<p>Many thanks to all of you for your stories and suggestions. I told the doctor I’ll call him when I make a decision. Wednesday was a really painful day and I would have agreed to the surgery immediately. When I got up this morning (Thursday), I was in less pain than I have been since this happened and almost felt it was a waste to go to the doctor. Fast forward to this evening and I was miserable again. I think I’ll just wait a while and see what happens. When I told my doctor I wasn’t ready to commit to surgery yet, he said I don’t need to rush the decision, but he believes I will end up calling him to have it done. It’s my MCL that’s torn so I do believe it is possible it may improve with time and continued use of the anti-inflammatory I was prescribed. Thanks again for sharing your experiences and for the good suggestions!</p>
<p>SplashMom, the MCL is a ligament (medial collateral), not a meniscus. Are both torn?</p>
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<p>Something’s not right here. Unless they have other structures to go in and fix, most surgeons do not repair an MCL. It is something they let repair on its own. But that’s an injury that would warrant a straight-leg knee immobilizer and crutches to allow it to heal correctly…</p>
<p>Unfortunately for me, I have had meniscus surgery done more than once, and on both knees at different times. It was indeed very different 30 yrs ago. So much better now. I was blue-collar worker at the time, so I was lifting, bending, carrying, and so on, so my doctors have all advised longer healing/rebuilding time than if I were an office worker.
I can add that my best experience was my most recent, and I believe it was specifically the doctor’s skill set that made it so. Any ortho can do this surgery of course, but for my most recent one I specifically searched for one that focused on sports injuries. I got a doc that is team doc for a nearby pro sports team. My thought was that this guy knows knees, and it did prove to be the right choice for me.</p>
<p>Splashmom: my D has arthroscopic knee surgery involving a lateral release; she had it during winter break & I remember she still used crutches for a few days when she went back to school in January. I think the biggest pain was trying to schedule her P/T around her school schedule.</p>
<p>ACM: how many times can you have the synvisc injections? Sadly mine has worn off and I’m wondering how long I can postpone things as well…</p>
<p>splashmom:</p>
<p>I’m not a doctor and, even if I were, I wouldn’t know what’s going on with your knee injury or what treatment makes sense. Whether or not it requires surgery, all of us will enjoy much better long-term knee health with exercise and fitness. The knee is where the pain shows up, but the issues are often elsewhere – specifically the ankle and mostly the hip. </p>
<p>Trainer Mike Boyle uses an analogy. If he puts a rope around your neck and pulls on it, you are going to complain of pain in your neck. When he stops pulling on the rope, the pain will go away. The cause of the pain was never the neck. That’s just where you felt the pain. </p>
<p>Same thing with knee. The muscles that attach to your knee also attach to your hip. If the hip is not moving properly (and it isn’t in most of us), those muscles are going to be pulling on your knee just like the rope pulling on your neck in the analogy above. So, whenever you are talking about the knee (either specific rehab or just general strengthening), you have to include hip (and ankle) exercises. For many of us, “knee” pain goes away entirely with improved fitness and specifically fitness that address the hips.</p>
<p>I had this surgery 3 years ago. I had the surgery on Thursday, used crutches for 2 days and that was it. I was able to drive and go to work on Monday. There was no pain after surgery. The worst of it was that I had to wear a huge bandage on my leg for 24 hours. I couldn’t run or play tennis for a few weeks after (but I don’t do that anyway). I hope your surgery goes as well.</p>
<p>I have had a funky knee since I gained 10 pounds. It is now lost and I stayed off the poor dear for about a month. I normally walk an hour a day but with some rest it seems to be much, much better. Fingers crossed. I am going to lose about 5 more pounds as insurance: get skinny is my mantra.</p>
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<p>While I would agree that one must consider the entire kinetic chain, it seems the OP has had an MRI done. That MRI’s results appear to be consistent with the pain location. That tissue needs to be corrected before the rehabilitation process can begin.</p>
