Torn Meniscus

[sdr gb]

Anybody else got / had a torn meniscus in their knee and did you manage to keep cycling?

I went to see the consultant this morning for the results of my MRI scan which confirmed a tear in the medial meniscus. He informed me that the usual treatment is surgery to trim away the cartilage.

Unfortunately, he is reluctant at the minute to carry out the procedure as my knee hasn't yet locked or given way. Coupled with the fact that I can carry out most of my day to day business with only a slight discomfort, he says the risks from surgery at the moment far outweigh the benefits.

With regards to cycling, I can only manage around 8 miles before I can feel the pain coming on and I have to stop. The other times it can affect me are walking down a hill or downstairs.

I'll try a few set up changes this weekend to see if I can make things any easier cycling wise but any advice would be more than welcome.

 

[jdtate101]

I've had it before...my family has a hereditary weakness in the knee's. I had keyhole surgery to remove the torn part about 8yrs ago and haven't suffered during cycling due to the low impact. I do occasionally get a stiff sore knee having walked a long distance in cold weather, but usually an hour or so off my feet will make the pain and swelling fade.

It might be worth getting cleats/pedals with lots of float in case it's and position problem. I know sometimes my knee can be aggravated when I walk in shoes without fully insoles (I suffer from fallen arches). I also cycle with Dr.Foot insoles which seems to help. Unless you have bone grinding then cycling should not cause issues, but a full bike fit would be recommended to rule out a mechanical position issue.

 

[fossyant]

Personally, if it's affecting your cycling, then I'd be tempted to go for surgery. I don't regret having my shoulder decompressed as 2 years post op I am pain free. Don't expect overnight or quick remedy though - allow a good 12 months post surgery before it really settles down. Should ease up within a few months, but takes longer to be pain free. It's unlikely to improve without surgery though !

 

[sdr gb]

It might be worth getting cleats/pedals with lots of float in case it's and position problem. I know sometimes my knee can be aggravated when I walk in shoes without fully insoles (I suffer from fallen arches). I also cycle with Dr.Foot insoles which seems to help. Unless you have bone grinding then cycling should not cause issues, but a full bike fit would be recommended to rule out a mechanical position issue.

Thanks.
I'll try with more float or flat pedals and see what happens. The bones aren't grinding together so it could be in part down to position. I'll look into it.

 

[sdr gb]

Personally, if it's affecting your cycling, then I'd be tempted to go for surgery. I don't regret having my shoulder decompressed as 2 years post op I am pain free. Don't expect overnight or quick remedy though - allow a good 12 months post surgery before it really settles down. Should ease up within a few months, but takes longer to be pain free. It's unlikely to improve without surgery though !

I wanted the surgery but as I said, he's reluctant to put me forward just now, even though this has been going on since October. Instead, I've got to go back to see him in 6 months when he'll make a final decision. Might have to exaggerate a bit so that I can have the op.

The only other option is to go private, which at the moment I can't afford.

 

[fossyant]

Nightmare. Costs too much private. Did take almost 2 years from initially seeing my shoulder consultant to getting it operated on. Had an initial steroid injection after 15 months (no effect), having been back and forth over the first year, then 3-4 months after the steriod I had anaesthetic directly into my joint as a diagnostic. It felt fab after, shame it wears off fast. Thats when he decided to operate. Decision November, Operation the following Feb.

I have a colleague that has his cartlidge trimmed due to knee trouble (cyclist too) and he's been fine since.

 

[jugglingphil]

If you insist that it is affecting your quality of life then your doctor should put you forward for surgery. I imagine that a lot of other exercise will be worse for your knee than cycling.
I had an arthroscopy to tidy up meniscus and in the end remove ACL. After this op, is the time when I started cycling more as a rehabilitation. Knowing about putting up with knee pain, I think it's worth another chat with your doctor.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

do you have any other health issues? I ask becuase for me, staying fit is really important and and not being able to exercise would have a massive impact on those other health complaints (to the point where I would not be fit enough to be operated on) and this could be your line, via your GP etc. (hope that makes sense)

 

[sdr gb]

If you insist that it is affecting your quality of life then your doctor should put you forward for surgery. I imagine that a lot of other exercise will be worse for your knee than cycling.
I had an arthroscopy to tidy up meniscus and in the end remove ACL. After this op, is the time when I started cycling more as a rehabilitation. Knowing about putting up with knee pain, I think it's worth another chat with your doctor.

I thought I'd managed to get across how much it was affecting me and was a bit lost for words when he said come back in 6 months.

I can manage about an hour on the turbo so that is keeping my hopes up.

 

[Hacienda71]

No advice, but GWS hope it gets sorted.

 

[byegad]

I went to the specialist for a similar knee problem that turned out to be my knee wearing out. I'm 'too young' (At 61.) and the knee 'not bad enough' for a replacement...yet!

So I'm in pain when walking far or riding hard. The temporary solution is lots of painkiller tablets and rub on gel and not hammering it too hard especially when it starts to ache.

I was actually hoping for a torn meniscus as that repair is far easier (A friend had it done 10 years ago.) than an artificial knee, which is somewhere in my future. Not that I'm minimising your pain and I can and do ride a lot further than 8 miles, I hope you can persuade them to do the operation fairly soon and get back onto your normal riding pattern.

 

[sdr gb]

do you have any other health issues? I ask becuase for me, staying fit is really important and and not being able to exercise would have a massive impact on those other health complaints (to the point where I would not be fit enough to be operated on) and this could be your line, via your GP etc. (hope that makes sense)

No, I don't have any other health issues (apart from tinnitus). I'm not overweight and up to the point the problem started, I was as fit and healthy as I'd ever been.

 

[sdr gb]

No advice, but GWS hope it gets sorted.

Thanks

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

No, I don't have any other health issues (apart from tinnitus). I'm not overweight and up to the point the problem started, I was as fit and healthy as I'd ever been.

OK - think the only responce I have is "lucky you" and "bad luck". not sure they should fall in teh same sentence but...

 

[sdr gb]

So I'm in pain when walking far or riding hard. The temporary solution is lots of painkiller tablets and rub on gel and not hammering it too hard especially when it starts to ache.

If the set up changes work, then getting into the mindset of not hammering it too hard will be the key to making any progress. I live in a rather hilly area so I'm glad I bought the bike with a triple chainset so I should be able to find a suitable gear for most circumstances.

The repair does seem easy, it's just getting them to do it.