Meniscus Tear

Went to my Dr. yesterday and based on his examination, he thinks I might has a tiny meniscus tear. He advised me to rest for another 2 weeks and if it is still bothering me, he will send me in for an MRI. Not working out is driving me crazy!! I go home after work and do nothing and I hate it!!

I started having symptoms mid December and iced it while continuing to work out. I just thought it was overuse. Then I rested while on Christmas break and aggrivated it on accident while carrying presents down the stairs on Christmas morning.

By the time I could get an appt, I decided not to exercise and it's feeling better except when I bend or kneel down.

Has anyone ever had one? How long until I can start working out again? And will it act up again?

I haven't worked out since 12/21. My typical workout is spin class 2x a week and I run 5 miles 3x a week.

Message edited 1/5/2010 2:31:38 PM.

Re: Meniscus Tear

Oh nooooooooooooooooo! I was wondering about you and if it was still bothering you or not! That stinks! I say keep resting it as much as possible.

My good friend and my father both had knee surgery but not sure what it was for again - I have to ask them. I think their recovery was 6 weeks or so.

How bad is the pain on a scale of 1-10.

Re: Meniscus Tear

Thanks Jenna!! :)

The pain only appears when exercising or like I mentioned bending or kneeling and then it's only like a 4. It's getting better, it was a 10 on Christmas. It makes me wonder if it's healing b/c I thought the Meniscus can't heal itself b/c of the lack of blood flow. I think I'm going to wait a week and get the MRI instead of 2.

Re: Meniscus Tear

My DH just had meniscus and ACL surgery in December, so I hope I can give you accurate info.

The way meniscus was described was like wet cardboard - so it can tear easily, but when it wears away - it's gone forever...it doesn't grow back. Because of that - I would think that you want the MRI now. The surgery is laproscopic, so recovery is not bad (DH also had ACL, which is extremely invasive...but he'll be fully recovered within 5 months)

Someone in my running club told me that he ran a marathon 11 weeks after his meniscus surgery...but he may not be the norm, since he was in great shape beforehand.


Let me know if you have other questions, DH has an appointment soon for a checkup, so he can ask his doctor. DH insisted on the best and found someone in Manhattan at the Hospital for Special Surgery (Richard Marx?) and I would recommend him. The way the team spoke about the surgery was great. "This is our favorite surgery" and "It went perfect" Granted that was ACL and meniscus.