Knee surgery recovery?

COLOelkman · Jun 17, 2012

Not sure where to post this but since my concern is for elk hunting here goes. I'm needing to get my knee scoped relatively soon. I had one done maybe 15 yrs ago but don't remember how long it took to "fully" recover. I was planning on bow hunting this yr in CO and the surgery is not set yet. I realize the sooner the better but I have a few other obstacles on my schedule that I'm trying to work around. So does anyone have experience in this and how long do you think I'd need assuming of course I hit the PT as hard as I can afterwords. I'm not planning a heavy duty solo pack in or anything like that but I usually do get back in 4 miles or so and maybe 2000 ft elev. if I'm back to normal.

ishootaRUM300 · Jun 17, 2012

I woud say you are going to need to 6 weeks and at that I am guessing you are not going to 100% until next year. You are going to be betteroff fully recovering then screwing up your knee even worse then it already is.

ELKLOVER · Jun 17, 2012

I just had a lateral release and scope on both knees. My right knee was first and the left knee was 2 months later. I had my right done in March and it is just now kind of feeling pretty good. That's almost 3 1/2 months. I lived by my physical therapy too. The left knee was done the first of May and it's still a little shaky and weak. It's only been 6 weeks. I expect by the first of July it should feel pretty good. I have in the last couple weeks gone on 3 shed hunting trips and hiked about 4-6 miles each time. Overall it felt pretty good. The only thing that keeps bothering me is the deep squatting motion or steep up and down hills. So, I'm guessing total recovery for me, and I'm in pretty good shape, will be 3 to 3 1/2 months per knee. So by bow season I should be good to go. If you are just getting the scope I would guess the recovery to be a bit shorter if you do your therapy. Not sure if that helps, but I hope so and good luck.

mmwb · Jun 17, 2012

Your doctor is best qualified to say and it does depend on the nature of the work done. I would expect 5 to 6 months for a full recover as a minimum. May be longer.

stumpjumper · Jun 17, 2012

I would suggest you take a year off. I'm talking about the guys I know that just went through knee replacement and a scraping of the knee. One is still off of work since the end of Feb. Not faking it, just not healing right. The other had one knee replaced in Aug. and the other micro'ed in Jan. and is ok uphill but all kinds of pain downhill. If you're young enough, wait and heal up totally before over doing any surgery. Tomorrow is a new day.
Ray

utahbigbull · Jun 17, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Jun-17-12 AT 10:21PM (MST)[p]Depends on what they are fix'n. I just had my right knee scoped, but all the doc needed to do was to clean up some shredded cartlidge on the back of the knee cap and the end of my femur to get all the floaties out of the joint. I had it done Feb. 28th and by the end of April, I put 16 miles on it hiking for sheds with some steep incline and side hills and was a little sore after but nothing too bad. It is still feeling better every month but was amazed at how quick I was ready to go again. If you are getting a miniscus fixed, I would plan on a longer recovery.

cmbbulldog · Jun 17, 2012

FOr just a scope, you should be fine. Get it scheduled and done by the first of July, and you have 2 1/2 months until the middle of September. Plenty of time if you rehab properly. I would line up someone to pack out an animal if I got one down though.

HorseCreek · Jun 17, 2012

When I had mine scoped, I walked out of the hospital and was back to work (construction then) within a week. If it's just a scope you should be fine. There's always the chance of something more once they have a look inside. Good luck!

Traditional >>>------->

littlebuck2 · Jun 18, 2012

I am about the same as bigbull. I had mine done the 27th of Feb and it was mainly some clean out with the scope. It was stiff and sore for about a month not being able to do anything but walking slow. May 22nd I was cleared by my doctor for running, hiking, sports, etc. It still feels a little wierd to kneel on and sometimes gets a little stiff and sore after working it hard. I still feel a little discomfort when bending it when sitting in like an indian style position for shooting. The doctor said it takes aboout six months for a total recovery and to be pain free from a scope. I did a four mile hike the other day and did just fine with a little soreness the next day but very minimal.

GOutes · Jun 18, 2012

As said above, it depends on what they do. If you are over 30, the MD will probably just scope it and perform what's called a menisectomy and/or clean up the frayed cartilage. Lateral release procedures are done if you have a patella/knee cap, that is subluxating or popping in and out. These take longer to recover from.

Patients all react differently to knee scopes. Some people feel 80-90 percent in 4-6 weeks. Others can take almost 3 months, especially if there is cartilage damage. PM me and I can give you some more info and if you don't have a physician, I can give you some names.

