Medial Meniscus tear ?

[williamalex1]

After months of pain in my left knee [ inner ], a MRI scan and xray [ taken 2 months ago ] confirmed i have a tear in my cartilage.
The consultant recommends a knee arthroscopy to trim down the tear, keyhole surgery, general anaesthetic.
But strangely in the last few weeks the pain in my knee has almost disappeared except for the odd twinge. I thinking of asking them to put me to the end of the waiting list, to see if it keeps improving.
I'm going tomorrow afternoon for a pre-admission consultation, so any advice or info would be much appreciated.

 

[SocketRocket]

I had a repair by keyhole surgery around 15 years ago. The operation was a success and I have not experienced any further problems. I was a county squash player at that time and was advised to stop playing otherwise I would be needing a knee replacement within five years.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

My wife has a torn miniscus in her right knee for 3-4 years now, unfortunately due to her other health problems they are unwilling to operate, she can go months and months with no problems then it twinges for the slightest of reasons, she then limps/suffers with it for a week or two until it settles down.
If it goes completely then they’ve said they’ll have no choice but to operate.

 

[clubchamp98]

After months of pain in my left knee [ inner ], a MRI scan and xray [ taken 2 months ago ] confirmed i have a tear in my cartilage.
The consultant recommends a knee arthroscopy to trim down the tear, keyhole surgery, general anaesthetic.
But strangely in the last few weeks the pain in my knee has almost disappeared except for the odd twinge. I thinking of asking them to put me to the end of the waiting list, to see if it keeps improving.
I'm going tomorrow afternoon for a pre-admission consultation, so any advice or info would be much appreciated.

had mine done years ago no problems.
Walking next day, but I think the mental thing is the worst after any injury.
Its not a big thing these days.
But you need to rehab properly.
It won’t go on it’s own just get it over with.
good luck.

 

[williamalex1]

Thanks for the replies guys, i was hoping to hear that someone's meniscus had healed without surgery.
I do have a GP phone appointment tommorow morning before i attend the hospital, so i'll see what he thinks.
It's probably the thought of missing a some golf now that the good weather seems to be coming, at last.
thanks again for the replies :thup:

 

[woofers]

Mine is healing without surgery.
I was informed that key hole surgery increases the risk of arthritis 10 fold so it is only carried out here in Sussex if the tear causes locking of the knee, and that research has shown that physiotherapy can deliver the same improvement over time.
Of course it is down to you to do the necessary exercises, properly and timely, and with appropriate rest periods. My local hospital were excellent in this respect, giving me a 6 month support programme if required. They had a gym on site and we went through all the exercises to build the muscles in my knee. It's ongoing but I can feel the improvement.

 

[Kellfire]

Your menisci can’t heal properly without surgery.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I’ve had both my knees “washed out” via key hole which were both helpful , I had key hole acl replacement surgery when I was about 25 using a bit of hamstring to replace my acl (screwed in place learns to become a ligament in time)

Just make sure you do the exercises the Physio gives you and you will be fine

 

[williamalex1]

Update, this morning i spoke to my own Doctor, she said it would be reasonable to ask to wait a few months to see if it improves more, and maybe avoid surgery .

I'm just off the phone to my consultant's secretary, who informed me that the waiting list for surgery is 6 to 9 months, then it would be up to me whether to go ahead with surgery or not.
Todays appointment is only an assessment.

Thanks again guys.

 

[User101]

Billy I tore my medial ligament playing football when I was 19 years old, 34 years later it still bothers me, not all the time, comes and goes. Swells up solid then can go away for months on end. If you can get it sorted do So, wish I'd got it operated on all those years ago.

 

[Foxholer]

I had a repair by keyhole surgery around 15 years ago. The operation was a success and I have not experienced any further problems. I was a county squash player at that time and was advised to stop playing otherwise I would be needing a knee replacement within five years.

Squash is probably the 'worst' sport for knee (particularly) damage!

