| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? 10:20 - Dec 15 with 3414 views | Radlett_blue |
I suffered a bad knee injury on Friday. x-rayed so no bone fracture. Hospital nurse reckons either meniscus or ligament damage. Physio reckons meniscus (outer). Recommendation is usual - rest, ice etc plus now doing a few exercises. They reckon recovery time 6-8 weeks. All been very boring as I'm not leaving the house right now & probably wouldn't want to walk far even if not so much ice & snow around.
Anyone on here has similar? Wondering what their experience was like. |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:39 - Dec 15 with 3365 views | gainsboroughblue |
I had a grade 3 calf tear three years ago. I can remember hearing and reading that recovery time was anytime between 4-8 weeks. It was absolutely nowhere near that. I was still getting problems and recurrences 8 or so months later. Just take it easy, be patient with the exercises and don't push it would be my advice. |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:42 - Dec 15 with 3345 views | Swansea_Blue |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:39 - Dec 15 by gainsboroughblue |
I had a grade 3 calf tear three years ago. I can remember hearing and reading that recovery time was anytime between 4-8 weeks. It was absolutely nowhere near that. I was still getting problems and recurrences 8 or so months later. Just take it easy, be patient with the exercises and don't push it would be my advice. |
Ditto. Still have a big hole in my calf and it shifted strain onto my soleus muscle (the small, lower muscle on the side) which still aches like a barsteward after long walks/runs. I did mine 5 years ago. |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:46 - Dec 15 with 3325 views | gainsboroughblue |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:42 - Dec 15 by Swansea_Blue |
Ditto. Still have a big hole in my calf and it shifted strain onto my soleus muscle (the small, lower muscle on the side) which still aches like a barsteward after long walks/runs. I did mine 5 years ago. |
Yep. I think these injuries never 'heal' as such. When they've gone once, the potential to go again is always there. It's just something you get more mindful of and kind of know when to 'check yourself' when exerting yourself. If I'm running on treadmill for instance, and get that reminder twinge in that one place, it's time to stop. [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 10:47]
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:47 - Dec 15 with 3317 views | BlueForYou |
MRI scan..? |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 11:03 - Dec 15 with 3269 views | Churchman |
Go with the professional advice you’ve been given, however boring and frustrating, and let Mother Nature do the work. You did the right thing getting seen immediately.
In my teens I chipped my shin bone (actually somebody else’s studs did it - it hurt), never bothered getting it checked at the time and just carried on. After playing any sport, my shin would swell and ache for a day. No problem thought I - until pain forced me months later to see the quack. Infected shin bone. Lovely. A programme of non contact exercise - swimming every day hour after hour, antibios etc with the prospect of an operation. All because I was too lazy, stupid and a bit nutty.
Fortunately, plan A worked and I was spared the knife but the moral of this long winded ramble is that you did right getting it checked. Follow the advice and if it’s not progressing to plan, go back and if necessary get a referral. [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 11:27]
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 11:45 - Dec 15 with 3182 views | DecageBruce |
I feel for you.
Oct 2021 an innocuous challenge ruptured my Anterior Ligament , Posterior Ligament, dislocated kneecap, medial meniscus tear and fractured Tibia. Only advice that I can give is follow the advice you are given. I struggled with the physio to start with and ended up having the knee lock so had to go in 10 week after initial surgery for 'manipulation'.
Fair to say at 38 it ended my footballing 'career'. Its been ok but have to admit that I am feeling some discomfort now especially in this cold weather |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 12:02 - Dec 15 with 3164 views | Radlett_blue |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:47 - Dec 15 by BlueForYou |
MRI scan..? |
The NHS won't do that. Maybe they will as I was told that if it gets worse or hasn't shown improvement in 4 weeks I should make another appointment. I'm not sure I'm willing to pay for a private scan.
I think the best advice is from those on here who've told me to be patient & not try to do too much too soon. | |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 12:26 - Dec 15 with 3118 views | gordon |
Meniscus tears can be pretty bad - the meniscus is sort of like the shock absorber in your knee, and if you have a tear which isn't surgically fixed, the meniscus will be more susceptible to future tears. Because it doesn't grow back and can't be surgically replaced, if you have multiple tears, you will end up losing too much meniscus (you'll get bits floating about within the knee capsule that need to be removed, or loose bits that need to be cut off in surgery), and then any vigorous activity can be painful.
It was meniscus injuries that did for Emyr Huws, Ledley King, Gerard Nash and many others, rather than cruciate ligaments - cruciate ligament injuries have a long recovery time, but can be fixed to be as good as new now, whereas that isn't the case with meniscuses.
Having said that, one injury isn't likely to be a big deal - but if it were me I'd push for an MRI and potentially keyhole surgery to clean it up - the recover time from this isn't that bad at all, it's a quick operation, and the long-term benefits (in terms of preventing further tears) are really big.
