Meniscus tear, joining the club
#1
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
Meniscus tear, joining the club
I saw this thread https://www.bikeforums.net/training-n...nee-scope.html but figured I'd start a new one rather than refreshing an older one from over a year ago.
About 4-5 months ago I injured my knee somehow while doing one of my walking (and sometimes running) business park laps. I didn't know if I simply pulled a muscle or stressed a tendon or ligament, or tore something. Swelling came and went, pain mostly stayed but often lessened, I kept thinking it would just heal itself, but I finally went to the doctor about it. The xray showed only minor arthritis but nothing else obvious according to my doctor. Yesterday I had an MRI done on my knee and it shows a torn meniscus. I've now got an appointment with an ortho doctor but don't know yet if I'll be getting surgery done.
So, looks like my springtime exercise and training goals are interrupted, I'll have to figure out other things for my weightloss goals during recovery or repair/recovery. Per that other older thread it looks like I can do to workouts on a trainer bike and maybe get some early season easy bike rides in. I'll have to see how things go before I get back to my more athletic walks and run/walks at lunch. Seems like easy walks should be okay after a week or so, so at least I'll still get my steps in and will still accumulate health care plan points to use towards amazon gift cards which then turn into cycling and fitness gear.
Anyway, just posting a me-too comment about the meniscus tear that I just learned that I have. Maybe the four+ months of walking with a limp will get better now after I see the ortho doc in a few weeks. In any case I think I'll focus more on cycling than running this season, even though I still want to get better with the running stuff as well.
Mike J
About 4-5 months ago I injured my knee somehow while doing one of my walking (and sometimes running) business park laps. I didn't know if I simply pulled a muscle or stressed a tendon or ligament, or tore something. Swelling came and went, pain mostly stayed but often lessened, I kept thinking it would just heal itself, but I finally went to the doctor about it. The xray showed only minor arthritis but nothing else obvious according to my doctor. Yesterday I had an MRI done on my knee and it shows a torn meniscus. I've now got an appointment with an ortho doctor but don't know yet if I'll be getting surgery done.
So, looks like my springtime exercise and training goals are interrupted, I'll have to figure out other things for my weightloss goals during recovery or repair/recovery. Per that other older thread it looks like I can do to workouts on a trainer bike and maybe get some early season easy bike rides in. I'll have to see how things go before I get back to my more athletic walks and run/walks at lunch. Seems like easy walks should be okay after a week or so, so at least I'll still get my steps in and will still accumulate health care plan points to use towards amazon gift cards which then turn into cycling and fitness gear.
Anyway, just posting a me-too comment about the meniscus tear that I just learned that I have. Maybe the four+ months of walking with a limp will get better now after I see the ortho doc in a few weeks. In any case I think I'll focus more on cycling than running this season, even though I still want to get better with the running stuff as well.
Mike J
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#2
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So familiar; I'm over a year of that stuff now.
I was diagnosed with arthritis, too, and after a regular season of riding (i.e. riding through- and dealing with- the pain), I discovered that everyone has arthritis but I'm the only one limping and unable to sleep at night because of the aching, so I got a second opinion and MRI which confirmed meniscus tear. I stopped riding mid-September for a variety of reasons, and was off the bike for 5 months, again for a variety of reasons. The pain and aching was reduced.
I'm back on the bike a month now, and pain is still there; I'd talked to others with meniscus tears and heard some people healed on their own. Again, at more than a year since the incident (the exact moment I wasn't aware of at the time and which I don't clearly recall anymore), I'm satisfied I'm not going to heal on my own, and 'scopic surgery is what needs to happen. Don't really want to, but it will improve the quality of my life, and ability to ride hard as I like to do.
Best luck to you.
I was diagnosed with arthritis, too, and after a regular season of riding (i.e. riding through- and dealing with- the pain), I discovered that everyone has arthritis but I'm the only one limping and unable to sleep at night because of the aching, so I got a second opinion and MRI which confirmed meniscus tear. I stopped riding mid-September for a variety of reasons, and was off the bike for 5 months, again for a variety of reasons. The pain and aching was reduced.
I'm back on the bike a month now, and pain is still there; I'd talked to others with meniscus tears and heard some people healed on their own. Again, at more than a year since the incident (the exact moment I wasn't aware of at the time and which I don't clearly recall anymore), I'm satisfied I'm not going to heal on my own, and 'scopic surgery is what needs to happen. Don't really want to, but it will improve the quality of my life, and ability to ride hard as I like to do.
