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Torn Meniscus

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Winston_Smith
Posts: 722 - Karma: 35
i tore my meniscus last year in the pipe and haven't gotten it repaired Its bothering me but I don't want to be out for the whole fucking season cause of surgery so if anybody knows the recovery time for that shit it would be greatly appreciated
Aug 31 2010 8:18PM
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rozboon
Posts: 1642 - Karma: 868
Ok disclaimer first, I am not a doctor, just another skier with mashed up knees.

It depends if you get a meniscectomy (where they just cut out the torn bit) or a meniscus repair (where they stitch/glue the flap back down)

Both are done by arthroscopic surgery so no major there...

Which option they take will probably depend on the type of tear.
A meniscectomy means a way, way shorter recovery, maybe like a week or 2, but menisci don't grow back so long term it may mean you have more trouble with it.

If they repair it then you get to keep more cartilage in there which is good but the recovery time is more like 8 weeks or so to let the tear heal up.

Aug 31 2010 8:38PM
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jason...
Posts: 9006 - Karma: 780
Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I know a meniscus repair would put you out for a very short amount of time. No where near an entire season.
Aug 31 2010 8:51PM
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Dr.DRE
Posts: 246 - Karma: 270
my dad was walking the next few days and running after a month or so
Aug 31 2010 9:21PM
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HalfandHalf
Posts: 1216 - Karma: 207
mine took 3 months and then i was fine with sports
Aug 31 2010 9:27PM
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SteveStepp
Posts: 9529 - Karma: 20,646
Get it fixed. I torn mine and got it scoped... I walked out of surgery and was back skiing 100% exactly 2 weeks later.
Aug 31 2010 9:27PM
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sagesnow
Posts: 3116 - Karma: 1,593
word.

but it depends on how old you are. I tore my meniscus back in like march but im still young enough (15) that i didn't need surgery and it would just heal. although it's weird sometime when i bend my knee back quickly there's this weird clunk like something slipping, and it sort of hurts.
Aug 31 2010 9:34PM
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BWalmer
Posts: 9141 - Karma: 12,883
This, meniscus is usually an easy fix, and you'll feel 100x better after you've healed, but the longer you wait, the worse off you'll be.
Aug 31 2010 9:37PM
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LivinOuttaBounZ
Posts: 949 - Karma: 382

It clunks because cartilage doesn't heal. I have had my medial meniscus removed in both knees and go in on friday for them to trim my laterial meniscus in my right knee. It won't take long to heal if he doesn't have it repaired. Scar tissue has been better then my meniscus ever was. Long term might suck, but I'm in my thirties and can still do everything I always have.  

Sep 5 2010 4:51AM
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smile=]
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 86
same thiing, i torn it and they said it would heal.
now whenever i do something it bothers me
Sep 7 2010 10:35AM
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MaryO
Posts: 2583 - Karma: 5,996
The longer you wait, the more potential there is for it to deteriorate furthar, creating a less than desireable outcome. I waited a bit on mine, and continued skiing on a torn medial meniscus, and then it got so shredded up it had to be removed instead of repaired. This outcome leads to premature onset of arthritic changes.
Sep 7 2010 10:49AM
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MaryO
Posts: 2583 - Karma: 5,996
And word from my surgeon, Meniscus tears do not heal.
Sep 7 2010 10:51AM
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vinny_guido
Posts: 23 - Karma: 15
it all depends on the tare dude. If you just need a scope it might be a few weeks. If you get a serious chunk taken out it may be 3 months.
Sep 7 2010 11:08AM
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DERS.
Posts: 6299 - Karma: 1,293
my sister had the surgery at the end of this past july and was walking the next day and able to run within 2-3 weeks. its definitely worth getting the surgery if it is causing you any pain. it also depends if it is partially torn or completely torn. id talk to a doctor and if you could ride on it for one season and get it done in the summer would be best. or if you got it asap you could probably still not miss a day
Sep 7 2010 12:10PM
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Lemuel
Posts: 14477 - Karma: 10,515
I've heard recovery time for repairing it could be up to 6 months or more, but probably if they have to replace the whole thing. I would not get it removed, bad news in the long term.
Sep 7 2010 12:13PM
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lanny94
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 165
a kid on my football team tore his meniscus oretty bad i think and he was out 2 weeks tops
Sep 7 2010 4:24PM
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dmc12380
Posts: 3545 - Karma: 792
tore mine a few years ago in the spring and got surgery in july and wasnt 100% back to normal until like september, i also didnt really do my rehab, and i gave of my crutches way to early.
Sep 7 2010 4:54PM
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Stanley
Posts: 93 - Karma: 10
no way!! i cant believe i found this thread. i just fucked my knee and they think its a torn meniscuss. MRI thursday to see weather its that or ACL. im praying to god its not acl. and am now super stoked that meniscuss injurys appear to heal within three months
Sep 7 2010 9:17PM
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Bong_Master
Posts: 975 - Karma: 177
tore mine last summer skating and i never got it fixed it sometimes pops but other than that its ok but they told me about this sergery arthroscopic (sorry cant spell) they use a mini cam and a tool to cut it and they said id be fully healed in 2 weeks. if its bothering you id def get this sergery done because its perfect to get you back on skis asap.

