torn cartlige?

[kirby-faye]

i went for an mri scan on both knees a week ago, i was told today i have torn cartlige in my right knee, and the left, which i had LR, keeps swelling so im being reffered back to the surgeon!!

whats the deal with torn cartlige, can it be repaired, mt dr didnt really explain a lot to me!!

[vickster]

Presumably you mean the meniscus cartilage - the shock absorbers between the shin and thigh bones?  Sometimes tears can be repaired, depends on where they are, how big they are, how old you are and all sorts of other reasons.  Otherwise, the  damaged tissue is trimmed to a stable edge - called a menisectomy

Have a read of this   http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/node/2259

Good luck

[kirby-faye]

Thanks Vickster, i was just told it was torn cartilage, but then the dr didnt really tell me anything! i'll have a look at that now, thanks..

[RLE]

Not necessarily meniscus. The cartilage in my knee was torn off when I had my accident-under the patella. So yes, it could be torn in your knee.

[vickster]

Indeed it could be.  However, in the UK, a GP is more likely to use this term with patients to talk about the meniscus

Kirby-faye - be sure to get a proper explanation from the specialist

[kirby-faye]

thanks for the info.. its appreciated!
the gp is referring me back to the surgeon who did my LR, but to be honest he wasnt a nice man, very abrupt, rude and condesending, didnt seem interested in helping because im 38.. said there was nothing much more he could or would do and to come back in 10 years!!


anyway, i'll see what they say when i get my refferal

thanks again

[vickster]

Why not explain this to your gp and see if you can be referred to someone else. You have the choice to see someone else

[RLE]

thanks for the info.. its appreciated!
the gp is referring me back to the surgeon who did my LR, but to be honest he wasnt a nice man, very abrupt, rude and condesending, didnt seem interested in helping because im 38.. said there was nothing much more he could or would do and to come back in 10 years!!


anyway, i'll see what they say when i get my refferal

thanks again

An abrupt, rude, uninterested and condescending ortho surgeon? No way. I can't believe it.  Perhaps some people in your city can help with suggestions so you don't waste any more of your time or else give you a heads up on your referral surgeon. OS as a group are not warm fuzzies. And a lot of them are not very good. Not a nice combination.

[allyd]

OS as a group are not warm fuzzies. And a lot of them are not very good. Not a nice combination.

What a great blanket statement... 

[vickster]

Agreed!  I have seen 3 OSs over the last 3 years - 2 are great, fantastic, excellent, friendly, warm, funny, open, keen to explain etc.   

OK, the 3rd, I didn't really take to - probably as I had to see him on a referral from the other OS due to an awkward insurance company and it was extremely inconvenient to go there for appointments -  but he is an excellent surgeon, one of the best in the UK, there was nothing unpleasant about him and he didn't meet any of RLE's criteria   

[RLE]

OS as a group are not warm fuzzies. And a lot of them are not very good. Not a nice combination.

What a great blanket statement... 

A totally innocuous comment meant to break the tension of the original post.
Just based on all my experiences altogether including my original knee injury 10 years ago falling down stairs and breaking my foot twice (3 different surgeons) plus the 10 I saw for my current injury.
A total of 13, Two were warm fuzzies out of 13. Only one knew what he was doing. The very first one I ever saw 10 years ago for my knee did my mother's foot surgery and totally f***** it up.
I wonder how many people on here have seen 13 orthos.
I can only speak based on my extensive experience with them. Another friend's son had the "top" foot surgeon at USC (I won't name him) Also f***** up his foot completely. Constant pain like my mother. And a nasty attitude too.
A couple of people on here don't like what I write and constantly take issue with it. I write from my own experience. Ask Russ and a few others on here who've seen many surgeons their opinions on how good and warm they are.
Luckily I live in the US and have a PPO which allows me to travel anywhere in the country and get treated. By a sweetheart of a surgeon.

Edit: I forgot to add the two OS's I saw for my back pain-total p*****. So that's a grand total of 15. One completely dismissed me telling me there was nothing wrong, the other was Chinese and didn't speak English and told me so, his answer when I asked why I was in so much constant pain that by the end of the day my back goes into spasm, was "I can't explain you." Huh?
The doctor who I saw for my knee the first time and who f***** up my mom's foot explained the sacroiliac joints were inflamed hence the pain.

Again, 15 OS's and two were kind. I've seen pretty much every other kind of specialist and never experienced anything like I have with Orthos.

Some people on this board appear obssessed with me and my posts. They watch everything I write and feel the need to answer it. Weird. And sad.

[allyd]

RLE - your experience is just that... your experience. No one can take that from you or argue that. But to take that individual experience and apply it to general statements about the orthopedic community as a whole is a bit short sighted. It would be as foolish as me saying that every OS is great based on my sole experience. I know that's not true... even though the 2 OS's I've seen have been great.

[The KNEEguru]

This conversation is getting off track and not in the immediate interests of the original poster. Please rein back the interpersonal comments.

kirby-faye, this article is a good overview of the issues of the meniscus - http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/KNEEnotes/guest-contributors-drmr-ian-mcdermott/update-state-art-surgery-menisci-dr-ian-mcdermott