Good luck!

kidoelk777 · Jun 18, 2012

Had a knee cap fracture which is similar to your surgery. I would do it after your elk hunt because recovery time is 6 months minimum. You don't want to screw it up even more for your elk hunt.
Good luck.

justr_86 · Jun 18, 2012

Had mine done in february, torn meniscus and trim some amniotic tendons around my knee cap.. I'm still not back to normal, I cant jump out of the back of my truck without it hurting.. coming down stairs still hurts etc. As long as I'm still careful I dont have much problem but definitely going to be a factor this fall during the hunt.. It is better than it was before the surgery though!

tlake · Jun 18, 2012

I had my meniscus repaired May 4th. I took all of my doctors advise. Don't do anything for the 1st 72 hours(my Doc said I would not feel pain for the 1st 48 to 72 hours. The knee pain started in 66 hours0. Basically he said don't push it, keep it iced the first week and when ever it hurts or aches. After 5 weeks I am back into hiking 8 miles with a 3500' elevation gain. Good luck.

hank4elk · Jun 18, 2012

I've had both knees scoped. Muscial Meniscus? One right after hunting season and one a 6 weeks before. I packed out a buck down 3000' in the Sierras and my knee was killing me til I had it scoped. Then it was a sore 8 wks before I felt OK on it. The second scoping was just before a deer hunt in same area,but I kept it within a few miles of the truck and was able to drag a nice 3x3 back to it. All smiles when I was going into scoping and walked out of hospital and 6 wks later was back at work. No problems since and they don't crack when I kneel down now. They feel better than they had in many years.

kingfish · Jun 18, 2012

If it's just a clean up on your cartledge give it 6 weeks. I have had both done and that's about the minimum. As soon as you can start working your quads. The stronger your quads the better for your knees. Not squats? sit and do leg presses if possible until you feel no pain and then maybe light squats...

Government doesn't fix anything and has spent trillions proving it!!!
Let's face it...After Monday and Tuesday, even the calender says WTF!

legacy · Jun 18, 2012

Have any of you guys had problems with a Bakers Cyst? I understand that they are usually a product of other knee problems. I am dealing with one now and have had knee problems for a few years now. Just curious what you did to resolve it.

ELKLOVER · Jun 18, 2012

I had one.....lots of ice and massaging it once or twice an hour. Took about a month to get rid of it.

legacy · Jun 18, 2012

>I had one.....lots of ice and
>massaging it once or twice
>an hour. Took about
>a month to get rid
>of it.

Thanks, I will try that. I haven't been doing anything with it and hasn't gone away. I've had it for a while.

COLOelkman · Jun 18, 2012

Thanks for the reply guys. Sounds like many have had more significant problems than mine is. My problem is a lateral tear of the meniscus (they think) that happened about 6 months ago so I'm not sure if there'll be much fraying yet. I can do most normal things without any pain or discomfort whatsoever other than it does have excess fluid that won't go away so it can get a bit of stiffness or mild pain if I sit at the desk too long. The problem comes in torquing or twisting action as I think that could hurt alot....like slipping on loose rocks or similar. I'm 58 but stay in fairly good shape and typically carry out meat around 100 lbs but that might have to change this year. I often do hunt by myself which might create a problem if I get anything. Depending on some obstacles in my schedule, I'm thinking about delaying the surgery until after a mid-Oct. cow hunt and blow off my 3rd season deer hunt as it's more of a token hunt. So I'd either have to have it done around June 28-July 3rd or probably try to delay it till after mid Oct. So given that if I had it in early July, hit the PT hard, I'm trying to get a feel if I'd be ready by the last week in Aug. I do have until the end of Sept but I had been saving up some time off to take up to 2 weeks off so I don't want to blow it and not be ready. Worst case is not be ready to bow hunt and just get an OTC bull tag in Nov. The doc said 4 weeks but I'm not sure he's familiar with hunting hard for 5 or 6 straight days. That can be challenging when I'm fully healthy!

GOutes · Jun 18, 2012

If your 58, they will not repair the meniscus, they will trim out the torn portion (menisectomy). That's better for recovery any way, much quicker. If it doesn't bug you too much, you may want to wait. But if squatting or sitting in a seated position for long periods of time are unbearable, you may want to get it done.

In the end, it's tough to put a timeline on your recovery, because the outcome will depend on what he diagnosis once your doctor gets in there.

Just remember,.surgery is truly that, SURGERY....... and Knee scopes can be painful

I have been in a few cases where a simple knee scope turned into a much bigger procedure.

theox · Jun 19, 2012

i had knee surgery a couple months before my moose hunt. IT was fairly minor, but they went in with a scope and cut off part oif my torn miniscus it was tender for a couple weeks but never effected me for too long

sled_guy · Jun 20, 2012

theox, good info... I just had mine diagnosed yesterday. Torn meniscus. Doctor will fix it next week. He says 1 week of tenderness, 3 weeks of therapy and then have at it. Said I should be golden by Sept for hunting.

sled_guy

waspocrew · Jun 20, 2012

I would get it fixed asap and not risk further injury. As stated earlier, recovery time is different for each patient, but it's not uncommon to be back in business 5 or 6 weeks out. Don't push it too hard and I'm sure you'd be ok.

I've been shadowing an orthopaedic surgeon in Cache Valley this summer and I asked him about your situation. He thinks you'll have plenty of hunting this fall if you get it taken care of soon. Good luck with the procedure!

TheKnack · Jun 20, 2012

Once I took a MM member on an elk hunt that needed a little help after surgery about 11 years ago.
He had a hard time and had to leave after 1-day due to the pain, even after taking him to a very easy access area that would give him a chance at an elk.
He had the will and drive to try but his knee was not able to handle the short hike.
He apologized but really did not need to as I admired his will and determination to do what we all love.

