Hi guys, I had a couple of questions on a reason issue with my meniscus. I had been bothered by a pain in my lower right section below my knee c ap, and it all started in the winter time. I ignored it and assumed it was just inflammation in some tendon, so I’d ice it after games and use aleve. Fast forward to a week and a half ago. I played a game Wednesday night, and felt really tender/sore after the game, but didn’t think much of it, iced it, and aleve’d it. I played a game Thursday night… BIG MISTAKE! Just like 5 mins in, the pain I was feeling turned REALLY bad, worse than I ever felt from it before. I’ve had Patella tendon surgery in the past, but it was a different kind of feeling. Not the Patella. It would hurt any time I straightened my leg to lock, or my leg would have to pivot on my knee. I came out after the pain, and stayed out. I was thinking, maybe this isn’t that bad, but for the following 3 days, the same pain I felt in my knee, stayed that way! I was scared, so I called my doctor who did surgery on my patella years ago (go to him whenever I get knee issues). He said from the souds of it, it may be the meniscus, but didn’t know for sure without an MRI. He gave me a prescription for one… but I have crap insurance and will have to pay for the majority of it… so I told him that. He also brought the option up of a cortisone shot. I never received one before, but got one. It made it feel better just in a couple of hours. I Just slept, and woke up and my knee feels 90% already! My question is, now that the inflammation is almost gone, but there is a tad’ bit of pain, what does anyone recommend as far as excervises to strengthen my leg, or sleeves or something to make sure this doesn’t get messed up more? I am sure I have a baby tear somewhere In there, but I want to make sure it doesn’t get worse. PS, I also use KT tape, I will look into that also. Sorry for the long post. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!! If you read my posts, in the second paragraph i stated I already have. Also forgot to mention, that there is a chance it is a lateral meniscus tear. Anyone have any experience with these? I don't have swelling, but pain when my leg pivots in, and points my toes in. Do you guys think I won't need surgery? I already have scheduled an MRI too. The cortizone isn't working as well as expected.
Go to an orthpedic surgeon. If your in good shape get orthsopic surgery you will be back in a month. I We are not doctors
Yea, that's what I am thinking. From reading about it, it doesn't seem like I tore it really bad, as I don't have any swelling or locking of my leg. It just hurts when my knee tries to move laterally. Oh, I did go to my orthopedic surgeon. He gave me the cortizone shot first, and said if it still hurts, go get an MRI. I am still undecided if I should go get an MRI. They're pricey, and I'd have to pay alot of it out of pocket. My insurance sucks. The pain isn't CRAZY bad, I can still walk but trying to pivot hurts still. Its been a week.
I've had both knees scoped for meniscus tears, things to know: - they do NOT heal. A tear is a tear and it will only get bigger - if it gets torn enough, it can double over and cause major joint issues - your doctor can probably tell in a 5 minute exam if it's a tear, he'll want to verify with the MRI, but when he scopes it he will look around anyway. On the cortisone, all that does is take away swelling, it's like a huge does of anti-inflamatory drugs, however it also has novacaine in it to numb things, that's why it felt great at first. It's a short term thing. cortisone is given for 2 reasons: reduce swelling/pain to allow healing to be more effective or short term relief. It's not going to cure it. If it's a tear in the meniscus, get it scoped, you'll be walking the next day and then push to get the swelling out of the joint via PT. You'll be good to go in a month.
Great advice! I just said screw it, I found a place that will MRI my knee for cheaper than I imagine around here. Getting it done tomorrow, in hopes of seeing what kind of damage I have. I Swear though, this year has been the WORST for injuries for me. Let me add, I don't have any swelling, and this is my lateral meniscus. I read that it sometimes can get better on its own if I just stay off of it for a little bit? Is ther any truth to that?
There is one thing not mentioned. There is something else you ca n try. But, I would strongly suggest talk to your orthopedic surgeon first. I am an old man. I had your problem, and I have arthritis in the knee. Plus I have hardware in my ankle and my shin from a gun accident years before. I knew I would not do the therapy after the surgery. So I opted for a series of shots with some junk in it directly into my knee.I got one a week for 5 weeks. I did not feel much difference until 2 months after the last Now it feels prety good. But I still got all that damn hardware shin and ankle It for some reason was still considered and operation. You can ask your doctor about it. Then follow your doctors advice. If I was you I would dor tge surgery. My son had it done almost 2 years ago. He is a black belt Brazilian jujitsu player. He is in super shape. He was back putting people in the hospital 3 weeks after he had it down.
nicklaino, the shots you are discussing sound like the ones I had. In my case it was called Euflexa and done to buy time not a long term cure. they help regenerate the padding/synovial fluid in the knee. In my case they did absolutely nothing. In my case it's arthritus/degenerative Knee disorder. I am having surgery called an osteotomy next week to buy me time before a knee replacement. For meniscus, mine were both medial tears, one large one in right knee, left knee had two smaller ones. Surgeon told me they don't heal, but depending on the tear you can do PT to strengthen the knee to stablize it further to help avoid further damage. If you get the scope, PT is the key to recovery. Do what they say!
Thanks again! Yea, I don't think it's too big a tear..but we'll see what the MRI shows. Turns out my insurance is covering the whole thing! Getting it done tomorrow at noon. I just hate MRI's. They freak me out. I think I am semi' claustraphobic(Sp)
For a knee MRI you probably won't be all the way into the MRI tube. I had one a few weeks ago and about mid-chest up to head is not in the tube
Thought I'd update again! Turns out after the MRI, I have chondramalatia(sp) on my knee. The bone on the outside of my knee, under the lateral meniscus, has cartilage missing. A little chunk has some that is gone, like a pot hole. This is where the pain has been coming from. At this point, I don't know really what to do. He said I can play on it like this, but if it keeps bothering me where I can't do what I want to really do, I should get surgery. Any one have tips?
I am not your doctor or a doctor, so take my advice with a grain of salt. Perhaps, physical therapy can help reduce the patella tracking issues that you have. When someone has knee cap issues, it is usually caused by glute disfunction, and weak medial thigh muscles. I am sure your physical therapist can show you movements, and stretches to help your symptoms.
I actually don't have patella tracking. It's just chondromalaita(sp) to the bone that's above the lateral meniscus. My goal is to strengthen my leg muscles to take the strain off my knee.