Torn meniscus

[magictodo]

Hi, I'm looking for advice and experiences from others who have had a torn meniscus.

I'm a 33-year-old ice dancer with a torn left interior meniscus. I've already started PT and have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon in two weeks. It's the waiting that's driving me crazy -- I want to know now just how bad it is and the recovery time. My physical therapist thinks I'll need surgery based on the amount of clicking, locking and instability I'm experiencing, plus pain on the side of the kneecap by the end of the day.

I'm really struggling right now -- worried I've done permanent damage to my knee and if I'll be able to get back to normal on the ice. Any thoughts from someone who's been through it before would be great!

 

[skatemomoftwo]

Hi, I'm looking for advice and experiences from others who have had a torn meniscus.

I'm a 33-year-old ice dancer with a torn left interior meniscus. I've already started PT and have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon in two weeks. It's the waiting that's driving me crazy -- I want to know now just how bad it is and the recovery time. My physical therapist thinks I'll need surgery based on the amount of clicking, locking and instability I'm experiencing, plus pain on the side of the kneecap by the end of the day.

I'm really struggling right now -- worried I've done permanent damage to my knee and if I'll be able to get back to normal on the ice. Any thoughts from someone who's been through it before would be great!

I cant help you with knee but my daughter had a torn labrum in her hip and was back on the ice at 6 weeks and competed at 10 weeks. Hips take longer to rehab from, since you have more muscles they cut through to get to labrum. She pushed herself to rehab so she could go to regionals but I would guess you could be back 3 or 4 months. She is seeing her doc on Monday so she can have otherside done before her season starts. Good luck!

 

[Biddy]

I tore the meniscus in my right knee when I was 14 while skating. I had scope done on it not too long after as it was really painful to walk on.

The surgery itself was quick with only two tiny holes left over - probably 1-2 stitches each if I remember correctly!
I had to wear a full leg brace for a little while along with crutches, but I was out of that shortly there after.

I guess the only 'scary' part about recovering was when I would take my brace off to lightly bend and extend my knee, I would hear and feel all this gargling and bubbles moving around the swollen joint. It didn't hurt what so ever, but the first couple times came as a surprise!

Permanent damage? Not likely... It only takes a little rip for your knee to feel like it's completely blown out. They'll cut that little piece off and yo'll back back at it in no time. Just remember to take it easy and strengthen your supporting muscles. The meniscus doesn't grow back and it's only so wide.

 

[hanca]

I cant help you with knee but my daughter had a torn labrum in her hip and was back on the ice at 6 weeks and competed at 10 weeks. Hips take longer to rehab from, since you have more muscles they cut through to get to labrum. She pushed herself to rehab so she could go to regionals but I would guess you could be back 3 or 4 months. She is seeing her doc on Monday so she can have otherside done before her season starts. Good luck!

I am sorry but I struggle to believe that your daugher was able to skate at week six. I have had two operations on meniscuss (one on each knee) and one on my hip (labral tear). While the meniscuss surgeries were pretty minor, back on the ice about at week ten, the hip was much bigger surgery. The problem with the hip surgery is that during the hip surgery they have to pull the hip out of the hip socket. The hip have never felt exactly the same afterwards and is now more prone to dislocation. You can see the same problem with Alissa Czisny- she had this surgery and then disclocated her hip on her first competition after her return! There were quite a few skaters for whom labral tear was career ending injury.

 

[hanca]

Permanent damage? Not likely... It only takes a little rip for your knee to feel like it's completely blown out. They'll cut that little piece off and yo'll back back at it in no time. Just remember to take it easy and strengthen your supporting muscles. The meniscus doesn't grow back and it's only so wide.

Actually, there were a few skaters who had permanent damage after meniscus surgery. But it was partially their fault though. Shabalin (Russian ice dancer) is one of them, and I think Novitsky (another Russian ice dancer) had to finish skating too. Shabalin had his surgery in December and then competed at the Europeans at the end of January. One would suppose he had to prepare himself for the Europeans, which means he clearly did not stay too long off ice to give himself time to heal. So one can see why from then on he permanently struggled with his knee. As long as the injured person follows the doctors' advice regarding the healing time and rehabilitation, the surgery is pretty straightforward. But if someone thinks the sport is more important than health, it is quite easy to get damaged so much that it will be permanent irreparable damage.

 

[skatemomoftwo]

She had surgery August 2016 and competed at NWP regionals at 10 weeks po where she was 3rd nd short program and missed sectionals by 2 points. Her name is Grace, look it up. Its insulting you dont believe me but ask anyone in our region. She was on the ice teaching tots at 3 weeks po. She competed and had not run her long since July 4. Some people LOVE to compete.
She has surgery this Tuesday other side.
Sad you feel the need to question what you are told. Kids are very different than recovery on adults.
and if your hip cap is closed there is no cause of concern about dislocation. Up to your doc to make sure its tight.
The skaters that didnt come back were close to their end and waited maybe too long
Or had version issues/dysplasia issues. Caroline Zhang had a PAO which is a much longer recovery since they break the thigh bone and move it but she is back skating as well.
Kevin Reynolds from Canada also is fine after surgery. Madison Hubbell also had fai/labrum and she is fine as well. The key is good doc, GREAT pt and addressing it early.

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