Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Meniscus surgery

I am perusing the campfire tonight with my knee wrapped after this afternoon’s surgery. My knee has bothered me for two months, with some days and nights being almost unbearable. After surgery, I walked out of the hospital with no crutches and have felt better than at any time in the last couple months. Hopefully, it is not just the drugs making me think that things are better in the knee than they really are. We will see tomorrow.

Now for more information. I am 53 and the surgeon said that he does see arthritis in that knee and not to expect to feel like a young man.

Does anyone else here have some first hand experience to share? I would appreciate it.

Mike

Wife had it done couple of years ago...Seems to have worked don't hear her complaining anymore about her knee hurting.

Did 6 months of PT before realizing surgery was my only choice. Made me almost 100%. Still have a loss of flexibility in that knee but I don't baby it.

BTDT
It’ll feel great for some time. No way to tell how long. Might be a couple years; might be never.

You’ll know when you need a TKA.

Good luck!

PS. Have your doc submit an order for PT.

I had a medial menisectomy on my right knee when I was 16 as a result of a football injury. Surgery then was relatively primitive compared to today (so I am told). Doc told me I would have noticeable arthritis pain by age 30. At 63, I have little to no knee pain as long as I (1) do regular squats (makes a huge difference) and; (2) take collagen. My medial condyles (top and bottom) are noticeably protruding to the inside compared to my other knee (which you see a lot with surgical knees) but my pain is damn near a nothing-burger, if I manage it. Caveat: I can't hike or walk long distances without the need for Meloxicam or Ibuprofen, but day-to-day living is pretty much pain-free. If you end up with arthritic pain down the road, take a look at platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

Yes, do this.

I had it done a couple of years ago. Everybody's situation is different. It took a few weeks before I was comfortable again after mine.

Had both done years ago and both are doing fine.I think about 15 years now.

The left was the one tore up bad and he had to drill holes in the bone heads to make scar tissue to make things last longer.

He gave me this warranty:two steps,two miles,two months,two years or the rest of my life.

The right knee had a lot of fluid on it and after they pulled a bunch out it felt a bit better.

It was the quicker of the two to get over but so far so good.

I do not run so maybe that is why they have lasted so long.

Did they send you home with a cooling device,it helps a lot with the pain and swelling?

Just take it easy and heal up some before you mess it up worse.

I am on the list for the newly approved replacement surgery.
Kind of a soft hockey puck looking thing with a concave center. Both sides what’s left of them are taken out, knee joint spread, this slipped in.

Osky

Mine was done two weeks ago. Ibuprofen for two days afterwards. Didn't need any of the heavy meds. Felt better three days after surgery than I had for months. Two different tears in same knee.

Had mine "scoped" again yesterday...........It was the second time on the left knee. Tore cartilage several years ago for the first one.
I have quite a bit of arthritis in there and they cleaned up some floaters etc so it doesn't do the snap ,crackle, pop and swell up and limit movement.
Going up and down stairs was getting to be an issue. I also walked out of the hospital on my own like you and I must say that today it feels better than it has in 6 months.
Probably partly drugs but it is not grinding like it was. Start PT on Monday.
Good luck sir you will be fine.
X

Mike,
So as has been said: Figure month or less to fully recover; be mindful that diligent quad strengthening is key; follow your PT instructions to the letter. If he says do extra lunges between now and your next PT visit, then lunge your way to the mailbox and back every blessed day, etc. Yes the joint will become arthritic prematurely in that knee, and yes it is mostly from not having all of your meniscus, but that is water under the bridge due to the injury; the surgery at least will make your relatively pain free with higher utility for a good while. No one can say how long, but “years” anyway. I tell patients, just imagine that knee is aged 10-20yrs older than your good knee. Can’t go back again, just go use it and enjoy life. You will like be at essentially 100% when recovered, maybe a small effusion if get rough on it, but no worries. Remember: quad strength ( most important with acl’s, but still true with meniscus, still true with overall protecting the knee under use.)

Clean-ups (repeat debridements) are common down the road. Hard to say when, but for increased pain or locking occurring again. That too can’t be helped. Fortunately, pretty easy surgery to tolerate.

Became the knee patient two winters back myself so had to follow my own friggen advice.

Sand
What is your practice?

Fam med. Was a failed ortho applicant back in the day, which is to say, i didn’t make that cut, but learned a lot on the way and still enjoy the heck out of.

Add: and get in the habit of unloading your weight from that postop knee when pivot. I.e. don’t ask that knee to pivot under a heavy load, say under a pack or headed down hill.

I think I lasted close to 10 years after my medial meniscus surgery before I needed the total replacement. The arthritis had gotten progressively worse over time. Synvisc and cortisone injections after about 5 years, then even they weren't very effective.

PT is your friend.

Thanks, sand.

Had mine done ten years ago.Three tears in the meniscus and shaved ragged cartilage on the femur.Man it felt great after the surgery,then woke up in the middle of the night(about twelve hours later) and the pain!!!!! Exercise helps get you back,but takes a little time. The hardest thing for me was going up and down steps.I think it took about a year before I could go up and down steps and it didn't hurt.Had to change my lead leg from my left to my right and also be careful not to twist it.

Had mine done 24 years ago. They basically went in arthroscopically and cleaned up the edges of my tear. Rested for a day with some Vics. Up walking with crutches in two days, no meds. On a plane in 3 days to a company meeting where we had to do an obstacle course for some "team building". Did it as well as I could.

These days I couldn't be happier with it. None of that clicking pain since the surgery. Going down a mountain or a bunch of steps can get a little sporty. So does getting up from a squatting position; otherwise I'm GTG.

Had my left knee done in 2014 and never a problem since. I walked in to PT at 2 weeks and was asked why I was there. Had my right knee scoped in 16 and it was a total fail. I ended up with a TKR in 18. When I first retired my left knee was my problem knee. Go figure.