What's mean recovery time from partial meniscectomy?

[pmorgan]

Hi all,

My question is to both specialists and patients. I would like to know the mean time to get back to normal activities and to be able to use the leg for everyday activities - exclude skiing and running over 5k.

I have a degenerative tear in the posterior horn of lateral meniscus.

What are the chances of returning to normal lifestyle in a month?

Thank you

[Vickster]

I was off work for 3 weeks, still using crutches occasionally at a month around the office.  No driving for 3 weeks (left leg).  I think I was probably back in the gym a month after that and cycling a few miles.

I can't run so can't help you on that one!  But I'd say 3 months might be realistic to start running a bit

Depends how you define normal.  At a month, you'll likely still have some pain and swelling, depending on how much meniscus is removed (I had about 20% removed, also posterior horn I believe), and whether anything else is tidied

I don't think there are any specialists on this site - you'd be best to talk to your own surgeon and physio (it's important to be doing physio asap)

You could have a look through the meniscus and diary sections to see if any one has shared their experiences, although forums tend to have more than their fair share of stories of less good outcomes

Good luck

[troy89]

Hi,

I had a partial meniscectomy for a tear of the posterior horn of my medial meniscus. I was off crutches after six days, to walk completely normal ie up and down stairs took two weeks. I still had swelling in the knee up to four weeks which was the main thing limiting my rom and activity. I don't do any distance running so I can't comment on how long that would take to return to. I started cycling on a static bike in the third week and playing light football in the fourth week, by eight weeks I was playing my first football match (although not highly competitive). This was with very little rehab (as soon as I returned to work I had no time!) so with a good physio and rehab programme light physical activities within a month is definitely realistic. But all depends how long the surgery is, how much they remove etc. A top tip would be to keep the knee moving as soon as possible as much as you can and massage the incisions (when not painful and stitches out) to reduce scar tissue build up as this slowed my progress down a bit.

Best wishes for your surgery

[Vickster]

I would say age is quite a major factor too...how old are you? 

There's also a difference often between the lateral and medial meniscus in terms of the biomechanics in the knee.  The meniscus primer is a good read on this I think

I also had chondroplasty and a tidy up (not to mention the defect in my femur to contend with, although no drilling required).  Plus my knee had been locked for 5 months, so took a while to get used to it being straight!!

[Kaputt_Knee]

I had a lateral meniscus trim when I was 54 and was back skiing 3 weeks later. My surgeon asked me not to return to teaching skiing for 6 weeks as I would then be unable to rest when I felt I needed it. I resumed ski instructing about 6 weeks later. My surgeon is still the team orthopod for the German Olympic ski association, so he is used to working with some fairly hard-nosed, impatient world class skiers! 

A lot depends on your surgeon's preferred protocol as well as how much of the meniscus is removed (if at all as some prefer to attempt a repair if it is at all feasible). Another factor is your tolerance of pain (high, you return to activities earlier, low and you stay on crutches for yonks). I don't think age per se is a factor, more lifestyle - I know plenty of locals here who are fitter in their 70s and 80s than many in their 30s and 40s.

All things being equal, if it is just an isolated trim, getting mobile as soon as possible and reducing the post-op swellings as quickly as possible should be your highest priorities. Whether you are passively or actively mobile (non-weight bearing or fully weight-bearing), depends on your surgeon to be honest.