Torn meniscus

Chris_Robinson

Chris_Robinson

Location
Montreal West, Qc
Two and a half weeks ago, I felt a pretty good "pop" in my right knee while climbing. I made it down to the ground and instantly felt the pain set in. I couldn't walk on it, it swelled up, etc. etc. Long story short, the doctors and physiotherapists are pretty sure it's a torn meniscus. I had an MRI done this week but am still waiting for the results. It's been two and a half weeks and I'm nowhere near being able to climb again and am wondering if anybody else has done the same thing to themselves and if and when they were able to climb again. One doctor thought I would need surgery. Has anybody had meniscus surgery, and recovered to be able to climb again? If so, how long? Thanks everyone!
 
Ah, that sucks man! My buddy Kate just tore something in her knee a while back. Think it was acl, but not sure. She has had a hard time recovering, but she had to wait an extremely long time for surgery because of insurance bs. And had some strange scar tissue reactions that set her back. The doctors said that younger people usually recover pretty well from these types of surgeries. This is all anecdotal, so grain of salt.

I hope everything goes well for you.
 
I tore mine this past fall I haven't gotten the surgery yet but really should go do it. It was at least a month before I could fully walk on it after I tore it. I'm still not 100% and probably never will be without the surgery and maybe still not with it. On a daily basis I am usually ok it's only certain things that bother it riding in a car for a long length of time is one of them. I can't walk the rest of the day after being an a car for a few hours straight. This is largely because I feel like I am shifting the weight on my knee joint to protect the meniscus tear.

I was told the surgery recovery time is anywhere from 1-6 weeks on average. I know people that have had good results from the surgery and some that it did not help them at all. I had to make several life style changes since I have done it the worst of all is learning to sleep in a way that does not aggravate it.

I'm sure with a good surgeon you would be just fine to climb again. I am climbing now without the surgery but I am super careful it's the twisting motion that destroys me. Did they tell you what type of tear it is? I can't remember how it goes but a portion of it is reparable and the other part is not they actually remove it. Mine is where it is reparable so I am prone to healing and re-tearing so I was told.
 
No they haven't told me what type of tear it is...I guess with the MRI they'll be able to tell that. It doesn't sound as severe as what you're describing Thompson since I am able to walk and it has only been two and a half weeks. It's frustrating because it varies greatly from day to day and some days I feel so encouraged that I'll be back to normal in no time and then other days I feel like I'll never get back into the trees...

Mac, sorry to hear about your friend. ACL tears, from what I'm told, are far worse and the recovery is a lot longer. That's a real bummer! And insurance companies are the worst...you're just a file number to them and it's all dollars and cents. Don't count on any compassion coming from there.

I am thankful to be up north in Canada though...all these appointments, treatments, MRI's and x-rays were all covered under nationwide medicare. I didn't have to contact a single insurance company and didn't have to pay a dime.
 
Chris_Robinson said:
No they haven't told me what type of tear it is...I guess with the MRI they'll be able to tell that. It doesn't sound as severe as what you're describing Thompson since I am able to walk and it has only been two and a half weeks. It's frustrating because it varies greatly from day to day and some days I feel so encouraged that I'll be back to normal in no time and then other days I feel like I'll never get back into the trees...

Mac, sorry to hear about your friend. ACL tears, from what I'm told, are far worse and the recovery is a lot longer. That's a real bummer! And insurance companies are the worst...you're just a file number to them and it's all dollars and cents. Don't count on any compassion coming from there.

I am thankful to be up north in Canada though...all these appointments, treatments, MRI's and x-rays were all covered under nationwide medicare. I didn't have to contact a single insurance company and didn't have to pay a dime.
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In the mean time, wear a knee brace. There are also supplements available that help the joint to heal.
 
I had the arthroscopic meniscus surgery a month and a half ago. They cannot tell with a MRI what is up with the meniscus beforehand. They have to go in there and look around. Mine is not doing so well and he said I have bone on bone. I am returning to him today for a consultation but I think I know the situation. I think where all cartilage is missing....nothing can be done outside of a knee replacement....or partial.

I was an avid runner and racquetball player and it really hurts not to indulge in those, as I absolutely cannot. But I can ride the Schwinn Airdyne I bought pretty hard thankfully. My biggest problem is standing and moving on spikes. I am hoping he can shoot it up with some steroids today as no way can I suffer the recovery time of a knee replacement. I can stand a lot of pain and climbing without spikes is doable. Even climbing with spikes is ok with a knee brace and some piercing pain. Good luck.
 
Chris_Robinson said:
I am thankful to be up north in Canada though...all these appointments, treatments, MRI's and x-rays were all covered under nationwide medicare. I didn't have to contact a single insurance company and didn't have to pay a dime.
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If your an employee this should be reported as a WC. It happened on the job and that's the whole point of WC! That way it will be always covered for life and you'll be comp'd the lost time. Sure, you've got healthcare through the gov't but that only goes so far. If your the employer well that's another story.....
 
treevet said:
I had the arthroscopic meniscus surgery a month and a half ago. They cannot tell with a MRI what is up with the meniscus beforehand. They have to go in there and look around. Mine is not doing so well and he said I have bone on bone. I am returning to him today for a consultation but I think I know the situation. I think where all cartilage is missing....nothing can be done outside of a knee replacement....or partial.

