MRI Result in...Torn Meniscus

[M302_Imola]

I injured it wakeboarding...apparently my body doesn't agree w/ me wakeboarding seeing that this happened and I broke my foot last summer. Anyhow the MRI revealed "a large bucket tear on my medial meniscus w/ a meniscus fragment floating around". The knee and shoulder specialist recomended arthoscopic surgery but left it up to me to decide if I wanted it. The injury took place 2 weeks ago and my knee has progressively been getting better w/ each day so I am confused on whether I should get the surgery or not. The doc thinks it will get better and when I resume heavy activity it will get aggrevated again. My question is should I go ahead w/ the surgery and wait it out and see if I can rehab back to health myself. I do have great health insurance so that's not the problem, the problem is that I will be out of the gym for at least a week if I elect to get the surgery. Have any of you guys encountered a similar problem? It would be nice to hear from those that elected to have the surgery and those that didn't.

[terraj]

If you can get it fixed right, get it done.

A couple weeks off training is nothing compared to having pain each time you train for the rest of your life.

[Tony Q]

I have over 10 years experience working as a Surgical Technologist and have assisted in hundreds of knee scopes. The meniscus is VERY hard and if left to float around will damage the articular (joint) cartiledge. Get it fixed ASAP. Yeah it sucks but it could be worse.

[BigBuck6]

I am in graduate school for Physical Therapy and feel it is a very quick and easy procedure. Get it done so you can be training at 100 percent after a very short recovery period.

[stevey_6t9]

get it done asap, dont wait at all.

the surgery is easy, i had mine done last year and i was back into the gym as soon as i got home. I was squatting 2 weeks later.

[M302_Imola]

If you can get it fixed right, get it done.

A couple weeks off training is nothing compared to having pain each time you train for the rest of your life.

very true!

I have over 10 years experience working as a Surgical Technologist and have assisted in hundreds of knee scopes. The meniscus is VERY hard and if left to float around will damage the articular (joint) cartiledge. Get it fixed ASAP. Yeah it sucks but it could be worse.

Awesome feedback, thanks for your professional advice!

I am in graduate school for Physical Therapy and feel it is a very quick and easy procedure. Get it done so you can be training at 100 percent after a very short recovery period.

Yeah the doc said it was a quick and easy procedure, but I hate the down time during the summer. I guess I should get it done as it should only keep me out of comission for a week or so.

get it done asap, dont wait at all.

the surgery is easy, i had mine done last year and i was back into the gym as soon as i got home. I was squatting 2 weeks later.

So you had the same type of surgery I will be facing? The doc acted like it would be a quick recovery...he did say if they are able to sucher the fragmented meniscus piece back in place that my recovery will be a little longer due to the fact the sucher would need to heal before activity.

[Tony Q]

I also had a knee arthroscopy due to a torn meniscus. I gotta tell you it hurt bad for awhile. Most don't realize the way your knee will be bent and twisted to allow the Surgeon access to the joint. Your leg just above the knee is put in a padded vise and bent and twisted like a UFC fight. I don't doubt anyone who says how fast they got over it but mine hurt like HELL!!! Never heard of
being able to suture the meniscus. Sounds iffy to me when millions just get it shaved and the loose part sucked out with excellent results. Good luck.

[M302_Imola]

I also had a knee arthroscopy due to a torn meniscus. I gotta tell you it hurt bad for awhile. Most don't realize the way your knee will be bent and twisted to allow the Surgeon access to the joint. Your leg just above the knee is put in a padded vise and bent and twisted like a UFC fight. I don't doubt anyone who says how fast they got over it but mine hurt like HELL!!! Never heard of
being able to suture the meniscus. Sounds iffy to me when millions just get it shaved and the loose part sucked out with excellent results. Good luck.

Yeah I'm sure the surgery is no "walk in the park" but I think I can deal w/ the pain. I broke my foot last year and walked around w/ it broken for 2 weeks before I went to the doc. I am setting my surgery date for the 22nd of this month...I hope I'm back in the gym soon after.

[stevey_6t9]

it depends on what kind of tear, ive been told that a tear on the medial or lateral part of the horn is different. Tears on the lateral can be fixed relatively easily and put back into place because they have better blood flow, with it being further inside it may be easier to just trim it off.

regarding Tony_Q experience i understand he may have been unlucky, ive personally known at least 6 people who have recovered within a week and walk the next day. In fact 15mins after my op, i wanted to go to the toilet and the nurse said ok, get up and walk there. lol

[M302_Imola]

it depends on what kind of tear, ive been told that a tear on the medial or lateral part of the horn is different. Tears on the lateral can be fixed relatively easily and put back into place because they have better blood flow, with it being further inside it may be easier to just trim it off.

good deal thanks for the info...I'm hoping for the best as my surgery date is June 22nd.

[Tony Q]

I could walk the next day, wasn't a bad experience, just hurt like hell.