I myself had knee surgery in the Marines and am considered 10% disabled, but it still has not stopped me from getting in the hills doing what i love to do....This is while knowing full well sometime in the hopefully distant future, i will be visiting another surgeon to repair the damage from continuing my desire to hike away from the crowds.

I figure the sooner you get it done the better your chances are of getting back to being closer to 100%. Definitely try and hunt with a partner if you get the surgery and do not feel its strong enough to get around by yourself.
Best of luck to you on your hunts.
Jerry

theox · Jun 21, 2012

sled, yeah if you surgery is similar too mine then you will be just fine come august/september. like i said it was tender for a couple weeks but i managed to deer hunt and moose hunt within like 6 -8 weeks of the surgery. it just all depends on the exact surgery. my step dad his acl completely replaced and he was only real easy on it for a couple weeks to a month. heck when you get a full knee replacement they have you up and walkin on it that day! within a couple months your doing pretty good.

I have the same prob i can feel that my miniscus is starting to get torn again. starting to have same symptoms as last time just not as bad. I know all my hiking will have me back in the dr someday in the next 10 years, but im not gonna let it slow me down. this is what i love and i will do it til i cant

COLOelkman · Jun 21, 2012

I just found out the earliest I can do it will not be until around Aug. 1. So I'd guess I might not be able to bow hunt by the 25th but perhaps by mid Sept. So I'll have to play it day to day and likely not buy a bow tag until I know I can hunt. Then if I have limited time, I might have to pass on the bow and just shoot for a late bull tag and join the sea of orange. Although I'm fortunate to live in a State with this many options where at least I can hunt this year!

sled_guy · Jun 22, 2012

I'm going in at 1:30 today for the MRI so my doctor can give me the schedule on getting it fixed. Maybe I'll be lucky and the MRI will show nothing but a bruise.

sled_guy

COLOelkman · Jun 22, 2012

Hope all went well for you today sledguy! Let us know what they had to do and I'd like to hear how your recovery is going!

sled_guy · Jun 27, 2012

Ok, got the MRI on Friday, doctor called me yesterday. I have a partially torn MCL. Not bad enough for surgery, says it should be well healed in 4-6 weeks and I can use it. "Let the pain be your guide and in 4 weeks or so start using it".

MRI also revealed an old injury of a partially torn ACL, but I don't ever remember hurting that knee and its never bothered me. Doctor said that isn't uncommon and that if it didn't bother me before it won't bother me in the future.

So all in all I guess its good I don't have to have any scoping done. Doctor said if it wasn't markedly better in 3-4 weeks then we would re-evaluate.

I know it still hurts like a son of a gun right now.

sled_guy

mmwb · Jun 27, 2012

Did he recommend physical therapy? Generally it helps catalyze the healing and strengthens the ligaments and muscles to decrease the odds of further injury.

sled_guy · Jun 28, 2012

Haven't gotten that far... he wants me to let the pain dictate what I can do for 3-4 weeks then we will re-evaluate.

sled_guy

BrowningRage · Jun 28, 2012

The scope will offer you a relatively fast recovery. You should be good to go this fall.

Surgery is a different beast. I had my ACL surgery in 2002. While everyone talks about "getting back at it" within so many weeks or whatever, I hit the PT hard, continued on my own after all my visitis were up with the professional, but I did not go back to playing sports for 9 months. This was a personal choice. I did not want to risk re-injury. When I did go back to playing soccer, it had become my stronger knee I believe.

Admittedly, the fall after my surgery, about 5 months out, I did rifle deer hunt, and I did do a lot of hiking. I was very careful, and took it slow. My leg was weaker also.

Good luck to you and I hope everything turns out well.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24

feddoc · Jun 29, 2012

>I just found out the earliest
>I can do it will
>not be until around Aug.
>1. So I'd guess
>I might not be able
>to bow hunt by the
>25th but perhaps by mid
>Sept. So I'll have
>to play it day to
>day and likely not buy
>a bow tag until I
>know I can hunt.
>Then if I have limited
>time, I might have to
>pass on the bow and
>just shoot for a late
>bull tag and join the
>sea of orange. Although
>I'm fortunate to live in
>a State with this many
>options where at least I
>can hunt this year!

I had a partial menisectomy when I was 45 and went on a rifle elk hunt three months later without an issue at all. I was also in very good shape at the time. Had a complete menisectomy on the same knee the following year. Still went on a rifle elk hunt two months later with a few compensations, but not enough to deter me from hunting almost like I wanted...althought I had to move a bit slower and not push myself as hard.

WRT recovery time, there are lots of factors...age, physical condition, degree of damage repaired, desire, willingness to do things a little differently. Each time I have had a surgery ... ankle, ankle, knee, knee, knee, back, neck, kidney stones, gall bladder... My first concern to the doc was: "will I be able to hunt elk in the fall" anything else was secondary. The only time I had to compromise was 14 years ago when I hunted on crutches.