal though. 6 months plus before I could comfortably exercise on it

Thanks!!

I would try conservative first. Not my knee, but I had a bad cycling accident 2 months ago with an injury to my shoulder being a pain. Grade 3 tear to all AC ligaments.

Interestingly, surgeon strongly recommended convective treatment of physio and meds for 12 months; while surgery would be a quick "fix", being in my 30s now I would be looking at a reconstruction in my 40s and replacement in my 50s, and well as arthritis. Thinking has really changed in approaching how to manage injuries.

That being said it's hard work - I'm still in pain and limited movement and seeing my physio twice a week. But I'm seeing progress, and I would prefer to put in the effort now and hopefully avoid the complications surgery will bring as I age.

Just to add, physio confident I'll be out of pain and back to fairly normal movement after 6 months. Only 4 to go!

Thanks @YellowMonday

My biggest concern is quality of life if I don't have the surgery. I'm happy to do the physio and it's improving things but I'm just not able to be the mum I want to be

Not sure if I’m an outlier as I seemed to retear mine just waking around after the first injury. But in case it’s useful to you OP, 4 years in a row as a teenager. Wish I had gone for something more conservative but I was never even offered another option. 15 years on my knee is nothing but trouble. No lateral meniscus left at all and almost nothing of the medial. I also had my ACL done so certainly has impacted it too.

From my view, surgery could be an option at any point if it doesn’t improve. But once it’s done it’s done.

Mine happened about 5 years ago. Did a little physio. No pain but sometimes it locks up if it's bent for too long. I'm debating surgery but afraid that i will have pain afterwards, which I don't experience now.

@Sunnytwobridges when it locks up does it hurt?

Fair call @tigertummy. For me, I'm more concerned about what the future could look like, but then, shoulders apparently are not fun joints to work with.

I will say, only 2 months in and I have really progressed. Even during the first 2 months when I couldn't use my left arm, I very quickly found ways to manage (I live alone).