Any tips for torn meniscus please?

[Goatblu]

I've been experiencing intermittent but excruciating pain in my knee. It's gradually becoming less intermittent and painful most of the time. I had it examined yesterday and I was told that the meniscus is torn (or partially torn) and some other ligament is strained too.

Occasionally I can walk relatively ok but if I so much as twist or move differently, the pain begins and it hurts a lot.

I was given crutches to use, a box of codeine and told to see my GP about physio.

I'm currently in the process of packing to move house and then have a holiday booked. I know there's no magic cure for an injury but can anyone please recommend a way to avoid this pain whilst on the waiting list for physio?

(It's not a runner's injury, I slipped and apparently age related changes can make it worse).

I've just had surgery for a complex meniscal tear.

Physio was advised but after 2 years of no improvement surgery was advised.

My advice is to get yourself a knee brace, it will make your journey much easier for your holiday. I even skied with a brace before my surgery.

As other have said RICE is important.

Longer term an exercise bike is vital, the motion helps to move synovial fluid around lubricating your knee and exercises to strengthen the muscles in your legs will also help. Best to get to a physio asap.

I skied with this knee brace on.

amzn.eu/d/btfbNuZ

It's not recommended to wear a brace all the time as it can be counterproductive. You need to build up the muscles supporting your knee but while you are moving house/travelling it may be helpful in terms of helping with the pain.

Thank you @GargoylesofBeelzebub. I can't imagine this going on for months, never mind years!!

I think I will need some kind of support to get me through the next 4 weeks as I can't carry anything and the most innocuous things set off the pain again - like turning to flush the loo!

I've contacted a couple of physiotherapy practices locally and I do have an exercise bike - currently in storage whilst we wait for our completion date after a fair few setbacks.

No. Both braces were given to me by the NHS physio department. The blue, elastic one fitted discreetly under trousers. I lost weight, by being more mobile, so was given a smaller size. Within months though, the elastic seemed to loosen and lose shape- even though I hadn't changed weight that time. That is when they gave me the more industrial, scaffolding of the metal one which I could only fit on the outside of trousers. By the time I was given the braces, it was about 5yrs ago. As said in my earlier post, these are offloader braces which gently force the weight to go down the other side of the knee and slightly opens the side that is painful. These were not braces than put a general, pressure over the entire knee like the ones you'd get in boots etc.

I don't know how your GP has diagnosed a meniscal tear without an MRI? Its not visible on an X-ray either. I'd be pushing for both to check if it is indeed a meniscal tear or actually osteo!

I'm suffered a tear in April this year. In June I finally went to see a physiotherapist. If you do the exercises things will get better. For almost instant pain relief I booked a series of laser treatments. After the second I was almost pain free for the first time in months. Magic!

I don't know how the conclusion was reached either. I had a thorough examination and certain movements were performed to test the function, pain level and clicking etc.

All I know is, it's very painful and I need to get some relief somehow as I can't get the house move done whilst in this much pain.

Were the laser treatments carried out by your physio @snygghygge or did you go elsewhere for them?

Yes, the physio clinic offered me laser treatments, called the giga laser. I had a course of five sessions and after the second I was able to bend my knee fully without pain. Amazing stuff!

I'm waiting for a call back from a physio. Hopefully they'll call tomorrow and have an appointment available soon.

I tried one of those tubigrip things but it kept rolling down.

Interesting. I wonder if Djokovic had treatments like this? I had the same surgery as him but there's not a chance I could have played tennis 3 weeks after it.

I mean I am at least a decade older than him and several stone heavier but even so...

It probably is. I was told that the giga laser is what they give footballers when they're carried off the pitch on a stretcher. It has been quite miraculous, but then I twisted my knee again, so I'm still doing the exercises and waiting for another round of laser treatments.

I'm liking the sound of this laser but the chances of such fancy treatment being available in my closest town is slim!

I'm starting to panic not just about the house move and associated deep cleaning but my holiday in a few weeks time. How can I carry my hand luggage whilst on crutches?

Pain has sent me into a right old miserable mood.

I had surgery on mine 25 years ago, which improved it a lot. The pain is back now, intermittently. I now always sleep with a small pillow between my knees. This helps during the night and the effect carries on in the daytime.

If you need crutches use a backpack and book assistance at the airport.

Sorry sent that too soon. I'd really push for a referral for an MRI. It seems unusual for a go to diagnose without diagnostics and needing crutches seems extreme. Can you go for a private scan?

I thought it odd that a diagnosis was made purely with examination too. I'm still trying to get in with a private physio, earliest appointment so far is October 2nd.

And seriously, the crutches are needed. I broke my ankle last year and it wasn't as painful as this.

To be honest, it's pretty likely that it is a meniscus tear, especially since you said the twisting motion makes it worse. One in 3 over 50s have a torn meniscus. I'd save the hundreds you'll spend on an MRI and use it for some private physio asap (and maybe an orthotic foot assessment to see if insoles might help correct any over-pronation of your gait, which can stress the knee).

Thanks @Chuffles. I've got a physio appointment on Monday. Until then, carry on with RICE, use the crutches and strap it to stabilise it if needed.