knee surgery

D

Debra L

Cathlete
I've had recurrent knee problems since last September. I finally worked my way up the HMO treatment ladder to an orthopedic surgeon. The meniscus is either torn or jagged & the ACL is not functioning properly. He recommends surgery for the meniscus (3 week recovery). I can also opt to have the ACL repaired (6 month rehab). I tore it over 9 years ago, but it was not reconstructed because more than 50% remained intact.

Anyone familiar with either surgery? While I was prepped for ACL surgery 9 years ago, I suspect the process has changed. I'd like to know what I'd face. Specifically, what's the time table after surgery for getting off of crutches, starting PT, etc?

Thanks,

Debra
 
Hi Debra

I am very familiar with knee problems and surgeries. Most recently February 17th. My recuperation is going fine with 2-3 days of physical therapy. My first procedure was a complete disaster because the surgeon did not do what he was supposed to. My second procedure was a complete success. In fact, while in recovery I didn't experience any pain or discomfort. Word of advice, please ensure that your doctor is an expert with the knee, that he addresses your concerns, discomfort and pain level. He may or may not recommend PT before the actual surgery, but again all doctors are different. I just began working out again with Cathe - specifically upper body and abdominals and pilates for stretching, because for now, high impact is not recommended. Some of the therapy that I'm doing is 15 minutes on a stationary bike, calf stretches, leg raises with ankle weights, step ups on a step, and of course electro-stimulation with ice and ultra sound together with massage therapy. This therapy lasts anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half and my therapist Ron is patient and very well experienced. I did a lot of research so that I am educated on my therapy and progress. Hope this info sheds some light. Please let us all know of your progress.

Take care Debra,

Iris
 
Debra and Iris....

Hi Debra! (Iris, you can pop in here to if you have any advice.) I was diagnosed in January (after dealing with an injury since November) with a pulled hamstring behing the knee area. I had X-rays first which showed nothing. I really didn't expect they would since I could feel/tell that it hurt in my muscle/ligament, not bone. The pain was centralized only behind the knee. The sports ortho told me to take it easy for 6 weeks and if it wasn't better to come back in 6 weeks. Well, after 4 weeks, it was no better at all and I called asking if they could order an MRI, which they did. I was told it showed nothing but some fluid behind the kneecap. My pain has changed from the back of my knee to the front or side??? I have been doing some research on the Internet and it sounds like I may have torn my menicus according to my symptoms. Is it possible to miss this on an MRI? The doctor has me waiting another 6 weeks and return if it is not better. It is NOT! I am very frustrated and wondering what your symptoms are? I am limping, get leg cramps from the knee all the way down to my ankle at night and some throbbing. Thankfully, it does not hurt to walk or stand. I am planning to go to ANOTHER doc for another opinion within the next few weeks. My hubby is starting a new job tomorrow so I need to wait til I see what Drs. are covered. Thank you for any advice. I am backsliding bigtime with my fitness level and fitness gains and wish I knew when this will end. Is it possible for a pulled hamstring to take more then 5 months to heal? I know you are not doctors but am interested in your thoughts. Thanks!!!

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
Your comments are very helpful. Finding info on the surgical procedure has been more fruitful than the rehab.

I'm limited in my choices because I'm under a HMO. Going to private pay is not affordable. I feel good about the surgeon & he is a cyclist which is a major plus. I do need to ask more questions.

Your therapy sounds similar to what I did when I tore the ACL nine years ago. I'm actually self-directed until the surgery which I'm confortable with. The surgeon gave me a few guidelines which are mostly common sense.

Did you have an ACL reconstructed? I'm especially curious as to how long I'll be on crutches.

Thanks much Iris.

Debra
 
Debbie...

We've been rowing the same boat!

From what I've learned, an orthopedic specialist can get a lot of information from an x-ray. My surgeon was pretty darn confident after looking at an x-ray & performing manual tests. I just had the MRI this morning. I've been told it will provide full detail on the condition (not function) of the ACL, & the meniscus.

I'm not a medical expert but it's going to get pretty long if I keep posting the caveats "from what I've read" or "been told"... so consider it a given from now on!

Neither an x-ray or MRI can reveal inflamation. The surgeon showed me on the x-ray how he could tell I had osteo-arthritis but it wasn't the source of my pain. More on arthritis later. But all of the "...itis" are elusive: bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, etc.

I haven't had any visible swelling. Generally I've had pain running down the inside of my knee, down the shin. It comes & goes, but it was enough to tell me to back off. There is a bursa sack below the knee cap (or sacks) & they did get inflamed for awhile. The scope of your pain is broader (really longer).

I've been trying to nurse the knee since September. Got misdirected by my primary physician's guess that it was osteo-arthritis. Received a wake-up call 3 weeks ago when the knee became really unstable. Didn't have severe pain, but the ache would keep me awake at night. The surgeon says I do have arthritis, but the amount predictable for a 46 year old.

Debbie, I know exactly how tough this has been on you. You try to listen to your body & take care of it. So months later your fitness has gone south, not to mention your body composition. I felt so much relief when I was told I needed surgery. An action plan at last!!

I decided to post here in case anyone else has some input or is going through some similar issues.

Debbie, hopefully we can be rehab partners.

Debra
 
Debra!

Thank you so very much for taking the time to post all this for me. Much appreciated! It made me feel good even knowing that you know what I have been going through, fitness-wise. I have often thought that I wished they had done surgery back in January and I'd be on my way back by now. I have the ache all night also, but no stabbing pain. I, too, feel like my knee is not stable lately. I also cannot get down on my knee anymore due to the swelling I guess. It feels very "tight". I will keep in touch and let you know what I find out. Debra, you keep me posted too. We can be partners, my pleasure! Have they set a surgery date yet or are you waiting for the MRI results? Here's wishing you a very speedy recovery. Thinking of you!


Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Debra!

Hi Debbie & Debra - you're both well informed. Debbie, from what you're describing it appears to be that you tore your meniscus and an MRI will confirm this. I had a medial (inner knee) torn meniscus and the pain was intolerable. After the first surgery, where I thought this is what that doctor was supposed to repair the torn meniscus my pain level increased and as an added painful bonus - tendonitis set it. Nothing, but nothing that I did either with PT or medication relieved this pain. Obviously the second surgery worked like a charm and relieved all my pain and discomfort. My angel doctor - Dr. David Menche is the first ortho surgeon to develop a procedure where he harvests your good cartilidge and then re-injects it into your joints for ease of motion (lubrication of the joint) and that darn "clicking" that some patients experience after surgery. Debbie, I understand your feeling of instability - I still feel that when my leg is fatigued and tired. Occassionally I experience some swelling and 15 minutes of icing my knee will pretty much aleviate the discomfort and swelling. That tightness that you feel is due to degenerative state your knee is in. Believe me, I've done my homework on this subject since it seems to prevelant in my family. I was unable to bend down on my knees for workouts and squatting was never done unless I did them against the wall with a balance ball. Don't settle for simple answers from any of your doctors - have as many opinions as you can before either one of you decide on surgery. I know from experience that not doing what comes natural in your everyday lives can become stressful because of pain, but educating yourself with your bodies - and I"m sure you are - will help you tremendously when you have to decide whether surgery is the way you should go. Please let me know how you're both doing. Ice, ice, ice and rest.

Take care dears,

Iris
 
Iris!

Thank you once again for your time to help me out. I DID have an MRI and it didn't show a tear. I truly think I did tear something and was wondering if possibly they could miss this on an MRI??? As far as degenerative state of my knee, the sports ortho told me after he looked at my X-rays that my knee looked just fine. He said that there were two very small bone spurs that should not be causing any trouble/pain. I was glad to hear this after doing aerobics/Hi/Lo for 23 years! I will let you know how I am doing after we decide WHAT to do! Thank you so much for your time and I am just thrilled that your second surgery was such a great success! Woo-Hooo!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Thanks Iris

I don't have time to read all the replies here, but I thought I would let you know that I had my miniscus repaired and my ACL reconstructed a year and a half ago. It sounds worse than it is. After you get these repairs done you'll be thanking the doctor profusely and wondering how you got along before.
I think after about 4 weeks I was back on my feet, and was using an Aerodyne to help bring back some muscle and to stretch out my ligaments and tendons in my knee. It was slow going at first, but I would say that after about 3 months I was back at the step again. I would do some Cathe, and would just modify as needed. There was no pivoting for me for a year, but that is easily modified in any workout. I still can't bend my knee as far as I can the other knee, and my hamstring isn't as strong as the other one, but my knee doesn't feel like it's popped out of place any longer, and there is no pain in my knee any longer either. I can live with not being able to sit on my feet completely.
Good luck to you.

Kathy
 
RE: Iris!

Debbie, Debra and Kathy - thanks to all of you for being there through all my woes also! I had a PT session this morning - YEOWZA!!! 2 hours of a great workout not to mention the "working on my knee" session. It felt wierd - a sensation I can't really describe especially around the incisions. But I did come out of there really sore, but ok now after icing it. Debbie, Debra like Kathy mentions after the surgery and PT you will feel so much better, and with modifications you can return to your full workout routines. Hey, I have a trip coming up in May to meet our Cathe and I want to be in the best shape to workout! We'll post our pics when we return from our trip! Debbie, Debra - you'll be fine with the best doctors and treatment - have faith!

Take care dears - i'm off to do some stretching - yippeeeeee!!!!

Iris
 
Me again Iris!

You're very welcome! You've been down a long, hard road and it gives me hope now that you are coming along nicely. I am so excited for you that you get to do a roadtrip to Cathe's place! Some day I will too. HOPEFULLY, I will be able to participate with everyone. Can't wait to see pix of it all. Keep us posted on your knee progress. Sending you speedy, healing vibes!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
RE: Me again Iris!

Debbie - let me say that on Monday I had a 2 hours PT session - I'm still sore! Ron my therapist has developed a very aggressive program and although yesterday I was in moderate discomfort I'm looking forward to today's session. I guess what i'm saying is that even after all the events that led to this I'm feeling very good about my progress. My brother is only a year younger than I has had over 8 procedures done on both of his knees, very over weight and has no motivation to improve - he absolutely refuses to do anything. So other than my own motivation to be healthy and fit I'm sad that he's doing this to himself. I have all of you - cheering me on and this is wonderful motivation and encouragement. Thank you again Debbie - I hope you get to the root of your discomfort and will find relief soon so you can get back to your peak fitness level. I know you can!

Take care sweetie!!

Iris
 
interesting website

Debbie, this website was posted over at VF: http://sportsmedicine.about.com/. I found the knee injury section helpful & thought you might too.

While I didn't wander around the site, it looks like there is lots of useful information on various sports injuries.

Debra
 
Kathy, Debra and Iris!

Thanks all for your thoughts and the info. Deb, that site is great! I was able to spend some time on it last night. My symptoms seem to "fit" the torn meniscus but the doctor said it wasn't torn??? Thanks everyone for all your support. It means a lot!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
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