Was wondering if anyone else has had arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus. How long did it take to recover? Any hints for safely getting back into exercising/stepping again? I'm 38 and have been working out and doing Cathe and Firm tapes for years - hope it doesn't take too long to get back at it again! I'm having the surgery next Friday. Thanks in advance for any advice - Jean
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Arthroscopic Knee Surgery
- Thread starter grashelm
- Start date
K
kimberlyh
Guest
My experience with athroscopy -- long
Hi Jean--
I've had 2 arthroscopies on my left knee, one in 1991 and again in 1992. Each time, the repair work was done on the articular cartilage of the weight bearing section of the femur, although they may have done something with the meniscus as well. Because the affected area was weight bearing, I was on crutches each time and not allowed to put weight on that leg for six weeks. It was a very long six weeks.
During the first recovery, I began physical therapy about 2 weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, the facility wasn't really sports-medicine oriented, but more geared towards paraplegic/quadraplegic patients and other mobility-impaired individuals. They gave me 2 lb. ankle weights and some very basic, easy exercises. My quads, hamstrings and calves (especially the calves) atrophied quite a bit during that six-week period. When I was able to walk again, my leg was pretty weak. At that point, cycling was my main sport, so I was able to take it up again fairly soon, but my legs were very unequal in terms of strength and I let the right leg do way more than it's share of the work.
The following year, I was still experiencing a lot of pain and the disparity in my legs was not decreasing, so I underwent a second athroscopy with a different orthopedic surgeon. He was much more aggressive with the post-op treatment plan, and had me swimming laps within a week of the surgery. I swam during the entire six-week non-weight-bearing period. I didn't begin physical therapy until I was off the crutches, and then went to a different physical therapy clinic that was more sports-medicine oriented. It was quite a different experience from the first time--they had me doing much more (stationery bicycle, stairmaster, lots of different leg machines, squats). Thanks to all the swimming, my leg was pretty strong when I was able to get off the crutches and I progressed through physical therapy quickly. The following year, I did a 350 mile bicycle trip in New Mexico that included lots of long (10 mile) climbs in the mountains. I was one of the strongest climbers in the group.
Nearly ten years later after the initial surgery, my knee is not the same as it was before all this fun began, but I work with it and push it when I can and back off when I should. I am able to do hi/lo and step, lower body strength moves such as squats, lunges and the dreaded leg presses, and I still bicycle--some years more so than others. I ice my knees religiously after working out and rely on Advil fairly regularly. Low barometric pressures bring twinges and aches.
So, to answer your question, because arthroscopy is as much a diagnostic tool as a corrective one, until your doctor gets in there and sees what type of repair is needed, it's hard to say exactly what your recovery will be like. Just be sure that your doctor knows what type of exercising you do and how much, and ask him/her to be frank with you as to what you can expect after the surgery. Be sure that you'll be able to work with a physical therapy facility that is sports-oriented. Most importantly, be patient and do what your doctor and physical therapist tell you (that means no "testing" your knee to see how it reacts to different things).
Best of luck to you. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Hi Jean--
I've had 2 arthroscopies on my left knee, one in 1991 and again in 1992. Each time, the repair work was done on the articular cartilage of the weight bearing section of the femur, although they may have done something with the meniscus as well. Because the affected area was weight bearing, I was on crutches each time and not allowed to put weight on that leg for six weeks. It was a very long six weeks.
During the first recovery, I began physical therapy about 2 weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, the facility wasn't really sports-medicine oriented, but more geared towards paraplegic/quadraplegic patients and other mobility-impaired individuals. They gave me 2 lb. ankle weights and some very basic, easy exercises. My quads, hamstrings and calves (especially the calves) atrophied quite a bit during that six-week period. When I was able to walk again, my leg was pretty weak. At that point, cycling was my main sport, so I was able to take it up again fairly soon, but my legs were very unequal in terms of strength and I let the right leg do way more than it's share of the work.
The following year, I was still experiencing a lot of pain and the disparity in my legs was not decreasing, so I underwent a second athroscopy with a different orthopedic surgeon. He was much more aggressive with the post-op treatment plan, and had me swimming laps within a week of the surgery. I swam during the entire six-week non-weight-bearing period. I didn't begin physical therapy until I was off the crutches, and then went to a different physical therapy clinic that was more sports-medicine oriented. It was quite a different experience from the first time--they had me doing much more (stationery bicycle, stairmaster, lots of different leg machines, squats). Thanks to all the swimming, my leg was pretty strong when I was able to get off the crutches and I progressed through physical therapy quickly. The following year, I did a 350 mile bicycle trip in New Mexico that included lots of long (10 mile) climbs in the mountains. I was one of the strongest climbers in the group.
Nearly ten years later after the initial surgery, my knee is not the same as it was before all this fun began, but I work with it and push it when I can and back off when I should. I am able to do hi/lo and step, lower body strength moves such as squats, lunges and the dreaded leg presses, and I still bicycle--some years more so than others. I ice my knees religiously after working out and rely on Advil fairly regularly. Low barometric pressures bring twinges and aches.