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<p>Right. Treatment of the specific injury has to between her and her doctor. I don’t have a clue. But, she is describing broader more long-term knee issues. So whether she has the knee scoped or not, starting to really focus on a broader long-term exercise plan will help.</p>
<p>Two years ago, I could not squat down to get something from the bottom shelf of the fridge because of “my bad knees”. I had to literally kneel on a knee. It turns out that I didn’t really have a “bad” knee. Losing some weight and effective exercise “cured” my bad knee.</p>
<p>You need a second opinion. MCL tears are very rarely repaired by surgery. Time and PT and NSAIDs are usually all that is required.</p>
<p>I have had several meniscus surgeries. I agree with those who say to wait and see if you improve on your own. MRIs show every little defect, and some of them don’t really need to be fixed. Also, there are some terrific pain patches (non-narcotic) that might really help you. Ask your doctor, because they are prescription-only. Maybe he or she has samples you can try. They relieve inflammation and stiffness. One is called Flector, the other is Lidoderm. If it wasn’t for these patches, I would have had total knee replacement by now! Best of luck.</p>
<p>I just typed a big, long message, but I’m still getting used to a new laptop and some how deleted it all! How frustrating. Long story short, I made a mistake … it’s a torn medial meniscus in my left knee, not a torn MCL. I don’t know what made me type that. History of degenerative joint disease. Series of Orthovisc injections in my right knee about three years ago and partial right claviculectomy eight years ago. I know my extra weight is making my knees worse … I absolutely must get back on track. I had lost 50 pounds in 2008/2009. I’ve gained almost all of it back, so this knee stuff is definitely my fault.</p>
<p>I believe the “surgery” your ortho is talking about is just to lop off the torn part of the meniscus, which will happen while you’re being scoped. I’ve had this done (plus ACL surgery 1.5 years later), as has hubby (also with ACL later), and a good friend just had this done in November. Procedure was on a Wednesday, he was walking (with a limp) but no crutches on Friday. Back to work on Monday.</p>
<p>DS has had two ACL surgeries but for younger patients they <em>repair</em> the meniscus (= six weeks on crutches). I do not think this is what your doc has planned.</p>
<p>All that said, I’d welcome the opportunity to take a week off of work–you should be well recovered by then + have had a few days to pamper yourself.</p>
<p>Splashmom, have been wondering about how things are going and hope you are feeling better. Have you been able to return to work? </p>
<p>I didn’t realize when I read your knee related posts that you started the music thread with the mention of Hallelujah, with which I was unfamiliar at the time. </p>
<p>It has turned in to a sort of obsession. I am playing it on the piano and guitar and am soon to buy a harp, and am trying to put a band together. </p>
<p>It is such an interesting piece because it is musically so simple - a beginner can play it!
The lyrics are also fascinating.</p>
<p>Would love an update on how you are feeling.</p>
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<p>The Leonard Cohen/Jeff Buckley version?? That song is awesome. Beautiful. I have no idea what the words mean, but they sound profound.</p>
<p>Buckley, and here is a song by his dad, Tim Buckley.</p>
<p>[Tim</a> Buckley - Song to the Siren - YouTube](<a href=“Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren - YouTube”>Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren - YouTube)</p>
<p>I like profound, VH.</p>
<p>Bump to March 19, 2014—Diagnosed with “Torn Miniscus” Medial/Left Knee. Am I reading this right, to check PT first before surgery? Active/Fit 55 yr male. Injured 3 months ago…just not getting better. No running. Never tried PT…just continued daily light weight room/crosstrain. Afraid of what I am reading of meniscus removal leading to bone to bone/arthritis. Don’t they replace the torn meniscus with ‘something’?</p>
<p>You probably will get better responses if you start your own thread.</p>
<p>Every day use of knee wont give it time to heal.
Connective tissue can take a long time.
A PT can help you to find ways to exercise that wont further inflame your injury.</p>