meniscus or acl surgery

rightknee

Did you have the surgery? I had ACL and meniscus surgery over two months ago. I an NOW finally off crutches and was cleared by my doc to walk with out a brace. The recovery is long. Went back to work after 2 months of laying around- now on restricted duty. I do not have anymore swelling, but there is definite discomfort in the knee when I walk on it. The PT thinks it is a strained MCL. The knee feels more stable, however is still really tight. The extension is there, but the flex is lacking. I am curious if you had the surgery and how things are going.

sportster

Wow, this surgery is quite intense and complex. I just recently tore my acl and meniscus during a football practice. That was a couple of weeks ago and now the swelling is down to almost zero and I can bend and extend my leg fully. I had an MRI and my orthropedic doctor said I need surgery and that I shouldn't participate in any sports. Swimming season is coming up and I want to particiapte in the sport but I do not know if I should. I am definitely getting a second opinion. Do you think that I can injure my knee more than it is now?

jennybyc

Yes you can. Once an ACL is torn it destabilizes the knee and makes it more likely that you will injure other areas such as the collateral ligaments or even the lateral meniscus.

I tore my ACL at age 14 when it wasn't something they surgically corrected. I went on in the next 2 years to tear the medial meniscus and medial collateral ligaments. I ended up with a total knee replacement at age 47 after 7 previous surgeries to try to stabilize it.

Fix the knee and don't do anything with sports without talking to your doc first.

Been there.

Baldskinner

I just had mine tare done 3 months ago and I would not have done it if I new the pain would change for the worse.

littlehorse

After reading the posts above I'm now wondering if I should have the surgery. I see my orthopedic specialist this coming Tuesday. I will ask him what would happen if I just don't have it done.

I am also wondering what type of exercise is best with this type of injury? I don't imagine that jogging would be very good for it however, I do walk my dog a lot. Is walking making the injury worse (without the surgery) or not hurting it at all? I can feel it when I walk and if I walk too far the knee will bother me. It always gets better with rest however. I'm going to try swimming this summer and see how I go with that.

I've heard that there is a new surgery in the USA where they can totally replace the miniscus. Has anyone else heard about that?

Littlehorse

dinojen

Had my ACL surgery years ago and it was a total success.. the rehab was brutal.. but my knee is totally stable.. was for years... The big thing is doing the rehab.. build your quads up and ice, ice, ice...

I just recently had my knee replaced.. this is maybe 14 years after the ACL surgery.. and I find the rehab about the same. Matter a fact I was talking to a fellow the other day at rehab.. I was doing my TKR rehab and he was doing ACL rehab.. and we both used the CPM machine.. both were doing pretty much the same exercises...

It's going to take patience and a little pain and exercise, exercise, exercise.. when my dr. did my TKR.. he said my ACL repair still looked fantastic..

It will work out.. just do as the PT tells you and take your dr's advice.. I was told before they did the ACL surgery.. or I was asked if I was willing to do the intense rehab.. if not .. it wasn't worth doing.. so glad I did what I was told..

Week five today after TKR and I finally ditched the walker and am walking with a cane.. I am so loving it.

rightknee

I had the surgery almost 4 months ago now. I am glad I did. I am still doing PT once a week, and it feels great. There is stability in the knee. It is a hard surgery to go through, but I feel it is defiantly worth it. If you asked me a month after surgery- if I'd do it again- I would probably say no. 4 months later- it feels great. I'd say I am at 90%. You have to do the PT. Do what your doc and therapists tell you to do. I have had no complications as far as infection. Be prepared for set backs. We all will have them.

littlehorse

Hmmmm.... I've had my fair share of pain and injuries being involved with horses for most of my life. Also, hard physical labour which is usual part of horse keeping. But I'm wondering if this will be more then I can cope with.

littlehorse