hope that helped you
Sep 7 2010 9:29PM
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pjbauer
Posts: 2145 - Karma: 480
the truth!!
its nothing like a torn acl, which is 6 months before you can ski again
Sep 7 2010 10:57PM
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pjbauer
Posts: 2145 - Karma: 480
after surgery that is
Sep 7 2010 10:58PM
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muFFn
Posts: 1040 - Karma: 74
I'm stoked I found this. Hurt my knee in June fruitbooting, but never realized it was serious till July or so. Then, in late august, I got an MRI denied by insurance, so they're making me try physical therapy before granting an MRI. When I talked to the lady working with me, she said that I probably had a tiny chunk displaced, resulting in knee pain when I put my knee back (like crouching). So the good news is it would possibly be minor surgery, and be back on my feet in a week or so depending on what the MRI says.

*Sparknotes for lazy: My knee didn't heal, so went to doc, and now PT and news looks better than an ACL or a full minuscule tare. This could mean surgery and quick recovery.
Sep 8 2010 9:37PM
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No_Dub
Posts: 3357 - Karma: 294
this
my dads was healed super quick.
Sep 8 2010 9:59PM
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Luc.
Posts: 7540 - Karma: 59
i had the same problem and got it scoped but i wasnt 100% for a while...a couple months for sure.

do the physio as best you can and work out as soon as the doctor says its ok to put it back under pressure...its important to rebuild any lost muscle tissue.
Sep 9 2010 8:08AM
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schwinger
Posts: 147 - Karma: 10
Recovery time entirely depends on the severity of the damage (just like any injury retards). it could be 2 weeks or it could be at least three months post op. Any way i hope it all goes well for you, i had 30% taken out when i was thirteen, But it has not bothered me once because i did the right rehab. So suggest you do the same.

Good Luck dude!
Sep 9 2010 9:09AM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 234
Not 100% true that it can't heal. I did mine a while ago, but it was very minor. If the tear is on the outside it gets a little blood flow to heal, but not much. It healed on its own, but it took months, and a lot of physio.
Sep 9 2010 4:52PM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 234
Not 100% true that it can't heal. I did mine a while ago, but it was very minor. If the tear is on the outside it gets a little blood flow to heal, but not much. It healed on its own, but it took months, and a lot of physio.
Sep 9 2010 4:53PM
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smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,373
if you damage it too badly recovery can be 8 months. i know someone who blew their acl and meniscus and since the mensicus was destroyed, it bumps up to a 8 month recovery time.
Sep 9 2010 4:55PM
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mariob
Posts: 1036 - Karma: 36
regardless of how long it takes to heal just go get it fix cause odds are by skiing on it your going to fuck it up more and than ull just regret not doing it
Sep 9 2010 5:00PM
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DutchhGutss
Posts: 896 - Karma: 124
Dude no way I just got on and this is the first thing I saw I torn mine sunday at a motocross race and finally went to the er monday.  I tore my meniscus and now im out and its boring as fuck and reading this make me depressed because I dont want it to randomly come back to haunt me in another year! Best of luck bro im experiencing it right now!
Sep 9 2010 5:59PM
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C-Burg
Posts: 4729 - Karma: 130
if you get the surgery done by the middle of October you will be perfectly good to ski  by thanksgiving
Sep 9 2010 6:15PM
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surfange1
Posts: 9 - Karma: 11
I use to work with athletes. One thing I have learned is if you don't properly heal it will come back and bite you in the A$%. So that being said take everyone's advice get it fixed now (it's only September) and you will be back at it by Dec/Jan. Remember go the distance and heal up first or your ski life maybe over with other injuries.
Sep 9 2010 6:17PM
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LivinOuttaBounZ
Posts: 949 - Karma: 382
Had it done this morning. a Lateral and Medial Arthroscopic Meniscectomy. I walked out of the hospital (they actually wheel you out but I walked around before that) with hardly any limp. I'd say that the pain and discomfort level right now is about a 2 out of 10. And swelling is very little so far. This is a pretty painless procedure that will heal fast. The doctor said I had arthritis in that knee already but it hasn't bothered me yet so whatev. If you need it done, don't delay, folks!
Sep 10 2010 9:40PM
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DutchhGutss
Posts: 896 - Karma: 124
I just really sucks it feels like its healing but it so frustrating knowing its most likely going to come back. There not to sure at this point about surgury but we'll find out soon.
Sep 12 2010 10:40AM
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LivinOuttaBounZ
Posts: 949 - Karma: 382

A little update.

Day three and it's starting to really swell and is causing me a little pain. But it's still not as bad as repairing it, or fixing an ACL or MCL.

Sep 12 2010 4:30PM
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