Tell me about your knee surgery.

I have a torn meniscus and arthritis (not much) in my knee. While I can still get around fine, I am limited as to how much and for how long I can do things involving my knee. Also, sometimes, seemingly for no reason, it will swell up, and then I must tend to it with ice, etc.
Since I am not getting any younger,(baby boomer) I went to see a surgeon, and he says he can reduce pain by removing my chopped up meniscus, and then after that I can get the vicosity shots for the arthritis. That sounds like it will add longevity to my knee usage, but I am scared. He said it is two small incisions, and it is a one day event.
Have you had it, what are your experiences, pro, or con?

My husband had the same thing done a few years ago. After the surgery he was no better if anything it was worse. They had him go the physical therapy but it got no better. So they said they had to operate again and trim the meniscus up more. He had his 2nd surgery and its some what better but still gives alot of pain daily. Everyone is different though! So his experience maybe alot different then you.

The meniscus is the hardest to heal because there is no blood flow. It is basically a piece of leather between the bones. BUT it is repairable.

I had the same surgery to do a different repair and the doc cleaned out some arthritis (he basically removed the spikes that causes the arthritis). I had absolutely no problem with the surgery. Its 24 hours off the leg...walk using crutches. I moved to a cane the next day and by the third day I was walking on my own. I took 3 pain pills the first day...one at the hospital, another about 4 hours later, and the third in the middle of the night. I started physical therapy 2 weeks later. I still have some residual twinges 1 yr later but only if I try to do 4 flights of stairs.

I had an arthroscopy a few years ago for plica syndrome - which is where this pesky little thing called a plica (synovial tissue in the knee) was rubbing against damaged cartilage and getting irritated.

It would swell, then my knee would lock up - it was usually when going down stairs, or if trying to go any faster than a walk. I was doing triathlons at the time, so for close to 6 months I tried to keep up training with this - nobody had any idea what was wrong.

They knew they could irritate it by rubbing my knee - it would swell almost immediately, so they decided to do an arthroscopy and see what was wrong, then fix it if they could.

I went in early-mid afternoon and walked out a couple of hours later. Sleeping was very uncomfortable, but I could walk around which was nice, and full recovery took a few months, but it was soooooo much better afterwards. It still gets achy sometimes, but it doesn't lock up anymore which is nice

Neil had his knee scoped a couple three of years ago due to it aching. He had injured in back in HS (around 1973-74?) The doc cleaned off the arthritis and its been good ever since. One the other hand one of my BIL has had knee pains for a long time (he is dairy farmer). He had knee scoped and it got much worse. His job calls for being on his feet for much of the day. He walks with a hugh limp, takes lots of pain meds, icing etc.... He is in later 50's. I think he should have more surgery to alleviate his problems.

The meniscus is the hardest to heal because there is no blood flow. It is basically a piece of leather between the bones. BUT it is repairable

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they only repair them if you are young. Mine is beyond repair, it will be removed. it seems we have two good stories and two not so good. It will be scoped? I don't want to have more problems. hmmm

I'm not sure whats going on with my BIL's knee-it might be something else. One of Neil's older brothers needs surgery on his knee but the docs will not do it because of his weight (a whole nother story!!).

I had an arthroscopy a few years ago for plica syndrome - which is where this pesky little thing called a plica (synovial tissue in the knee) was rubbing against damaged cartilage and getting irritated.

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My surgery was for plica syndrome too! You're the only person, other than myself, who even knows the knee HAS a plica! My doctor explained that women have plica syndrome more often than men because of the way we use our knees when we walk. We have much more sway in our knees.

I have a friend who also had her knee scoped for torn meniscus. She's made a 100% recovery...she's also in her 50's. The one thing I'm surprised at is that they haven't discovered how to make a replacement. They can replace the entire knee, replace the knee-cap...why can't they use a piece or plastic or leather for the meniscus.

Ask your doctor if the suppliments would help with the lubrication. Their names have slipped my mind right now. I'm sure someone will be able to come up with the names.

I have interpatela tendonidious and arthritious in both knees (years of sports/dance did it then). I understand how painfull knee conditions can be I went through several years of physical therapy- and that helped at the time. Now i just try to keep up my old pt exercises at the gym. / I don't have any experience as far as knee surgeries go as i've never had any- but i did want to let you know i'll be praying for you and sending lots of vibes your way for your knees. I hope you are able to seek the help you need and start to feel better soon! ((((((VIBES)))))

I have a torn meniscus and arthritis (not much) in my knee

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Me, too. When I saw the sports medicine specialist a few months ago, she immediately suggested surgery. Now, I'm one of those people who-if something can go wrong, it will- so I wasn't too keen on the idea. I talked her into giving me a cortisone shot, and asked for a print-out of exercises I could do to strengthen my leg. She also recommended PT, but I'd been thru that already without any success. ( By the time I saw the dr. I was at the point where going down steps was excruciating, and my knee would sometimes lock-up on me. )
It's been 4 months and while I still have occasional days when my knee gives me quite a bit of pain, I think I'm doing pretty good. I take condroiton/glucosamine supplements daily (on the advice of my chiropracter I've doubled the recommended dose), take Aleve 2x daily, and do my exercises 5x a week. I suppose I will probably get to the point that surgery is absolutely called for, but I'm putting it off as long as I can.
I understand what you're going thru; lots of luck with making the decision on whether or not to have the surgery.

I suppose I will probably get to the point that surgery is absolutely called for, but I'm putting it off as long as I can

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Yes, that has always been my philosophy, but now I am thinking, perhaps I should get this done while I am relatively young, and have the strength to recuperate. If I wait until I am in unbearable pain, then perhaps by that time I will be so debilitated that I won't be able to recover easily. Right now my knee burns because I excercised it two days ago. Even though my pain is not excruciating, it does prevent me from excercising on the treadmill or the ellipitical machine, the only aerobic excercise I get. Lack of aerobic excercise will just make me older and weaker. Thats why I think I should have it sooner than later, but I am scared that it won't do any good, or worse it will make things worse.

I've had my right knee scoped twice, by the same doctor. First time was ten years previous to the last one which was last summer. I was 35 the first time. It seemed like it took longer to heal the first time because he just removed the damaged part of the meniscus. The second time he took it ALL out and recovery was really a lot faster. I would have it done over again......in a heartbeat, and probably will on the left knee before many more years.

Winter Hawk

Well, now I am really confused. My sisiter in law called and said I should get a second opinion and more or less scared the beejusus out of me. Then I searched the web, and there was a lot of negative stuff about removing the meniscus, mostly noting that it will accelerate, or begin arthritis. I already have arthritis in this knee, so I don't want to cause it to advance more than it would anyway. I scheduled the surgery, but now I am thinking of cancelling it. I am thinking maybe I should try the visocity supplements first. they are good for arthritis, which I have under the kneecap and it does hurt, but they won't do anything for the torn meniscus. I am not sure that my torn meniscus is causing me that much discomfort, and the talk of bone rubbing bone sounds painful, but the doctor said my bone is already rubbing bone, my meniscus is all chewed up/

nOT GETTING IT DONE.