Torn Meniscus

[Buckeyes]

Over Thanksgiving I tore my medial meniscus playing backyard football with friends. I decided to forgo surgery trying to rehab it over the winter months. I've done it before with the same meniscus on the other knee. After 2 months there hasn't been much improvement. I have put in some serious time in the pool and on the bike but it remains weak and unstable. I have tried to run but after 2-3 miles it's pretty painful. I think surgery is the next step although it was something I wanted to avoid. I was wondering if anyone had any incite into this injury and if surgery is the right choice or continue to try to rehab on my own? It isn't nearly as serious as an ACL/MCL/PCl injury but I was wondering what I should expect if I decide to have surgery as far as training for triathlons and cycling events in the coming year.

 

[maydog]

Get it fixed and get it fixed right. Depending on the doctor and magnitude of the tear, you may be able to get it repaired. Surgeons may offer a variety of treatment options. Seek out multiple opinions from surgeons specalizing in sports medicine and cartilage/meniscus injuries.

I would expect that a small tear would have a relatively quick recovery period - you may have to aviod running for a while.

 

[alienator]

The last place to seek medical advice is on an internet forum populated with people you don't know. I'd suggest talking to your doctor, and if you don't like what he says, I'd suggest getting a second or even third opinion. That's going to be actually credible as opposed to what you'll get here.

 

[maydog]

No, an internet forum is not the worst place to to get advice - maybe this guy or a number of other quacks out there:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=8439063

Seriously, the internet can be a valuable research tool. Consider the problem of finding a doctor or doctors to get medical opinions from. Chances are that your immediate circle of friends, relatives and associates does not have the same medical needs as you. How then are you to find a reccomended physician for that first, second or third opinion? You can go and try to find a specialist at random - not all of them are good. Internet forums can connect you with individuals with similar experiences and can perhaps direct you to a clinic, doctor or subspecialty that meets your needs. Many such support groups exist. Most real internet personalities are interested in sharing and helping; the obvious caveats do apply, educate yourself and evaluate the information you recieve.

 

[alienator]

No, an internet forum is not the worst place to to get advice - maybe this guy or a number of other quacks out there:
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Fnational_world&id=8439063
Seriously, the internet can be a valuable research tool. Consider the problem of finding a doctor or doctors to get medical opinions from. Chances are that your immediate circle of friends, relatives and associates does not have the same medical needs as you. How then are you to find a reccomended physician for that first, second or third opinion? You can go and try to find a specialist at random - not all of them are good. Internet forums can connect you with individuals with similar experiences and can perhaps direct you to a clinic, doctor or subspecialty that meets your needs. Many such support groups exist. Most real internet personalities are interested in sharing and helping; the obvious caveats do apply, educate yourself and evaluate the information you recieve.

Ah. Getting recommendations for a doctor online is one thing....and certainly not the optimal way of finding said doctor. Getting medical advice online is, again, patently stupid. You know nothing about the anonymous people making recommendations on what you should do to your body. Moreover, their experiences are in fact their own and may have no--let me repeat that, no--bearing on yours whatsoever. See, there are these things called "medical history", "treatment history", "complicating factors", "diagnostic results", as well as other factors that go into making--and here comes the part that's most important--an "Informed decision." One of the bad things that's come from the internet is the proliferation of people and websites dolling out "medical advice." Please note those sites and those people more often than not are not qualified to do so. Do what you want, but I'll stick with real medical advice. When I have medical questions, I ring-up or see a doc. I don't rely on the anonymous opinions of people on a bicycle forum. I care about my medical outcome a bit more than that. Good luck with determining who the "real internet personalities" are, what with the complete lack of evidence that's available for determining as much. Golly, I guess I better be off to, I dunno, maybe a photography or skateboarding forum to see if everyone thinks I should have the titanium rod removed from my tibia. That's cheaper and way better than asking a real doctor. It must be because so many people do it. Surely people wouldn't do something foolish.......nahhh..........

 

[maydog]

Only relying on the experts - the same could be said for a variety of topics. Perhaps I should only go to master bike mechanic to answer all of my bicycle maintenance questions?

A physician will provide options. The ultimate decision to course of action is left up to the patient. The OP already knows that his medial meniscus is torn - he must have already seen an MD and I assume that the MD reccomended surgical correction already.

The OP is an avid cyclist and interested in the effects on recovery and training. Physicians can be vague about recovery and prognosis. Deciding whether to go under the knife is a big decision; why wouldn't someone who is considering a procedure and is an avid biker ask other avid bikers if they have had similar experiences?

 

[alienator]

Only relying on the experts - the same could be said for a variety of topics. Perhaps I should only go to master bike mechanic to answer all of my bicycle maintenance questions?
A physician will provide options. The ultimate decision to course of action is left up to the patient. The OP already knows that his medial meniscus is torn - he must have already seen an MD and I assume that the MD reccomended surgical correction already.
The OP is an avid cyclist and interested in the effects on recovery and training. Physicians can be vague about recovery and prognosis. Deciding whether to go under the knife is a big decision; why wouldn't someone who is considering a procedure and is an avid biker ask other avid bikers if they have had similar experiences?

Obviously you must be right. Clearly. I'll remember to seek you out the next time I need medical advice, and if you're not home, I'll go to the ever reliable internet forums where so many people are experts in healing and medicine. Clearly. Obviously. That makes so much sense. I'll do that even before I get more fortune read.