Thread: Meniscus surgery

How's the knee??

You definitly want to take it easy for a while. I had all the cartlidge removed from my left knee at 16 from a football accident. It probably wouldn't have been so bad, but I was stubborn and pretended I wasn't hurt as bad as I was and played the rest of the year on the knee because I had quite a few scouts watching me and football was the only way I was going to be able to go to college. After the season was over I went to the doctor. They scoped my knee and while I was still under told my parents that almost all the cartlidge was going to have to be removed. so they opened me up and took it out, they left a piece they said about the size of pencil eraser in there. It slowed me down quite abit. But I still joined the military and served 6 years on it. You can still do alot, so don't think you are damaged goods by any means. I recently went back for more pain now at the young age of 35, dreading that they would tell I needed another surgery. The pain now is in the scar not the joint for some reason. After they took new x-rays they were amazed to see that almost all of the cartlidge somehow has grown back and now the only pain is in the scar itself. You may not have this since your knee wasn't opened up. But I had what they called an escape of gas in the knee from the surgery. We were all walking in the mall and it sounded like a gun blast coming out of my knee. God I almost cried because it hurt so bad. It took me nearly 5 minutes before I could stand the pain enough to even stand up. I was told by my surgeon to expect it, and it would be painful. Man that was an understatement. Take care and let us know how your doing.

Well I start physical therapy today. We will see how that goes. I spoke with my doctor Saturday when they took the couple of stiches out. He showed me pictures of the tear and he then said oh there is your ACL and that is torn too. I asked why he didn't repair that too. He said it was also an old injury and that would have been a lot more invasive than the meniscul repair. Then he said you weren't planning to be a pro athlete anyway...(smartass). Thanks just cause I am old and out of shape; I could become a pro bowler.
All in all it is still a bit funky feeling but I think better will see after therapy.

Good to hear you're progressing Rich. Don't push it too hard.

X

ACL reconstruction is usually about over a year of rehab. It is very invasive, because the doctor uses the center 1/3 of the patellar tendon or harvests two strands of hamstring from below the knee. Then there's the drilling a hole from the lower leg into the femur, screws to hold the graft in place. It's a great time.

Don't push the rehab too hard. Make sure you ice a lot, because you're going to have swelling. Discomfort is OK, pain is not.

Take it way easy......Hope you're totally up and around soon dude!!

Lynn

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

Don't push the rehab too hard. Make sure you ice a lot, because you're going to have swelling. Discomfort is OK, pain is not.

Thanks. When I was heading home last night after my first therapy session I did have some swelling and some minor discomfort but no pain. I was worried until I saw your email.

Originally Posted by Lynn

Take it way easy......Hope you're totally up and around soon dude!!

Lynn

Thanks Lynn,

I am moving a bit slow but moving just the same.

You'll be back to scaring women and children at your normal pace in no-time, Rich

True true....