Has anyone here torn their knee meniscus? (I already have an appointment to see a doctor, by the way).?

Question

Hi,

A few weeks ago I had an injury while playing soccer. I'm male, 37 and have never had any knee problems before. About the injury: I was stepping to kick the ball and my foot was planted and leg bent and I fell with a "twisting motion" where it felt like my femur and shin bone twisted different directions. Immediately, I realized I could not get up and the pain was VERY strong. I had friends of mine take me home. So, for the next week or so I did RICE, rest, icing, compressing and elevating my knee. Now, about 4 weeks later, I can walk on my leg, but here is what I am experiencing:

First, I cannot bend my knee more than 90 degrees (a right angle). Second, when I walk, my injured leg does not straighten out all the way and I have a painless limp. Third, I feel pain along the anterior (inner) joint line. Finally, I cannot ride a stationary bike because it is too painful to flex my knee to that point.

Anyone have this injury before? What did you do? How long can I put off surgery?

Also, I do NOT have any feeling of instability when I stand or walk and do not think my ACL is torn, but then again, people have told me that your ACL could be torn and you would never know it....

What concerns me is how long I can wait before having surgery. Has anyone ever had their meniscus REPAIRED (not trimmed). If you did, how long a period of time transpired between your injury and the repair?

Answer 1

Tearing the menisci, which are part of the knee joint take time to heal, this depends on location:

If the menisci is torn on the outside, it will heal fast, the blood vessels are close, if the menisci are torn towards the center of the tibial condyles, then you might experience joint locking due to the torn parts of menisci getting in between the femoral and tibial condyles.

You seem to have joint locking, this might need surgery to remove it. The tear might be present permanently if not surgically treated.

Get well soon.

Answer 2

I had a balance beam injury...two cartilige injuries...one of them to the Meniscus...it's the cartilige that is behind the knee...when you bend your knee, it's in that bend. The doc repaired it and...no problems since.

You need that cartilige repaired...if you get into a situation where you MUST bend that knee...to avoid bad damage to another part of your body...you're in for more of a tear to the Meniscus, or you go through another four weeks of RICE.
Have you seen an Arthopedist yet? Even a G.P. will tell you to get it repaired and the consequences if you don't......many.


Elysabeth

Answer 3

While surgery (a simple procedure) is the suggested cure, sometimes a certain amount of healing can take place by itself. In the meantime, stay off alcohol, dring plenty of fluids and stay off the soccer fields unless you are a spectator. I've had the surgery and it was 100 per cent successful.

Answer 4

My brother currently has this condition, but I think it's quite a bit less severe as he only has to wear a knee brace and try not to bend it too much. =/

I would suggest GENTLE daily excercise to help keep the ligament from "freezing" as it heals and try to wait it out. Something like that takes a long time to heal.

Answer 5

i tore my meniscus about 20 years ago. it was getting under my kneecap and i couldnt straighten my leg all the way...had surgery and havent had any more problems with it...