Meniscus :

Exercises to promote healing? - - Posted by Joanne8902 (Joanne8902), 20 February 2004

Does anyone know any exercises I can do to promote healing of the meniscus until I see the doctor?  Assuming the tear is in the outer portion and could heal on it's own?
Posted by scottrayden (scottrayden), 20 February 2004

The hard part about trying to force healing on the meniscus is you can't, There is little to no blood that flows through it that could promote healing. The only thing is really time.

One thing you should really focus on is keeping your Quad strong. Do quad flexing exersises leg lifts with your leg straight and so on.

Good luck with things

Scott
Posted by Val_M (Val_M), 21 February 2004

I don't understand how a meniscus can even hope to heal?  Once it's torn don't you just have to live with it or have the tear removed?

I really hope I'm wrong but if someone could fill me in on this that would be great.

Doing exercises helps to take preasure off the mensicus but they don't actually "heal" the meniscus do they?
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 22 February 2004

Depending on the size and location of the tear there is a small chance of healing generally the smaller the tear, the better.  Also the outer rim of the meniscus has a blood supply as compared to the inner sections.  Normally a repair will be attempted when it is in the outer third of the meniscus otherwise the tear will be simply removed.  

In terms of exercise, it can be quite beneifical to general healing.  It creates a pumping action within the knee capsule which circulated the synovial fluid.  Synovial fluid provides nutrients to structures.
Posted by mod (Mod3073), 22 February 2004

Hello
Try doing your excercises in the pool and doing some gentle running actions in deep water its non impact but because it gets the blood flowing it stimulates healing.
Mod
Posted by corsa (corsa), 4 March 2004

How about exercises for post arthroscopy for medial meniscus tear surgery 2 months ago and end of PT 2 weeks ago?  Anything !  Am back to light jogging which feels fine.  If I walk it's not fine.  I find babying my knee helps a lot.  I realize it will never be perfect again, and can accept that.  Pain I don't like...
Posted by Beauzer (Beauzer), 4 March 2004

Have you tried lower impact stuff like biking or elliptical training?  I find it a lot less uncomfortable (as I am missing most of my menisci and articular cartilage)


Posted by corsa (corsa), 5 March 2004

I know those two work well.  Unfortunately, I don't belong to a gym at the moment.  I'm going back to school (I'm 43!) starting this summer (shooting for a physical therapy degree hopefully).  I want to get involved in sports fitness field somewhere, since I'm such a health nut.  I will be able to use the gym there, but won't be until summer...I've been running since I was 10 years old before it was even a big deal 30+ years is definitely a hard habit to break.  I am going to try and make myself bike.  I know I'll have to.  I just don't want to give it up completely....I LOVE running...It's the ONLY thing I've been consistent with in my life...thanks for your response
Posted by corsa (corsa), 5 March 2004

PS:  I've the same desire as you with the dog.  Mine's great!  We used to run together, but have slacked off since my injury, as he's an excitable sort...
Posted by unsurewhattodo (unsurewhattodo), 14 March 2004

Hi Corsa,

How is your recovery going? Your profile sounds similar to mine. I'm a 51 year old avid runner who is contemplating some meniscus surgery. I'll be seeing another orthopedist this week to get another opinion.  After reading on this chat board all the negative responses after surgery, I'm becoming more and more hesitant every day about any arthroscopy work.

What's been your experience and what have you heard from others?

Thanks for your time and consideration.

Best of luck for a speedy recovery.

Unsurewhattodo
Posted by corsa (corsa), 14 March 2004

Hi unsurewhattodo.  I'm coming along much better.  I'm walk/jogging. 1/4 walk, 1 mile jog, 1/4 walk, 1 mile jog.  Uhm ya know, I finally figured out the best way to recover for me is pretty much what everyone has been saying, but I realized that part of my problem was not doing the strengthening exercises provided by PT as well.  While I took a week off to recover, I did the previous PT exercises and was able to get right back to 1/4, and 1.  It's moody and I know it always will be, but at least it dosen't hurt anymore, just occasional stabs, but it's not bad.  Keep plugging, but be careful.  It'll take time (which of course as runners we mentally have problems with holding back! Let me know how it goes...
Posted by unsurewhattodo (unsurewhattodo), 14 March 2004

Corsa,

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear you're back to running. I'm still not sure if I'll go ahead and try to have the repair done with hopes of going back to running or just be content using an elliptical trainer or stationary bike--not risking potential negative consequences from the surgery.

Good luck,

Unsurewhattodo

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