Meniscus :
Help- 7 weeks post op pain Meniscusectomy - - Posted by hr (hr), 4 October 2004
Hello,
I had 70 percent of my meniscus removed 7 weeks ago. (on inside of knee area), and my OS told me by the 4th week I would be back on the tennis court hitting ground strokes, and by the 6th week, playing games.
I am not even able to go down stairs but can go up stairs with much difficultly. I am having constant pain on the inside area of knee where meniscus was removed, and also at the knee cap. This is very painful 24/7. I am getting very worried that this is not healing!!
I saw the OS over a week and a half ago because of my concerns, and he said I am a slow healer and put me on 14 days of Viox. I finished that RX, and still have no improvement win regard to pain or walking. ( hurts like heck on ball of foot) He said that I should see him again, 3 weeks from last visit and he would give me a cortisone injection.
(Before surgery, I worked out at gym, did spin classes and tennis. I even did very specific knee exercises, knowing I was going into surgery and was trying to get knee into best possible strength and condition for surgery.)
My question is this: has any one else had experience with pain this far out from surgery? Did you get cortisone shots? Did it help? Would you recommend waiting before getting shots? Is this healing normal for this to take so long? What should I expect at this point. My doctor is assuring me that all is normal and it will just take more time, but I see very little improvement in regards to pain. Still have swelling above knee cap too.
I also can not extend leg out all the way without a lot of pain. (straightening leg) I am going to physical theraphy 3 times a week and have done so right from the beginning.
Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Great site.
thanks
Posted by dm (dm), 5 October 2004
Since you had so much meniscus removed, you are probably in a boat similar to mine. I have about 25% of my medial meniscus left, medial being inside of knee.
One thing you will probably find is that your knee will probably be subject to some degree of joint space collapse because most of the meniscus is missing. This changes the angles of the long bones in relation to one another, kind of like a hinge sagging to one side.
Ask your OS about weight bearing knee xrays, to evaluate joint space. This kind of xray is where you're standing with weight equally distributed on both legs, and they take the xray with you standing there.
If you're showing joint space collapse on your xrays, you might want to try an unloader brace, if your pain is only on the one side. What this kind of brace does is to shift some of the weight from the inside to the outside of the knee, where the meniscus is (presumably) intact.
this kind of brace has relieved about half to 3/4 of the pain I experience when not wearing it. It might take some of the strain off so the irritated parts in there can heal. I have had standing xrays done 6 months apart, and my doc tells me there's little change in my xrays, so the unloader is doing its job for me and slowing down the rate of arthritic changes. I've got bone spurs, but they're not bad yet. You can see my xrays on my web site www.geocities.com/heartland/park/6825. I posted them there, because the files are kinda big. The pictures were taken approx 18 mos after i had my second partial meniscectomy, which left me with what little meniscus I have left. Xrays are right knee, damage is medial or inside. Feel free to IM me with comments, if you want to.
it's also important to do the rehab, to get the muscles back up to strength. Stationary bike riding is good, I prefer the recumbent variety though, as it causes a lot less discomfort than the upright variety does, for me anyway.
You might try a glucosamine supplement, i hear they take a few weeks before you feel any change, but can help . I havent done this, so I can't offer a personal opinion with it.
Posted by igor (igor), 6 October 2004
9 weeks after 50% interior removed on my right
I don't experience pain as severe as yours, but its definitely not completely gone yet. I have aching in my knee after I work out my legs and occasionally, short flashes of pain when i twist the knee too much
I don't think playing tennis at week 4 was a realistic estimate in the first place... keep fighting!
igor
Posted by hr (hr), 6 October 2004
Thanks for encouragement. I am going to see an acupuncturist today, and hope that before my scheduled visit next weds. at the OS for a cortisone shot, that I will have gotten some relief from the pain, and can cancel cortisone shot which I really do not want!!
Has any one had pain on the ball of their foot, same side as knee was operated on? I am experiencing so much pain, that I can't even walk now. I asked nurse about brace, and she said that wasn't realistic to wear all day long...so now what?
When should I expect to be able to walk down stairs ? All I get from doctor is that I am a slow healer...that does not give me much to cling to. Feel very discouraged and some days like crying from this pain...it is worse than before surgery. At least then, I could walk and go down steps without any problem, just couldn't play tennis. I'd go back in time if I knew it would be like this...
Getting really scared I won't heal. any thoughts from any one who has been in this situation
Posted by dm (dm), 7 October 2004
Hah! tell her about me! I live in a G2 unloader brace. It goes on about 545 am and doesn't come off until at least 6 pm, often later.
I have 3/4 of my medial meniscus removed, with the remaining portion in the anterior section of the knee, and a rim in the back (which doesn't do squat for bone ends)
If you look at the xray, you can see the joint collapse. 
You can see that the medial (in this picture the left) side has less space between the bones and the condyles (bone ends) are already deforming from bone spurs.
If you want to try an unloader, you will most likely have to discuss it with the os directly, not the nurse. Heck, even if you only wore it half days, if you get pain relief from it, why not? I'm going to do whatever I can to minimize the rate of increase in damage to my now unprotected bone ends. I wouldn't blame you if you felt the same way.
Posted by kythreas1 (kythreas1), 7 January 2005
Hi I have sent you a private email regarding your and my similar cases but will write her also for others to see in case we get wiser.
I aslo had a routine medial menisectomy 30% med meniscus removed 13 weeks ago by prominent OS at a London top private knee clinic.
I am having a lot of pain where I was relatively asymptomatic prior to op but was allured in to an op(foolish me despite being a doctor myself!)
I get apins at medial menisectomy sight where I feel a nasty "pull" but my debilitating pain is all around the knee joint particularly in the back.This prevents me from doing anything I want to chop the whole leg off. I have tried antinflam, Hyalouronic acid injections much physio(extremely determined daily) and two days ago a cortisone injection. Alleluya the nasty pain has eased off although thia may be largely in my head we shall see.
How are you with your pain 3/12 post menisectomy and how has cortisone acted. I think we must both hold back from surgery for another month or two.Hopefuly....
Philip
Posted by dallywags (dallywags), 11 January 2005
Hi Dallywags here. Wanted to know how you are doing now? I read your post and it's similar to mine. I'm only 2 weeks out but I have less than 10% ROM.I can't straighten or bend. It's killing me mentally and physically already (I'm 3 months on my butt with the pain) Feel like I''m going backwards or sideways maybe, but not forwards.
May I ask how you did yours?
I hope that you have had some successes by now. I'm hoping you may help to shed some light on my problem. Same, over the knee cap pain. The bottomside is okay now, but the top is not. My leg is stuck in one position pretty much. It's really not good for much at all right now...
Thanks if you can shed any light.
Wishing you a very healing 2005 .
Dallywags
Updated Mon Oct 13 2008