EDIT: should have said, yes, had a few meniscus tears :) [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 12:27]
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 13:09 - Dec 15 with 3037 views | Radlett_blue |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 12:26 - Dec 15 by gordon |
Meniscus tears can be pretty bad - the meniscus is sort of like the shock absorber in your knee, and if you have a tear which isn't surgically fixed, the meniscus will be more susceptible to future tears. Because it doesn't grow back and can't be surgically replaced, if you have multiple tears, you will end up losing too much meniscus (you'll get bits floating about within the knee capsule that need to be removed, or loose bits that need to be cut off in surgery), and then any vigorous activity can be painful.
It was meniscus injuries that did for Emyr Huws, Ledley King, Gerard Nash and many others, rather than cruciate ligaments - cruciate ligament injuries have a long recovery time, but can be fixed to be as good as new now, whereas that isn't the case with meniscuses.
Having said that, one injury isn't likely to be a big deal - but if it were me I'd push for an MRI and potentially keyhole surgery to clean it up - the recover time from this isn't that bad at all, it's a quick operation, and the long-term benefits (in terms of preventing further tears) are really big.
EDIT: should have said, yes, had a few meniscus tears :) [Post edited 15 Dec 2022 12:27]
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Thanks. My understanding is that the recovery time from surgery is longer than from the rest/ice/exercise procedure. What I think is more relevant is that I am 65 & only interested in being able to walk, play golf & do some gym work these days, rather than take part in active sport. | |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 08:58 - Dec 16 with 2881 views | gordon |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 13:09 - Dec 15 by Radlett_blue |
Thanks. My understanding is that the recovery time from surgery is longer than from the rest/ice/exercise procedure. What I think is more relevant is that I am 65 & only interested in being able to walk, play golf & do some gym work these days, rather than take part in active sport. |
Ah, yeah sorry, I'd assumed it was a football injury - at 65 the benefits of surgery would be far lower - you'd just want to make sure you did a bit of strength/flexibility work on the knee for the 'opening out' of each knee at the start and end of the golf swing before you start playing again. | | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 10:38 - Dec 16 with 2809 views | Radlett_blue |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 08:58 - Dec 16 by gordon |
Ah, yeah sorry, I'd assumed it was a football injury - at 65 the benefits of surgery would be far lower - you'd just want to make sure you did a bit of strength/flexibility work on the knee for the 'opening out' of each knee at the start and end of the golf swing before you start playing again. |
Thanks. Yes, I've been given some exercises by the physio which I can do now in order to improve the blood flow to the knee & some others such as you suggest for strengthening, which I've been told not to do for 3-4 weeks. | |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 11:25 - Dec 16 with 2767 views | azuremerlangus |
Had a ACL injury 10+ years ago. Required major surgery but before that I had a meniscal tear from the same injury which got trimmed/repaired via keyhole. Decent physio treatment (and following the stretches/exercises plan) made a world of difference to both procedure recoveries.
I have more problems with my ‘good’ knee (sorry physios - I meant ‘uninjured’ knee) these days which goes to show what good treatment can do for you. |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 12:42 - Dec 16 with 2701 views | BlueForYou |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 12:02 - Dec 15 by Radlett_blue |
The NHS won't do that. Maybe they will as I was told that if it gets worse or hasn't shown improvement in 4 weeks I should make another appointment. I'm not sure I'm willing to pay for a private scan.
I think the best advice is from those on here who've told me to be patient & not try to do too much too soon. |
It's possible to get a private MRI scan for under £300. Without that you can't be 100% certain exactly what your injury is. I suppose it depends how bad the knee is & if it's severely affecting your life. I went through this 17 years ago when I ripped my right knee to shreds playing Tennis. I had a torn ACL, torn MCL, & a partially torn cartilage. The NHS were hopeless, so I did everything privately, it was cheaper back then. My rebuilt knee iss still rock solid, but the other one has real problems now as it's already had two cartilage trims! I never regretted going private as it gave me my life back. | | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 17:12 - Dec 16 with 2643 views | Clapham_Junction |
I had a meniscus tear a few years ago - not a sudden thing, but just developed over time. I started getting pain in my knee, which got worse and worse, to the point I went to A&E after one football match.
My GP looked at it and instead of properly investigating it (with a scan), referred me for physio, which took 3 months to get. Had one session and then told the next one was in 2-3 months' time.
The pain was getting worse and worse. I happened to be on holiday in China with my partner a few weeks later and when it got really bad they took me to a hospital where I got an MRI done for about £100, which clearly showed the tear.
Showed the MRI to my GP when I got home and they immediately referred me for an operation (they can't repair tears, but instead cut out the cartilage around the tear to reduce the friction cause by the tear), which I had within about three weeks. I had about 10% of the meniscus removed.
