The knee thread

BeanMan

Long Time Member
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I’ve been having significant knee pain since elk season, enough to keep me from skiing or riding my bike. I had an MRI last week and got the results back today. I’ve got a torn medial meniscus and significant degeneration. I’m meeting with a specialist soon and to be honest I am terrified that my days of backpack hunting and all around physical activity are numbered. It’s a major part of my life. I’m 61 and terrified, any experience with this knee trouble and how have you dealt with it?
 
Meniscus tears are pretty easy to repair via arthroscopic surgery.
Father time and general wear and tear does take it's toll on the knees. My backpack limit is 40 lbs., due to leg and back issues. Anyone 60 and older needs to be careful with heavy duty activity!
 
Modern medicine (surgery) is beyond belief. Everyone I've ever spoken to that had replacement surgery regretted not doing it years earlier. Yours is a repair. Find the best doc for your procedure in 500 miles and do it. He'll likely have done several a day for years and have the ability to do it in his sleep no matter what he finds once he gets inside. Good luck hasbean!
 
A medial meniscus repair is pretty simple. To see it in person is pretty darn awesome and interesting at the same time. While the patient is always good and liquored up for the procedure, it could be a bit terrifying to watch what the doc does to your knee in order to insert instruments. I got to scrub up for a couple, but did not touch the patient. It is a fairly quick surgery. My fake knee had two repairs done and each one was pretty easy to recover from. However, I was 43 and 53, respectively, for each surgery.

You mention 'significant degeneration'...of what (part of the knee)? I'm gonna assume/hope there is no bone on bone contact.
 
Beanman in our day remember when they did this operation they would cut a great big U on your knee to fix it and you were out for months. Now that it is Orthoscopic is it way easier and faster recovery. I believe you will be better than before as the pain will subside and you will hike like the young days...LOL Good luck I have had three surgeries since the pandemic no one likes going under the knife but now that it is done I am happy as there is no more pain.
 
Bean Man I’m going through same problem at 62, after hunting this fall my knee never recovered and has been giving me problems. Torn meniscus, no acl, and now it bothers me all the time. I’ve always been a big hiker, I also feel very limited, I guess the time has come for repairs, if I can find time!
 
Beanman I blew my meniscus apart riding snow machines about 10 years ago. They took out 60% of my meniscus. I walked out of the hospital a couple hours after surgery and I’ve never looked back. I believe the key is to try to stay active and try to keep those leg muscles working. Good luck.
 
There must be different meniscus surgeries. My hunting buddy had his surgery mid Feb. P.T. says absolutely non weight bearing till April 1st. I think his was a reattachment. He wanted to go to a 3D shoot in June and the P.T. did not think he would enjoy walking down hill just yet.
 
Different doctors different views and expectations for recovery. I had 3 knee surgeries before I finally had a replacement done ( bone on bone) and that was when I was 43 I think. I’m now 65 and it’s still doing great with that knee. But make sure you rehab like crazy or it will be all for not, whether it’s for just surgery or replacement.
My advice would be to find a specialist who not only is a great surgeon but who is also active in hiking, sports or hunting. They will be more aggressive as far as rehab goes because they know it makes not only the surgery outcome better, but the longevity of the procedure. That’s what I did last time, and again last year when I had to get an ankle replacement on the opposite leg. It’s turned out great also.
Back to normal as far as the legs go, now if they could fix my back I would fill like I’m 20 years younger. ?.
Good luck with whatever procedure you need or decide on.
 
Hawkbill and Beanman, I hope everything works out for you.

I have been having problems with my back and there have been long lead times to see a doctor. Two months to see an orthopedic guy. Another month and a half to get an MRI. Two weeks for follow up visit and now two more months to see a specialist.

Going to take three weeks to get into physical therapy. I've been told that when everything shut down for two months last spring all the treatment got behind since knees, hips and backs weren't essential surgeries and now everything is backed up. I don't know if that's correct.
 

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