knee cartilage

[flyingfish]

Hi all
I have just found out I need key hole to repair a torn cartilage.
Anyone else had this? If so how long were you off your bike?
Cheers Pete

 

[vickster]

Meniscus? Repair or trim. The first will have on crutches for 6 weeks. The second will be sore for 6 weeks. After my last arthroscopy, no cartilage trim, I was off the static bike for 3 weeks and the roads for 6. Depends on your surgeons protocol and how you recover

Good luck, you'll be sore for a good few weeks

 

[fossyant]

With Vickster here. My colleague had a repair done, and was out on the bike again within 6 weeks or so. It's been absolutely fine since !!

 

[vickster]

It might also depend what else they do once in there. If there is any question of bone work needed discuss with surgeon in advance

Looks like I'm going to need two tears trimmed plus god knows what else doing

 

[flyingfish]

It's a repair to a tear. Maybe a crab up but no bone work.
I was hoping to be back on the bike sooner as I am really being held.back now. Looks like I will miss all the summer :-(

 

[vickster]

Repair means stitch or trim. They are rather different in terms of rehab. If stitched, you need take great care to protect so it doesn't retear. Long term the stitching is preferable to trimming to keep the shock absorption in tact. Unless it is very disabling, you could wait. Not urgent. Depends how it feels and what's important. If there is a risk of it getting worse, the knee is locked or buckling then may be best to deal. Many people have meniscus tears and don't even know it. What do you mean by held back? What does crab up mean?!

Have a read of this

http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/primers/meniscus-primer

I've known about the two tears in my knee for 6 months and have left as they weren't too much trouble. The nasty injury and surgery to my shin has buggered everything up for me. Seeing surgeon tomorrow to discuss

 

[Crackle]

That's grim Vickster, you must be going stir crazy. I've been out since Feb with a knee problem and I'm thoroughly fed-up, pissed off and other choice phrases.

 

[vickster]

Oh I've had enough, I now have back issues, can't cycle, pain every day. Physio has had little effect, hence she is sending me to the surgeon, joy! And some flipping insect bit me on Sunday so I'm itchy to boot

I have private hc so can get it sorted soon, except I have a holiday booked for July and work to consider. May have to soldier on until Christmas!!!

 

[totallyfixed]

I'm not exactly the best example, I had my cartilage trimmed 10 years ago in my right knee. Went out and did a 60 mile club ride 10 days after the op, crashed at speed on some wet leaves, landed on right knee [where else but in front of dr_pink which did not impress needless to say] and sheepishly limped back home.
A couple of years later took up riding mainly fixed gear which has strengthened my knee considerably. The surgeon said I would need a replacement knee within 10 years .

 

[flyingfish]

It will be stitches . Cleaned up is what predictive messed up!! Held back by the pain & discomfort stopping me riding as much & as far as I would like

 

[vickster]

You may well need to use crutches for an extended period of time. Talk to the surgeon about his post op protocol. What are they cleaning up?

Lucky to get the meniscus stitched and preserved, must be a youngster - not usually feasible after the age of 30 as the meniscus tissue starts to degenerate! That said my surgeon hoped to be able to repair mine 4 years ago but it was buggered, ah well

 

[flyingfish]

I am 52! Like being called a youngster! Lol. Surgeon said while he was in there if any clean up or anything else needed doing he would do it. I signed for up to 6 procedures on consent form although it does say that not all of them may be carried out

 

[vickster]

I doubt they'll stitch the meniscus then if you are 52, would be extremely unusual from everything I've read. Do you mean they'll put stitches in the incisions? Those come out after10-14 days, you won't be able to get the incisions wet in that time. Make sure the hospital gives you OP site waterproof dressings (private they should, NHS less likely)

I think you should expect at least 6 weeks off the bike. What else is on the form, presumably some sort of cartilage tidying, drilling, I.e. Bone work, it would be unusual for there to be no wear and tear at 52, especially of you've been active

 

[flyingfish]

I have been a roofer most of my life (no longer though) so yes wear & tear plus damage in a motor bike crash. The cartilage is split in the middle of the Y section. Not possible to trim.