Meniscus Tear

[TreeVB]

Has anyone here had a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus? If so, curious what your down time was. I just got my MRI results and am pending scheduling a surgery. Obviously not looking forward to the recovery time but am looking for some insight. I’m torn (pun intended) about this so some positive feedback would be great, although the truth is also much appreciated!

 

[Matias]

Has anyone here had a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus? If so, curious what your down time was. I just got my MRI results and am pending scheduling a surgery. Obviously not looking forward to the recovery time but am looking for some insight. I’m torn (pun intended) about this so some positive feedback would be great, although the truth is also much appreciated!

I tore a tendon in my wrist almost two years ago, and it put me down for about 4 months. Then another 4 months of not being full strength at work.

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Has anyone here had a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus? If so, curious what your down time was. I just got my MRI results and am pending scheduling a surgery. Obviously not looking forward to the recovery time but am looking for some insight. I’m torn (pun intended) about this so some positive feedback would be great, although the truth is also much appreciated!

Like, the handle on a 5 gallon bucket? Or a bucket truck?
Either way, brutal. Sorry mate. Tore my labrum off quite a few years ago, takes time but you do recover. Listen to what they tell you to do and you'll get back at it before you know it.

 

[Chris Schultz]

I’m not familiar with that injury in particular, but I live in an area famous for knee injuries, and knee surgeons. Most of the time when I hear about meniscus operations, they’re pretty routine, not super invasive, and quick recovery.

 

[TreeVB]

I tore a tendon in my wrist almost two years ago, and it put me down for about 4 months. Then another 4 months of not being full strength at work.

Dang man, that sounds brutal! Is it back to 100% or did you lose any permanent “features”?

 

[TreeVB]

Like, the handle on a 5 gallon bucket? Or a bucket truck?
Either way, brutal. Sorry mate. Tore my labrum off quite a few years ago, takes time but you do recover. Listen to what they tell you to do and you'll get back at it before you know it.

Like the handle of a 5 gallon bucket. The meniscus basically splits in half, attached at each end, and flips under the tibia. Usually locks the knee and keeps from fully extending which is my case as well.
Thanks for that. I keep reading differing times and it seems those who “feel better” but don’t stick to the full time frame have issues later.

 

[TreeVB]

I’m not familiar with that injury in particular, but I live in an area famous for knee injuries, and knee surgeons. Most of the time when I hear about meniscus operations, they’re pretty routine, not super invasive, and quick recovery.

Meniscus are one of the most common ortho surgeries. Unfortunately there are different grades and most can be fixed with rehab, or basic orthoscopic surgery that shaves out the flap portion of the tear. I know quite a few people who have had the scoping and it is pretty basic and back to work fairly quick. My case needs a bit more where they have to go in and stitch the tear back together.

 

[Matias]

Dang man, that sounds brutal! Is it back to 100% or did you lose any permanent “features”?

It was an ordeal, mostly just trying to be patient and not push myself beyond whatever I was capable of. I am hoping I didn't just fuck up the other wrist; Dr. thinks I pinched a nerve this time, so I am scheduled for a nerve conductivity test. No permanent damage on the left, where MRI had confirmed I "ruptured" the tendon.

 

[The Green One]

Has anyone here had a bucket handle tear of the medial meniscus? If so, curious what your down time was. I just got my MRI results and am pending scheduling a surgery. Obviously not looking forward to the recovery time but am looking for some insight. I’m torn (pun intended) about this so some positive feedback would be great, although the truth is also much appreciated!

Hey TreeVB

First off, sorry to hear about your bucket handle tear. I know the Knee, and can share some insights as I had plenty of surgeries on mine.


Hopefully your Bucket handle tear is "Repairable", and I mention this to you, a 35 year old person that really wants to avoid a "Bone on bone" situation in your later years (turns into a knee replacement) so I will "prime" you with some useful information so you can forseee "down the road", as well as ask your Orthopedic surgeon some questions you have not thought of as of now.

There are different severities of that type of tear, as well as factors that come into "play" (ACL laxity/no pun intended) with outcomes.....Meniscus has a poor blood supply, so it heals slow after a repair. Post-operative Healing/RECOVERY, and then Physical Therapy are REALLY IMPORTANT factors, so educate yourself and have the correct "Mindset" as to not rush the "Process"....think Quality.....Like pruning that whip tree for the next 25 years as Ed Gilman would suggest.

I am adding a link, and you should get a bit more familiar with the possibilities (based on factors specific to YOUR tear) and understand better why your Ortho will prescribe the amount or rest/non-weight bearing recovery.

Bucket-handle Tear of the Meniscus | Radsource

A 25 year-old male presents with medial knee pain after recent injury. Three contiguous sagittal fat-suppressed proton density-weighted images are provided. What are the findings? What MRI sign is demonstrated? What is your diagnosis?

radsource.us

Scroll down after you open the link to "MRI Assessment of Repairability" and read down from there to begin with. This should give you some ideas as to the "Why and the How" so you can better communicate with your Ortho on the next visit with Him/Her.

Stay Positive and take the time to heal properly.

Post Op, don't plan on jumping from height, down to the ground anytime soon and get a good PT for the post op stuff, when the time comes.

I wish you the best Outcome young man!

Pieter

 

[Brando CalPankian]

Like the handle of a 5 gallon bucket. The meniscus basically splits in half, attached at each end, and flips under the tibia. Usually locks the knee and keeps from fully extending which is my case as well.
Thanks for that. I keep reading differing times and it seems those who “feel better” but don’t stick to the full time frame have issues later.

Yupp, the docs know their shit, as do the pt folks. Listen to them and don't overdo it. Short term gains=long term loss