Best luck to you.
#3
Chases Dogs for Sport
It's been almost a year since my meniscus tear and arthritis were discovered. Mine happened because I had to be completely off the bike for a month due to shoulder reconstruction surgery. Once I got on the bike trainer, any ride of over 30 minutes brought severe knee pain.
In May of last year, I had my knee worked on. Cut away the torn part of the meniscus and ground away at the badly arthritic surface of the kneecap. Once I got the stitches out (1 week), I was back on the bike. Within a month, I was back riding with the same intensity and distance as before. So far, so good. But . . . we know that the other knee is equally arthritic and that, if I take a multi-week break from the bike, it may be a permanent break from the bike -- at least with natural knees. My restrictions at this point: No mountain bike or hard core gravel bike racing -- avoiding impacts is important. And no sub-60 rpm grinding up severe climbs.
I can live with that.
In May of last year, I had my knee worked on. Cut away the torn part of the meniscus and ground away at the badly arthritic surface of the kneecap. Once I got the stitches out (1 week), I was back on the bike. Within a month, I was back riding with the same intensity and distance as before. So far, so good. But . . . we know that the other knee is equally arthritic and that, if I take a multi-week break from the bike, it may be a permanent break from the bike -- at least with natural knees. My restrictions at this point: No mountain bike or hard core gravel bike racing -- avoiding impacts is important. And no sub-60 rpm grinding up severe climbs.
I can live with that.
#4
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bad knees and biking
I can relate. I'm young with osteoarthritis in both knees, but pain only in one knee. Had ACL repair with large cartilage tears 20 years ago and finally caught up to me.
Cycling feels great and I have less pain when cycling, in general.
Question: any tips to being able to cycle with knee issues?
Example: Someone told me to get pedals that allowed greater float to reduce knee strain. The comment was made thinking that my shimano pedals may cause knee pain. They don't for me, so I don't see any need to change, but I thought it might help someone else if true...
(The post above mentioned climbing at low RPM's will cause problems, presumably under the kneecap) - good to know -thanks!
Are there other things that people can advise me as a young novice rider with knee OA?
thanks
Cycling feels great and I have less pain when cycling, in general.
Question: any tips to being able to cycle with knee issues?
Example: Someone told me to get pedals that allowed greater float to reduce knee strain. The comment was made thinking that my shimano pedals may cause knee pain. They don't for me, so I don't see any need to change, but I thought it might help someone else if true...
(The post above mentioned climbing at low RPM's will cause problems, presumably under the kneecap) - good to know -thanks!
Are there other things that people can advise me as a young novice rider with knee OA?
thanks
#5
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One recommendation for knee arthritis, but not necessarily a torn meniscus, that has always helped me is supported body squats. Simply grab the back of a chair and do squats, paying attention to form. Make sure you aren't doing them for speed, but at more of an even moderate pace. Usually I do 10 x 3s every other day.
#6
Senior Member
I've 20+ years since arthroscopic meniscus repair surgery in my left knee. Injured it playing frisbee on a beach but it didn't seem like anything at the time; the knee just never returned to normal. I debated over six-months whether to have the surgery as the pain wasn't that bad and on good days it was almost unnoticeable. But it never really got better.
Surgery was no big deal, I walked out of the hospital a few hours later and was biking within a month. Mostly normal since. Get 2nd opinions if you want, but this is easy surgery and generally effective.
Although many can tolerate it their entire lives, for me I have to avoid impact sports - I no longer jog or play basketball. Biking works for me and my ortho guy says it really helps stabilize my knee. My ortho guy says that if I can keep my weight down and avoid impact sports (I've given up jogging, basketball, skiing and dirt biking), there is a good chance I'll be able to avoid knee replacement. So I just road bike more.
- Mark
Surgery was no big deal, I walked out of the hospital a few hours later and was biking within a month. Mostly normal since. Get 2nd opinions if you want, but this is easy surgery and generally effective.
Although many can tolerate it their entire lives, for me I have to avoid impact sports - I no longer jog or play basketball. Biking works for me and my ortho guy says it really helps stabilize my knee. My ortho guy says that if I can keep my weight down and avoid impact sports (I've given up jogging, basketball, skiing and dirt biking), there is a good chance I'll be able to avoid knee replacement. So I just road bike more.
- Mark
Last edited by markjenn; 02-13-17 at 01:06 PM.