So, to answer your question, because arthroscopy is as much a diagnostic tool as a corrective one, until your doctor gets in there and sees what type of repair is needed, it's hard to say exactly what your recovery will be like. Just be sure that your doctor knows what type of exercising you do and how much, and ask him/her to be frank with you as to what you can expect after the surgery. Be sure that you'll be able to work with a physical therapy facility that is sports-oriented. Most importantly, be patient and do what your doctor and physical therapist tell you (that means no "testing" your knee to see how it reacts to different things).
Best of luck to you. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.
No more meniscus
Hi Jean:
In 1985 I had arthroscopic surgery on the left knee to diagnose persistent knee problems that started when I hyperextended the knee in a skiing fall. Before the surgery I told the surgeon I couldn't be on crutches because I had a four-month-old baby at the time. When he got in there he found a tear in the meniscus that was severe but would have been reparable if I could have been laid up. However, because of what I had told him he ended up removing 95% of the meniscus and cleaning up the region to stop some of the play in the knee. He also found an atrophied and severed anterior criciate ligament for which there was no remedy. In the post-op depression and haze, he told me that I'd have severe arthritis in that knee by the time I was thirty as well as limited ability. (Great bedside manner, don't you think?) I was given almost no recovery or rehab ideas ("sit on the counter and drape a handbag over your ankle and lift it up and down" was about it) much less physical therapy. Oddly enough it was in that post-op period that I started watching excersize shows on TV, and as soon as I could, participating along with them.
To make a long story longer, I don't have arthritis (I'm turning forty next month), and I am able to do almost all Cathe moves without modification. Some days are better than others, but I have found that just believing what doctors say without listening to one's own body can scare and weaken you. Educate yourself as much as you can and take charge of your situation. Get second and third opinions. Don't push yourself too hard, by all means, but don't let anyone scare you, either. Good luck. I'll bet you'll be back at it before you know it.
--Ann
Hi Jean:
In 1985 I had arthroscopic surgery on the left knee to diagnose persistent knee problems that started when I hyperextended the knee in a skiing fall. Before the surgery I told the surgeon I couldn't be on crutches because I had a four-month-old baby at the time. When he got in there he found a tear in the meniscus that was severe but would have been reparable if I could have been laid up. However, because of what I had told him he ended up removing 95% of the meniscus and cleaning up the region to stop some of the play in the knee. He also found an atrophied and severed anterior criciate ligament for which there was no remedy. In the post-op depression and haze, he told me that I'd have severe arthritis in that knee by the time I was thirty as well as limited ability. (Great bedside manner, don't you think?) I was given almost no recovery or rehab ideas ("sit on the counter and drape a handbag over your ankle and lift it up and down" was about it) much less physical therapy. Oddly enough it was in that post-op period that I started watching excersize shows on TV, and as soon as I could, participating along with them.
To make a long story longer, I don't have arthritis (I'm turning forty next month), and I am able to do almost all Cathe moves without modification. Some days are better than others, but I have found that just believing what doctors say without listening to one's own body can scare and weaken you. Educate yourself as much as you can and take charge of your situation. Get second and third opinions. Don't push yourself too hard, by all means, but don't let anyone scare you, either. Good luck. I'll bet you'll be back at it before you know it.
--Ann
Claire_Mills
New Member
Knee surgeries
Jean,
My husband has had 2 knee surgeries in 13 months. The first was on his right knee for a torn ACL and the second was on his left knee for cartilage damage and a torn meniscus. He's 45 years old, plays Division 1 soccer, runs, and bikes, and had no intention of giving up any of these activities.
His doctor has always been very aggressive with rehabilitation -- he's the doctor for the Atlanta Braves -- and had my husband getting to physical therapy and working the leg the day after surgery. For both surgeries he used crutches for only one day because his doctor told him he must put weight on the leg as soon as possible.
The main thing he has had to work on is his quad strength. Supposedly, no matter what kind of knee surgery you have, the quad always atrophies a bit post-surgery. The first few days out of surgery they had him do "wall slides" and some stretching exercises, then it was all quad development from that point forward. Now, it's been 6 months or so after his meniscus surgery, and he is working with a soccer-oriented trainer to get his "cutting" moves back. His knee still swells on occasion, and he STILL has to work on quad strength.
I won't tell you that it is easy -- it has been very hard work for him, and sometimes discouraging. But from what I can tell, the most important component in regaining full use of your knee is to start working on it -- with a physical therapist -- immediately or as soon after surgery as possible.
A fantastic website that has been a source of encouragement and tons of information is www.factotem.com/kneeboard/ (sorry, I can't do a link). This is a forum for people with knee injuries/surgeries, and is frequented by physical therapists, doctors, and people who have been there and back. It really helped us a lot.
Good luck!
-Claire M.
