Training & Nutrition - Orthoscopic Knee Surgery Recovery Time

The good news is that it appears as if I will avoid an ACL reconstruction (for this season at least) however it seems almost certain that I'll need a scope job.
I'm trying to figure out how long, if we follow the plan of clipping and removing the damaged portion of the meniscus (as opposed to a repair), it will be before I can return to hard training.

My biggest even yet, 160 miles, is scheduled for mid-July and I need evey day of training I can get between now and then.

I'm looking for real word estimates of how long I can expect it to be before I can start riding aggressively, 150+ miles per week on mostly flat terrain. Surely every case is different but I'm hoping for the best.

Anyone have a story they care to share?

I remember asking this on usenet last year, when someone I knew was thinking he'd have to have meniscus surgery (as it turns out he didn't). From what I hear, the recovery was pretty rapid. One guy said that the next day he was on an exercycle, the end of the week he was up on the trainer, the next week he was on his mountain bike and two weeks later went for a two hour ride on his road bike. Why not just post on usenet and ask the same question? Lots of people seem to have had this surgery and it sounds like it doesn't take that long to get back to being totally normal.

Try http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/, there might be some help on there.
I have had years of trouble with my right knee, wont go into details but poor surgery some 18 years ago has left me with osteoarthritis, revealed in a scope three years ago. I recovered from the scope in about 5-7 days and just built up riding from then, like you say, everyone is different. Just take it easy and see how you feel.
Muscle wasteage is pretty quick in quads (well was with me!) so getting fit again is important

I know this sounds overly simple, but every scope surgery is different. Have you asked your doctor? I am sure he or she is in the best position to give you the advice. If not your doctor, a Physical Therapist after an eval. After 4 knee surgeries, I just caution you not to do it too fast...

Matt

My surgion gives me his standard answer, full activity in 6 weeks....usually.
It's been many years since my last knee surgery, and at that time I wasn't cycling, only skydiving. For that I needed to wait some time.

Thanks for the reply's

I had my meniscus repaired last july. I had it done on a thursday
and was back at work on monday on crutches of course. The first week
was the worst, but I was on my bike at about 5 weeks (going slow
and in a flat parking lot). It felt really good at about 7 weeks.
Hope this helps. :D

I would say about 6 weeks (or maybe a little more) before I was back to any real training. It was even longer before I felt like I could really hammer, but part of that might have been in my mind, I'm not really sure. Mine was pretty painful for a couple weeks, I went out for a jog after about a week and it hurt really bad. Not sure if I was typical but that was my own experience. I'm completely pain free now and it's been a few years. Good luck...

You will be up and walking in no time, like out of the hospital.

I had mine done 3 weeks before our wedding, and we danced 'till 2:30 in the morning. The pain meds helped, but the knee works pretty quick after a scope. Just keep the swelling down.

From there, it was 6-12 weeks before I felt fine pushing hard. I am still a little lopsided since I don't run much. That is starting to cause some lower back problems and I am back into my PT routines.

So, go ahead and ride, but listen to your body and take your time. By all means, don't forget to cross train! You'll feel the sucker for a long time. I sitll feel mine overe a year later, but it is that "good" pain that just reminds me to keep good form.

Thanks for the responses. I'm going in Monday and I'll see for myself.