After that it took around 18 months to properly go back to normal, but now I don't feel it at all, and struggle to remember which knee it was. |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 20:20 - Jan 18 with 1981 views | gordon |
How's the knee recovering, btw? | | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 21:30 - Jan 18 with 1873 views | catch74 |
I twisted my knee playing dads against kids at my sons football club. 6 weeks later it hadn’t got any better, 6 months later no improvement. I couldn’t kneel, painful if I was on my feet too long. So I was sent for a scan - big tear that had flipped over a was impacting the joint (likely had done it playing rugby initially. The specialist recommend keyhole surgery. More or less the same time my knee felt a fair bit better so I put off the surgery to think about it - I had a 6 month window. Then Covid happened so I lost the window of opportunity.
It stayed much the same, still couldn’t fully bend it and sometimes got worse.
I didn’t go back to the NHS as felt they had enough to deal with.
Anyway - a couple of months ago I went to a sports injury clinic. He looked at my notes, did a bit of ultrasound and recommended PRP - which he kind of forced me into doing there and then. Basically took blood from my arm, spun it, took out the plasma. Then big needle into my knee and took out what I assume we’re dead platelets and replaced with the plasma. Then went out to pay £560!!!
Anyway he said I’d need to go back for another couple of goes.
Went back last week, I’ve been able to fully bend my knee for the first time in a few years, no pain.
He said I should have any more injections, if it’s worked leave it!
Sounds like the NHS would go surgery or cortisone - which you can only have a few times as I think
It damages the ligaments. Feel like this has been a bit of a miracle for me so far and after the initial shock of the price I’ve realised it was worth every penny.
Sorry for the long winded response but thought you and others might like to know. |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 23:12 - Jan 18 with 1766 views | Behind_Enemy_Lines |
Had a reconstruction of my right knee 25 yrs ago Acl, Mcl rupture and Pcl stretched. Left knee slight rupture/strain no surgery needed. Now 25 yrs later and several meniscus tears climbing or descending stairs can be very painful with arthritis now in both knees and cartilage thinner on inside of knees (handy as I work in construction building industry). My advice would be once healed keep fit stay in shape and focus on strength with leg training. Cycle, swimming and weight training. It is also worth checking out knees over toes on YouTube as a different approach to bullit proofing your knees for the rest of your life. |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 11:56 - Jan 19 with 1556 views | Gogs |
Yes I had a minor meniscus tear the other year. Happened in a pretty unusual manner, was batting in a cricket match and the bowler was quick and erratic and managed to bowl one which went behind my pad and smack me in the side of the knee. Hurt like hell for a few days, but as it was only minor, the RICE recovery method did the trick. After 6 weeks or so I wasn’t getting any trouble and, touch wood, haven’t had any since |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 15:09 - Jan 19 with 1485 views | bournemouthblue |
I did mine in late November playing indoor Cricket, I was told 6 - 8 weeks but mine is worst than first thought and may need surgery which is pretty gutting
Still waiting to see if they will give an MRI but they believe it may have flipped [Post edited 19 Jan 2023 15:21]
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 15:31 - Jan 19 with 1440 views | captainfantastic |
Yes I had one about 2 years ago.
Was dribbling with the ball and got tripped, and landed on my left knee. I was able to play the rest of the game no problems.
By the time I got home was hobbling, then in the middle of the night my leg, from the knee was locked at 90 degrees, unbearable pain with any movement.
I had an MRI privately and had a small meniscus tear. Its an area where there is little blood supply so they don't heal - so I had the tear chopped out under general anaesthetic (key hole surgery).
Literally walked out the hospital afterwards.
If it is meniscus that 'recovery time' is useless, cos where its torn is suscpetible to a more signifcant tear. Would push for an MRI |  |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 15:33 - Jan 19 with 1432 views | captainfantastic |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 11:25 - Dec 16 by azuremerlangus |
Had a ACL injury 10+ years ago. Required major surgery but before that I had a meniscal tear from the same injury which got trimmed/repaired via keyhole. Decent physio treatment (and following the stretches/exercises plan) made a world of difference to both procedure recoveries.
I have more problems with my ‘good’ knee (sorry physios - I meant ‘uninjured’ knee) these days which goes to show what good treatment can do for you. |
That's probably because your 'good knee' will be doing more of the work now | |
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| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 16:33 - Jan 19 with 1397 views | yorkshireblue |
My studs got caught in an articifical pitch and I hurt my knee and was in agony - was told almost certainly a miniscus tear and would likley need surgery.... in the meantime I was given some crutches and told to rest as much as I could.
MRI revealed I fully ruptured my ACL. They (surgeons, physios) couldn't believe it as I passed the Lachman test and only a MRI revelaed the true extend of the damage
And that is why I am now a retired sportsman in my mid-30s  |  | | |
| anyone on here had a meniscus tear? on 17:03 - Jan 19 with 1360 views | clive_baker |
Missed this at the time, I've had 3 pretty bad injuries on my left knee which ultimately meant giving up football at 28.
Recovery time really will depend on the severity of the injury and any intervention needed. My only advice would be patience and not to rush it back too soon. Build it back up carefully and slowly as you might think its ready but it's actually still vulnerable. Follow the rehab guidance for the suggested amount of time, again it might feel like you get to a point where it's not necessary but you could create issues further down the line.
How is it going? |  |
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