Jean,
My husband has had 2 knee surgeries in 13 months. The first was on his right knee for a torn ACL and the second was on his left knee for cartilage damage and a torn meniscus. He's 45 years old, plays Division 1 soccer, runs, and bikes, and had no intention of giving up any of these activities.
His doctor has always been very aggressive with rehabilitation -- he's the doctor for the Atlanta Braves -- and had my husband getting to physical therapy and working the leg the day after surgery. For both surgeries he used crutches for only one day because his doctor told him he must put weight on the leg as soon as possible.
The main thing he has had to work on is his quad strength. Supposedly, no matter what kind of knee surgery you have, the quad always atrophies a bit post-surgery. The first few days out of surgery they had him do "wall slides" and some stretching exercises, then it was all quad development from that point forward. Now, it's been 6 months or so after his meniscus surgery, and he is working with a soccer-oriented trainer to get his "cutting" moves back. His knee still swells on occasion, and he STILL has to work on quad strength.
I won't tell you that it is easy -- it has been very hard work for him, and sometimes discouraging. But from what I can tell, the most important component in regaining full use of your knee is to start working on it -- with a physical therapist -- immediately or as soon after surgery as possible.
A fantastic website that has been a source of encouragement and tons of information is www.factotem.com/kneeboard/ (sorry, I can't do a link). This is a forum for people with knee injuries/surgeries, and is frequented by physical therapists, doctors, and people who have been there and back. It really helped us a lot.
Good luck!
-Claire M.
My knee surgery was last summer
I had a partial meniscectomy last summer (they took about 45% of my medial meniscus out). Your rehab will depend on whether they do a meniscectomy (removal of part of the meniscus) or a repair. The repair requires you to be on crutches/completely non-weight-bearing for about 4-6 weeks, whereas the meniscectomy - crutches for about a week, and you weight-bear more and more over that week. I teach step/hi-lo classes twice a week, and I teach Cathe-style (i.e., power step). I returned to teaching at 3 months. I began my rehab the day after surgery. It was slightly humbling, and I feared losing my fitness gains: I couldn't even do a complete revolution on a bike until post-op day no. 4 (and wondered if I'd EVER be able to bike at a "normal" resistance setting again!). But I just focused on my rehab (and utilized the opportunity to REALLY focus on the upper body weights) - I was able to accept that this too would pass, that in time I would be able to get back to my regular workouts. It's true - the body doesn't forget, and several months later I was in the best cardio shape of my life.
Anyway, I have no problems with teaching. I started back with step using no risers, progressing both time and intensity, up to 2 risers and Cathe tapes. I did have a scare around 4 months post, when my knee started to feel just like it did pre-surgery. I freaked! But it must've been some swelling, because it did go away and has remained fine. Sure, there'll be some things you can't do (like certain positions of extreme flexion). And strange little things - like doing the jumps at the beginning of Step Jam; those caused me some discomfort until just 2 months ago.
Sorry to go on and on - keep in mind that everyone's body is different. If you have specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
I had a partial meniscectomy last summer (they took about 45% of my medial meniscus out). Your rehab will depend on whether they do a meniscectomy (removal of part of the meniscus) or a repair. The repair requires you to be on crutches/completely non-weight-bearing for about 4-6 weeks, whereas the meniscectomy - crutches for about a week, and you weight-bear more and more over that week. I teach step/hi-lo classes twice a week, and I teach Cathe-style (i.e., power step). I returned to teaching at 3 months. I began my rehab the day after surgery. It was slightly humbling, and I feared losing my fitness gains: I couldn't even do a complete revolution on a bike until post-op day no. 4 (and wondered if I'd EVER be able to bike at a "normal" resistance setting again!). But I just focused on my rehab (and utilized the opportunity to REALLY focus on the upper body weights) - I was able to accept that this too would pass, that in time I would be able to get back to my regular workouts. It's true - the body doesn't forget, and several months later I was in the best cardio shape of my life.
Anyway, I have no problems with teaching. I started back with step using no risers, progressing both time and intensity, up to 2 risers and Cathe tapes. I did have a scare around 4 months post, when my knee started to feel just like it did pre-surgery. I freaked! But it must've been some swelling, because it did go away and has remained fine. Sure, there'll be some things you can't do (like certain positions of extreme flexion). And strange little things - like doing the jumps at the beginning of Step Jam; those caused me some discomfort until just 2 months ago.
Sorry to go on and on - keep in mind that everyone's body is different. If you have specific questions, please feel free to e-mail me.
Thanks so much everyone!
OK, this doesn't sound so bad. My doc told me I'd be on crutches only 4 days, and we didn't discuss physical therapy yet - I'd sort of assumed I'd be rehabbing myself. I appreciate all the support - it's easier when you have an idea what to expect. Thanks again! - Jean
OK, this doesn't sound so bad. My doc told me I'd be on crutches only 4 days, and we didn't discuss physical therapy yet - I'd sort of assumed I'd be rehabbing myself. I appreciate all the support - it's easier when you have an idea what to expect. Thanks again! - Jean