scoping ....3rd time a charm?

[coldfeet]

Getting my right knee scoped again for the 3rd time since 1999...Excuse me for not knowing the exact language...

1999...1st time my leg was locked in the bent position for a week until they operated on it and told me it was a meniscus problem...

2002 or 2003.....right knee hurting again, MRI showed a partial tear, saw a different dr and he fixed it...


2005 had my left knee fixed because of torn meniscus, another different dr...he said I have arthritis (OA)

In 2 days having my right knee scoped again because of a meniscus tear, being done by the 3rd dr again...I wonder if the arthritis is munching away my meniscus?

I also wonder if hiking is making my knees worse....I'm only a novice and go maybe 2 times a month....6-8 mile day trips....elevation app 2000 - 3000 ft.....

I need to lose weight!....

[DeborahinNC]

Hi Coldfeet,

I feel your pain - literally.  My surgery is January 10th, the second for me in just over a year for another meniscal tear and maybe (I hope not) an LR.  I too have OA but its not a big surprise.  I'm 51 and have a very active job and my knees sometimes take the worse of it.  You should ask your OS about hiking but I would think it should not the problem.  I used to hike on the AT and since weight is an issue - that is the weight you carry not the weight you are - it seems its really no worse than a vigorous walk.  If you keep hiking maybe a walking stick would be of some help.  Good luck with the surgery - let me know how you do. 
Take care - Deborah

[coldfeet]

Hi Deb,

Hope yours goes well also...What's an LR?.....I just turned 46 and got bit by the hiking bug 3 years ago here in the NE.....I took my daughter and friends hiking on the AT  in NY the day after Thanksgiving....We've done it 2 years in a row and I hope it becomes a tradition....The pain in my knee confirmed the problem and we were only at the 1500ft elevation....I have used poles since day 1 and like my American Express card, will never leave home without them!....R u still hiking?....I've met some of the nicest people over the last 3 years in the hiking community, terrible thing about the guys on Hood...very sad.....will be away from computer for a few days..will check after operation...take care and happy holidays...David

[DeborahinNC]

Hi David,

How was the surgery?  Are you doing OK.  I've been thinking about you and wishing you the best.

Hope you had a good holiday.  LR is lateral release.  My kneecap doesn't track correctly and it is sometimes a way to pull it back into place.  From what I've read I'm not sure I'm a candidate for this and my OS isn't sure either until he gets into the knee to see for sure.  Mostly what I know is it will prolong my recovery.  I already double what my OS said for work (which was 6 weeks) so they know from the past surgery it can be up to 12 easily.  If he does an LR it will be longer. 

No, I decided on one of our hikes that "I hate hiking."  I did enjoy it for a while, hiked all the AT in North Carolina and some in Georgia.  And, for my honeymoon, we hiked the Grand Canyon - I really think that was the beginning of the end.  That one almost killed me.  But I still love the woods and like doing short day walks.

I hope you can continue to hike - you are right about meeting really nice people.  We had some great times in the shelters sharing stories and making new friends.

Let me know how your doing.

Deborah

[coldfeet]

Hi Deborah,

  Happy holidays to you and your family!....Day 2 since the surgery...much less swelling compared to the others...don't know the whole results because the dr had 3 more operations to do that day and I'll call him in a few days...I got to watch the operation on a monitor for the first time...looked like they were cleaning the fuzz off of a torn cottonball...that's all I could remember and then nighty night!.....Sunny and windy today here in NYC area...temps in low 50's...crazy winter weather!

I'm trying to diet but there is to much junk in my house..gotta get out but my knee needs more rest...

The Grand Canyon...wow...I had to bail out on a trip there  when I first got into hiking 3 years ago because I can't do the descent!...i'll climb up but not down...I'm thinking now about getting into kayaking and camping...well hope all gets better for you soon...i'll check out the site once in a while...happy new year...David

[DeborahinNC]

Hi David,

Glad your surgery went well.  Hope all the news from your OS is good.  I know, I'm in NC and it was rainy and 60s here yesterday.  We usually get ice and not much snow but this is really out of the ordinary.  I grew up in the midwest and miss my snow.  I have a rusting sled in my garage - sadness!!

Tis not the season to diet - might as well just enjoy and not worry about it until after all the holiday parties are over.  No sense making yourself carzy with this stuff.

I have two weeks until surgery - wishing I was on the healing end but will be soon enough.  I just wish I knew exactly what he was going to do but since there are no crystal balls I'll have to wait and find out when he's done.  Good thing I trust him. 

You and I would be perfect hiking partners - I hate the up and you hate the down - lol.  The canyon was a great hike but one that I would NEVER do again.  My husband and step-son said they wanted to hike it sometime.  I told them I'd hold the cabin at the top for them and wave as they left.  No more for me. 

Have a good and safe new year.  Look forward to hearing how your doing.  Deborah

[DeborahinNC]

Hi David,

Just checking to see if you're still around.  Hope all is going well and that you have healed and are out hiking again.  I know too soon but one can always hope.

Check back in sometime - Deborah