I was an avid runner and racquetball player and it really hurts not to indulge in those, as I absolutely cannot. But I can ride the Schwinn Airdyne I bought pretty hard thankfully. My biggest problem is standing and moving on spikes. I am hoping he can shoot it up with some steroids today as no way can I suffer the recovery time of a knee replacement. I can stand a lot of pain and climbing without spikes is doable. Even climbing with spikes is ok with a knee brace and some piercing pain. Good luck.
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Remember the jomoco knee brace? Might be worth a try.
 
I had mine done around three yrs ago. Some days are better than others. My biggest regret is following docs recemondation of not doing physical therapy. He said as active as my job is I shouldn't need it. I can run a little but really have to concentrate on form and low impact when doing so.
 
Getting back to work, with awareness of your specific situation, is the best medicine. Stay active, move, but don't re-injure yourself. Maybe the repetitive stress of work caused the issue, but moving and working (and physical therapy) are part of the healing process. It's amazing what the body can do to heal itself without surgery or medicine.
 
dogwood said:
Getting back to work, with awareness of your specific situation, is the best medicine. Stay active, move, but don't re-injure yourself. Maybe the repetitive stress of work caused the issue, but moving and working (and physical therapy) are part of the healing process. It's amazing what the body can do to heal itself without surgery or medicine.
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If you have no cartilage left then there is no opportunity for healing. There is a treatment of cartilage injections which I likely will try prior to knee replacement and after my current steroid shot wears off (they cannot be done in conjunction). They occasionally are successful.

What he does in the "scope" is go in there and trim torn cartilage, which can initiate growth and healing. Brings to mind reactive growth in a tree. It also keeps torn sections from sticking into you I believe.
 
treevet said:
and
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[QUOTE="treevet, post: 427251, member: 272I am hoping he can shoot it up with some steroids today as no way can I suffer the recovery time of a knee replacement.
My sister-in-law had both knees replaced a week ago tomorrow. She is doing OK with it.
 
Is there a specific kind of brace for this kind of injury or just a standard knee brace?

This was reported as a work accident so it is all covered by our WC organization up here in Quebec. However, the MRI and extra doctor's appointments that I wanted were not covered by WC but were by medicare.

I must say the whole thing is kind of a rollercoaster. Some days I feel like I'll be better in no time (today) and other days I feel like I'll never get better. I'm going to physiotherapy and am planning on continuing even after I'm back to climbing. Strengthening the muscles that have been weakened since the accident, and then strengthening them further to prevent re-injury seems, to me, so very important. Doctors need to be held accountable when making bogus recommendations like "no physical therapy" because your job is physical enough. Sure climbing is physical, but if some motion in climbing is what caused the injury, then you'll be totally prone to reinjury. That's why I always go to see several docs and get opinions from a variety of medical professionals.
 
Chris, I'd read up on the WC laws and what exactly is covered and how to ensure you're getting the right care. It may take some fighting with them but don't just accept the first no. After all it's still insurance and they want to keep their costs down. Know your rights and be prepared to fight for them. It's not so much for the here and now but later when you may have to revisit the problem due to complications. WC continues to cover if you can prove continuity.
 
I looked into it...apparently the occupational health and safety board is, and has been, covering all the appointments related to the injury. MRI X-rays and Physio included. I was mistaken about the extras being covered by Medicare...it's all on WC.
 
Yeah, they're actually quite anal about that stuff. Two different funding sources. If it's at all workplace related then they want it to come out of the WC budget. Better anyway, WC covers much more than healthcare.
 
Chris_Robinson said:
Is there a specific kind of brace for this kind of injury or just a standard knee brace?

This was reported as a work accident so it is all covered by our WC organization up here in Quebec. However, the MRI and extra doctor's appointments that I wanted were not covered by WC but were by medicare.

I must say the whole thing is kind of a rollercoaster. Some days I feel like I'll be better in no time (today) and other days I feel like I'll never get better. I'm going to physiotherapy and am planning on continuing even after I'm back to climbing. Strengthening the muscles that have been weakened since the accident, and then strengthening them further to prevent re-injury seems, to me, so very important. Doctors need to be held accountable when making bogus recommendations like "no physical therapy" because your job is physical enough. Sure climbing is physical, but if some motion in climbing is what caused the injury, then you'll be totally prone to reinjury. That's why I always go to see several docs and get opinions from a variety of medical professionals.
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Buy yourself a Schwinn Airdyne, a new one as they are only about $650. and are MUCH smoother than the older ones. Stationary bikes are fine on my post op stuff instructions. Try to keep the rpms at just above 1600 or better while seated, and begin with standing on the pegs for a minute (like peddling uphill) and then at every 5 minute mark do it again. Go maybe 35 to 45 mins. You will sweat, unless you are Lance Armstrong.

It keeps your wind up real good and it is easy on the knee and the stand up part, because you have to keep the exercise arms from hitting you in the gut...is real good on the quads and knees and even hams imo. I also do the usual stuff with light leg presses and leg extensions and curls etc. I didn't sign up for the therapy as I did it once before with a shoulder thing and that stuff is for "normal" people. Boring and way under my above normal capabilities. :-( Waste of time as I see it. There is OLD people in there lol.
 
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