Knee surgery! FML!

[OptimumSlinky]

My right knee has been giving me problems since early September when it gave out on my randomly hiking around Zurich. It gave out on me again midway through a 12-mile ruck almost a month later. Finally got the MRI and the verdict is a nicely torn meniscus. FML.

Anybody have experience with meniscus repairs or ACL surgery? Is this going to be one of those "you'll never be able to run as fast or push as hard" for the rest of your life things?

 

[surfsatwerk]

I had my ACL done back in high school, rehab is a mother-f'ing bitch but you can get back to 100% if you rehab it right.

 

[RKS]

ACL seems a lot more tramatic than a meniscus tear.

My wife has had both of her knees scoped and needed revisions on both. She can jog but she quit sports (was playing D1 soccer) and her knees make a lot of 'sounds'. My brother tore his meniscus but opted out of surgery and seems fine.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Meniscus injuries aren't really too bad to recover from. In seeing patients with torn meniscus(es?), they usually recover pretty good. You really have to strengthen the muscles around the knee so they take the load now that the padding is gone. I wouldn't worry too much if you make sure to continually and actively rehab it.

 

[LegendKiller]

I've had two knee surgeries. First was an arthroscopic with cartilage removal. After dislocating my knee 6 times in the following years I had a patellar tibial tuberosity, effectively they took the patellar tendon, removed it from my bone, and moved it down and "in", screwing it down to tighten it. I haven't had a single problem since.

Rehab is a bitch, but it works.

 

[Trey22]

If it's just a meniscus tear, you can come back 100%. Even with torn ligaments, you can recover fully.

Regardless of the injury, you have to rehab correctly. Meaning, hard work, dedication and PATIENCE. I stress patience because I had a meniscus repair & ACL reconstruction and tried to come back too soon and tore both again.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

My unit's not slated to deploy to Afghanistan until September 2010, so I pretty much have from now until then to get the surgery and rehab it back to fighting shape. The good news is my Commander is very, "See the doc. Do the rehab. Don't rush it. Get it fixed right" on the whole matter, which is a breath of fresh air (most of the military tends to be more "suck it up and push through").

 

[illusion88]

I know a few ski instructors that have had that surgery. Proper rehab + a knee brace and they are all back to 100%. It took them half a ski season + the summer to do it.

 

[Pugchucker]

My right knee has been giving me problems since early September when it gave out on my randomly hiking around Zurich. It gave out on me again midway through a 12-mile ruck almost a month later. Finally got the MRI and the verdict is a nicely torn meniscus. FML.

Anybody have experience with meniscus repairs or ACL surgery? Is this going to be one of those "you'll never be able to run as fast or push as hard" for the rest of your life things?

It's nothing. Go get an arthroscopy and get the meniscus cleaned up and you'll be right as rain. I've had it done a few times and I squat, run...no limitations at all. Gets a little wonky from time to time but no biggie.

 

[Koing]

MCL grade 1 tear, limping for 2-3 weeks, recovered by 12 weeks but still 'gingerly' not turning on the knee. A few months later fully better.

Pain in the ass!

Koing

 

[eits]

acl tears are much worse to deal with than meniscus tears. don't sweat it.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

Update:

Saw the doc today (FINALLY!) to go over my MRI and options. The meniscus damage is not as extensive as previously thought. That's the good news. The bad news is my ACL is pretty much gone in my right knee, so I am now on a 3-month waiting list for surgery.

 

[surfsatwerk]

Are they going to give you a cadaver ACL or take stuff from somewhere else?

 

[darkxshade]

Knee injuries suck

I fractured my Tibia playing basketball in HS when I was about 16. Now I have a surgical screw in my knee that prevents me from kneeling as it will hurt. Fortunately that's the extent of damages as far as what I can or cannot do. Thank god I can still walk... as a kid, you don't know anything and the only thing that goes through your mind is if you will be limping for the rest of your life. The rehab doc of course took great pleasure in torturing me some more by[jokingly] telling me I was a hair away from amputation. He saw the fear in my face and busted laughing, the nurse punched him in the arm.

 

[OptimumSlinky]

Are they going to give you a cadaver ACL or take stuff from somewhere else?

I can go either way. Honestly, I'm not sure. I've heard the cadaver is the quickest rehab and if your body doesn't reject the new tendon, most effective. But pulling from your hamstring is safer as its your own tissue, but leaves your leg weak overall and forces a longer recovery period by several months.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I can go either way. Honestly, I'm not sure. I've heard the cadaver is the quickest rehab and if your body doesn't reject the new tendon, most effective. But pulling from your hamstring is safer as its your own tissue, but leaves your leg weak overall and forces a longer recovery period by several months.

I always regret not going with the cadaver option. Makes for a cooler story, imo.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

My brother tore his meniscus but opted out of surgery and seems fine.

Add me to that list. Hurts a bit at first, but not enough to stop me from doing anything. After a really hard heavy bag or strike pad session, I might take a couple of Advil, that's about it.