Torn Meniscus

[Glenn]

I had my knee sorted, 10 minutes on the operating table (so they told me), a couple of hours rest, then a visit by a physio, he assessed that I didn't need any crutches and I walked out of the hospital. Somewhere I have the before and after shots of inside the knee joint. After the op I had around 8 visits to the local sports injury physio to strengthen the knee muscles. If he had kept his word I'd still be there, he said he wouldn't sign me as fit until I broke 100 at golf, 4 years later I'm still crap at the game

My op was done through BUPA using the company health insurance. From convincing my GP to getting the was 6 weeks, the total cost nearly 4 years ago was £5000+, that didn't include the anaesthetist, I had to pay for him as strangely BUPA didn't cover him.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Had the same with my knee a number of years ago, in fact nearly 10! However mine was operated on within a week ( good old NHS). I could not straighten my knee nor put weight on it for that week, however I used the bike to recuperate after the healing process. Like others who have posted, I still get pain in my knee and it swells from time to time, in fact right now its painful to the point that I`m staying of the bike t ill it eases.

 

[pig on a bike]

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.

you need an op to back to normal rides i had same op 2 mounth off bike then built up and back to normal no trouble at all know

 

[Kiwiavenger]

I'm waiting for my mri appointment to check my knee out for a suspected torn meniscus. Can still ride short distances infrequently at present but anything over 20 miles a time or 2 days commuting sees me off the bike for a week at present!

 

[sdr gb]

I'm waiting for my mri appointment to check my knee out for a suspected torn meniscus. Can still ride short distances infrequently at present but anything over 20 miles a time or 2 days commuting sees me off the bike for a week at present!

Hope you get sorted out and are back to regular riding fairly soon.

I was only able to do 8 miles at first but lately things have started to improve. I checked my position on the bike to make sure saddle height and position were okay. A trip to a sports physio found some other bio-mechanical issues which could also cause problems down the line so I have some exercises to do to make things better. I also changed my cleats to ones with more float which has helped. I now ride using lower gears than I would normally use to help reduce the strain on the knees and I am managing to gradually increase my mileage.

The amount of discomfort off the bike is still the same and the knee hasn't started locking or giving way (yet).

 

[Kiwiavenger]

Hope you get sorted out and are back to regular riding fairly soon.

I was only able to do 8 miles at first but lately things have started to improve. I checked my position on the bike to make sure saddle height and position were okay. A trip to a sports physio found some other bio-mechanical issues which could also cause problems down the line so I have some exercises to do to make things better. I also changed my cleats to ones with more float which has helped. I now ride using lower gears than I would normally use to help reduce the strain on the knees and I am managing to gradually increase my mileage.

The amount of discomfort off the bike is still the same and the knee hasn't started locking or giving way (yet).

cheers and glad your getting better.

i reckon i might have a few bio mec issues but really cant afford a bike fit or sports physio at present.

 

[sdr gb]

cheers and glad your getting better.

i reckon i might have a few bio mec issues but really cant afford a bike fit or sports physio at present.

Thanks.

For the bike fit, I just followed some of the various guides that are available on the net as I can't afford a proper fitting session either.

 

[fossyant]

Sounds good. Physio's always find things wrong, and it's good to do the stretches. With my shoulder issues I'd let me back get very 'stiff' and immobile. A few sessions 'mobilising' the spine, and stretches, I found it easy to turn round and look right behind me on the bike - before I was struggling.

Any progress with referrals to a specialist ?

 

[sdr gb]

Any progress with referrals to a specialist ?

The physio said he can put me in touch with their preferred specialist whenever I want.

He advised not to rush into a decision as having the op vastly increases the risk of arthiritis in the knee as well as other complications that can arise from surgery. If the knee stars locking then I'll have to have the surgery but he said it could be years until this happens so if I can manage and it doesn't impede on my lifestyle, why undergo the trauma of surgery if you can get away without it.

I'm just going to wait and see how things pan out. I'm managing to increase my mileage and slowly getting my fitness back so hopefully I might be able to get away without the op for the time being.

 

[vickster]

How old are you? If under 30 and the tear is small, often the meniscus can be repaired, so the tissue preserved. Will be on crutches and off the bike for longer though to protect the repair

The thing with leaving it is it can get worse which is what happened to me and it was not repairable as I had ground the tissue away and made the tear more complex. That said my knee was locked the whole time from injury to surgery. Once it started to buckle, I had no choice and was operated on quickly. Nowadays, surgeons try to Tim away as little as possible to a stable rim, the days of sub total menisectomy are gone so the risks of arthritis are lessened

If you are symptom free and fully functioning, then yes, wait for sure

 

[sdr gb]

How old are you?

I'm 35. I was told by the Dr at the hospital that the op when I need it would be to trim it rather than repair it.

 

[vickster]

Fair enough. Does depend where the tear is and how big it is. Meniscus mostly has a poor blood supply, but they should consider repair if its in the red zone I believe

 

[Kiwiavenger]

knee was feeling good this morning so pushed it a bit commuting in and by god does it smart now!!!

ah well, slow and plodding it is then

 

[mGate]

Hi sir gb,

just had the same diagnosis and the same advice from the surgeon... was wondering how you got on? Happened to me on the first day of a lands End John O'Groats holiday - disaster.