I used to work with a guy who played squash as relief from/antidote to his (mild) asthma. When he went to the doc about his knees he was asked his age (30), to which his Doc stated 'Well your knees are 90!'! Likewise, I've played Interclub Tennis against a former World Squash Champion (another Kiwi) who 'dropped down' to Tennis because continuing to play Squash would have crippled him!

 

[Rooter]

I have had the op 3 times, first time was fine, then i injured it again, 2nd time surgeon left a bit in there loose and it hurt like hell so they had to go back in! Advice from me is listen to and follow the advice of the physio!!!!

Its taken time, thought i would never run again properly, did a half marathon last week and it was absolutely fine!!

 

[pendodave]

I have a mate with a meniscus tear. His consultant wants to repair it, but his health authority (st albans) wants him to do physio. He's not happy! I had assumed that this was entirely a cost saving exercise on their part, but would be interested in whether it can actually repair itself.

 

[williamalex1]

Billy I tore my medial ligament playing football when I was 19 years old, 34 years later it still bothers me, not all the time, comes and goes. Swells up solid then can go away for months on end. If you can get it sorted do So, wish I'd got it operated on all those years ago.

If the pain is still there when the date for the operation comes, i will go for the op.
ATM it's not too bad, but i can't carry out my usual strict fitness regime , as you might have noticed. :rofl:

 

[williamalex1]

I have a mate with a meniscus tear. His consultant wants to repair it, but his health authority (st albans) wants him to do physio. He's not happy! I had assumed that this was entirely a cost saving exercise on their part, but would be interested in whether it can actually repair itself.

Time will tell , i have at least 6 months to wait, so i'll let you know, but if your mates tear gets any better, please let me know .:thup:

 

[rosecott]

If the pain is still there when the date for the operation comes, i will go for the op.
ATM it's not too bad, but i can't carry out my usual strict fitness regime , as you might have noticed. :rofl:

Is that the eau de vie regime?

 

[williamalex1]

Is that the eau de vie regime?

Oui , much the same as yourself Jacques, Cognac, Remy or Tesco withthe odd Chateau Lafite :rofl: :thup:
:cheers:

 

[DCB]

If the pain is still there when the date for the operation comes, i will go for the op.
ATM it's not too bad, but i can't carry out my usual strict fitness regime , as you might have noticed. :rofl:

6 month wait .... when the time comes take it. You'll be ready for the start of next season.

30 years ago I declined and went for the rest & physio approach. That worked reasonably well, but, every so often something went wrong and my knee almost locked up. In those days it was the big cut down the front of the knee. Keyhole looks so much more civilised 😉

 

[williamalex1]

6 month wait .... when the time comes take it. You'll be ready for the start of next season.

30 years ago I declined and went for the rest & physio approach. That worked reasonably well, but, every so often something went wrong and my knee almost locked up. In those days it was the big cut down the front of the knee. Keyhole looks so much more civilised 😉

When i got the appointment for the Pre admission assessment unit i thought that was quick, never imagined it could be a 6 months wait after that, jez a lot can change in 6 months.
As you say the time frame suits me better season wise.

ATM i can just about manage and it's a good excuse for playing more crap than normal.
Nothing compared to what you've been through Dave :thup:

 

[Kellfire]

Time will tell , i have at least 6 months to wait, so i'll let you know, but if your mates tear gets any better, please let me know .:thup:

It can't "repair" properly because cartilage has limited regrowth potential. They can do something called microfracture which involves drilling small holes into the affected area with the hope of stimulating growth but it never grows true cartilage like was there previous. Generally the tears are resected to stop the flaps impinging on movement and causing pain but once you've got a tear, osteoarthritis is inevitable (as it is in EVERYONE, we all have degradation on our menisci to some degree by the time we're seasoned adults) and it's symptom control rather than any real hope of improvement to previous levels.

Young people will sometimes have their menisci repaired because they are still growing their semi-lunars and have a chance of success but many of these end of having the dead portions resected eventually.