#7
Chases Dogs for Sport
Also to my surprise, leg extensions (lifting weight by straightening the knee) are absolutely forbidden. Doc told me never, ever to do another leg extension. They put a LOT of stress on the joint.
Last edited by FlashBazbo; 02-13-17 at 02:08 PM.
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squats and such
I absolutely agree with the partial weight bearing squats. - quad strength helps my knee feel better. I think that's why the cycling actually improved my pain as well... and the motion is good.
The avoidance of "open chain" exercises is correct for kneecap issue (pain or arthritis) - open chain exercises are those where your foot is NOT planted on a surface e.g. leg extensions and leg curls (and running) - and yes they are bad for kneecap issues.
squats and leg presses are "closed chain" - foot IS planted on a surface - and thus good for kneecap issues
open chain/closed chain doesn't specifically apply to issues in the main part of the joint FYI
(sorry, I should probably confess that I have a medical background)
Any thoughts on seat height? crank arm length? other bicycle modifications that would make a difference??
The avoidance of "open chain" exercises is correct for kneecap issue (pain or arthritis) - open chain exercises are those where your foot is NOT planted on a surface e.g. leg extensions and leg curls (and running) - and yes they are bad for kneecap issues.
squats and leg presses are "closed chain" - foot IS planted on a surface - and thus good for kneecap issues
open chain/closed chain doesn't specifically apply to issues in the main part of the joint FYI
(sorry, I should probably confess that I have a medical background)
Any thoughts on seat height? crank arm length? other bicycle modifications that would make a difference??
#9
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#10
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
Saw the ortho doc this morning and he suggested physical therapy for now and see how things go, said all he could do would be to remove the torn bits and he didn't think it was bad enough to warrant doing that right now. Gave me a shot of something in my knee to help with any swelling.
Got the physio scheduled for a few weeks and figure that worst case is I use it like a personal trainer and take full advantage. Best case is that it helps me deal with the knee and that the meniscus doesn't get worse. I fully plan on putting some miles on my bikes this year so game on. Hope I get a good physical therapist who also rides and runs and will help me get things sorted out in short order.
Got the physio scheduled for a few weeks and figure that worst case is I use it like a personal trainer and take full advantage. Best case is that it helps me deal with the knee and that the meniscus doesn't get worse. I fully plan on putting some miles on my bikes this year so game on. Hope I get a good physical therapist who also rides and runs and will help me get things sorted out in short order.
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be a good patient, good luck
#12
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Saw the ortho doc this morning and he suggested physical therapy for now and see how things go, said all he could do would be to remove the torn bits and he didn't think it was bad enough to warrant doing that right now. Gave me a shot of something in my knee to help with any swelling.
Got the physio scheduled for a few weeks and figure that worst case is I use it like a personal trainer and take full advantage. Best case is that it helps me deal with the knee and that the meniscus doesn't get worse. I fully plan on putting some miles on my bikes this year so game on. Hope I get a good physical therapist who also rides and runs and will help me get things sorted out in short order.
Got the physio scheduled for a few weeks and figure that worst case is I use it like a personal trainer and take full advantage. Best case is that it helps me deal with the knee and that the meniscus doesn't get worse. I fully plan on putting some miles on my bikes this year so game on. Hope I get a good physical therapist who also rides and runs and will help me get things sorted out in short order.
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#13
aka: Mike J.
Thread Starter
Yeah, that is kind of what the physical therapist implied, surgery may or may not make a difference as to my comfort in the future.
She said my hamstring was tight and gave me some stretching/strengthening exercises or routines to follow. Once she has the go-ahead from the assessment with the doctor and insurance people then there will be more options and things to do. So I'm just going to slowly ramp back up, limit a few things, do some stretching and strength things, and will plan to ride a whole bunch this year. I'm probably going to head over to a golf driving range today to test out my knee carefully and see how well it can handle my golf swing. And this weekend my wife is out of town so if the weather cooperates I will try to get out for a bicycle ride and see how that goes.
She said my hamstring was tight and gave me some stretching/strengthening exercises or routines to follow. Once she has the go-ahead from the assessment with the doctor and insurance people then there will be more options and things to do. So I'm just going to slowly ramp back up, limit a few things, do some stretching and strength things, and will plan to ride a whole bunch this year. I'm probably going to head over to a golf driving range today to test out my knee carefully and see how well it can handle my golf swing. And this weekend my wife is out of town so if the weather cooperates I will try to get out for a bicycle ride and see how that goes.
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Life happens, don't be a spectator.
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