Knee Help!

[Don A.]

My knee went out on me while doing a PCT section last month.  It was a sudden onset situation with a low level pain one day, very sore the next and could barely stand the third day.  Unfortunately I was 30+ miles from civilization and ended up being hauled out via helicopter.

I just got the MRI reading that shows a torn meniscus, stress fracture and arthritis in two areas.  The Orthopedic Dr recommends preventative measures (knee brace) rather than knee replacement.

I certainly want to continue to hike but don’t want to find myself in the same rescue situation.

Suggestions-recommendations?

 

 

[Greg Mihalik]

“… torn meniscus …”

‘scope it, trimming away only the part that got it the way.  NO other trimming, unless it looks like it will tear away for a repeat scenario. (“Bucket Handle” tear.) No “polishing” the underside of your patella. We all have a gazillion “micro-tears” the Orthos like to “clean up”.  Just say no.

We all have arthritis, and surgery won’t help. Just say no.

Build strong knees with relentless exercise.  That is where the stability will come from that will keep your knees from rotating and shearing your meniscus.

 

[Ken Thompson]

If you tore your meniscus and don’t remember it happening it can’t be too bad. When I tore mine it sounded like Velcro ripping and hurt like a mofo. Eight weeks of physical therapy and it has been good for ten years. Tore it when I was 40.

Best wishes for a complete recovery

Getting old, well you know.

[Bob Moulder]

I got a meniscus tear when I was age 29. Skiing in Aspen.

Arthroscopic surgery to snip out the torn section. 4 days later I was jogging around a gym. There was some pain but it went away completely after about 3 weeks. Been good for 32 years, knock wood.

[Don A.]

Thanks for the input everyone.  At this point I think I’ll plan on a “just see how it goes,”  course of action.,  I had a similar issue in 2009 though without an MRI and Orthopedic specialist involved (and no helicopter rescue).

A sports chiropractor thought it was a torn meniscus.  He said he could try treating it and that if there was no progress then surgery was the next step.  It took three months of treatments and specific weight training before it felt normal again.

So, from 2009 to 2017 all was well.  After that first injury I carried a cho-pat knee brace in my pack for a long time until I gave it to someone on the trail who was having knee issues.  I guess I’ll have to start carrying one again.

The other possibility is getting an injection designed for knee injuries prior to any long hikes.

[jimmyjam]

I recently had to get off the trail in Vermont due to a knee problem which was just diagnosed this week as a small meniscus tear. I did not have a MRI done so my ortho does not know the exact location of the tear, but he says it’s not flap and he would not operated. he said sometimes they will heal themselves depending on location and type of tear. His recommendation for me was a cortisone shot for immediate relief, take some anti-inflammatory in moderation for a short time, rest it for two days and then start on a regime of special knee strengthening exercises and bike riding. Ice pack after exercising as needed for 20 minutes. I have also suffered from IT band problems and have been able to fend those off with exercise and stretches.

[Mike B]

Don I feel for you. I just had surgery 7 weeks ago on a torn meniscus and  they cleaned up some fraying cartilage on the backside of the patella while they were there. I also was missing cartilage on the femur in a 3cm x 3cm patch so they micro fractured the bone to form a scar into the cartilage.  I am on day 3 of weight bearing and I have gone from being tigger to lurch but it feels awesome to not have to use the crutches constantly. Luckily when it went I was only 6 miles from the truck, I was ok on the flat to slight down hill but the steep sections were terrible.

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