Knee surgery advice?

[Skinnywater]

About 5 weeks ago my wife fell and hit her knee while on one of our cross country hikes. It wasn't the impact that hurt, it was the position of her knee as she fell.<br />The pain was bad and she was pretty lame so it took an office visit to her doctor.<br />An Xray revealed nothing, yet the doctor refered her to an orthropedic surgeon as a torn meniscus is suspected.<br />I'm pretty mad that my wife has been limping around in pain waiting for close to two months to even get in to see a specialist. Her fastest appointment is the second week in May.<br />Can anyone give us a headsup on what we can expect? What are the proceedures, down time, actions and prognosis?<br />She ices it daily and it swells daily. It isn't healing or getting any better on its own.<br /><br />Really unfortunate, we were up to 40-50 cross country miles a week. Sure hope I didn't loose a hiking partner.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Sorry to hear about you wife Skinnywater. Knees can be painful when over stressed. It is even more painful waiting to see the doc.<br /><br />My wife which works for the medical system was telling me about new procedures for knee surgery. They have new replacement procedures where a small inseasion (sp) is used. It has produced faster recovery time. <br /><br />My wife is waiting to have a hip replacement, but the surgeon that has been treatiing her will be too old to do the surgery when she will be available for it. Go Figure? I don't think I want him to do it anyway, he is good, but have heard some nightmare stories about him also.<br /><br />If surgery is needed, shop around. There are ways to get information on the doctors history of their accomplishments as well as the bumbles.<br /><br />My tip is don't rush into surgery without doing your homework first. Doctors hate to go back in to fix something another has messed up. Almost like a mechanic doesn't like to work on something someone else has messed with. <br /><br />There will be a prayer said for your wifes recovery from the Mayfloat house....

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Ouch! … but not all bad. If it is what I am thinking, I know someone that went through this. There should not be any damage done but your wife’s waiting and the surgery is not complicated. After surgery you will drive your wife home. Recovery, as always, is linked to age and fitness so I would image it will be quick for your wife. It’s been awhile but the woman that had it done was late 50’s/early 60’s, good health and I think only a couple weeks down time, no problems since.<br /><br />The surgeon may do an exploration with one of those snake cameras prior to committing to any surgery. Try to get a copy in VHS. Wishing your wife the best and a really quick recovery…I think it will be. Please let us know how it all goes.

 

[Ryoken]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

i can sympathize after many knee surgeries myself.. from 2 full ACL gigs to minor ligament stitching, cartilidge work...<br /><br />they will more than likely do an MRI. normally they'll examine by rotating the knee and bending, etc.. but it almost always requires an MRI for positive ID of the prob..<br /><br />it sounds like a little ligament tearing or cartilidge. generally swelling is an indication of this. i've had mine blowup like a football on more occasions than i can remember.. sometimes they'll aspirate it (suck out the fluid). if theirs blood in the fluid, it generally is torn ligaments of some sort.<br /><br />and although painful and not great for the knee, hobbling around isn't always a major issue. i walked around on a completely seperated ACL for 8 months. little extreme, but it gives an indicator of what the body is cabable of handling.<br /><br />if its just a little ligament tearing or cartilidge work it is generally outpatient micro surgery with tiny incisions and your usually walking in a day or so.. full ACL's, MCL's, etc are a little more involved.<br /><br />i'm expecting to have to do replacements in 10, 15 yrs..

 

[petryshyn]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Skinnywater<br /><br />I had a torn meniscus. Surgery went fine. It did take almost 2 years to recover fully, but I'm as good as new.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Sorry to hear of her injury. Ive had four of these sergurys. (meniscus teat) Make sure they do an MRI first, The first one I had they didnt do one and I had to have another one to fix what they missed. That was #2. Then about 8 years later the knee deteriorated and I had to have another one to clean it up. # 3. Then It didnt seem to get better so they went in again to clean it up a little better. # 4. Down time depends on her ability to heal and how she does with the exersises they give her. I would imagine you have lost your hiking partner for the summer. She has to do them or she will be longer in recovery. If she can, Pool therapy seemed to work best for me.<br /><br />Get her one of those toilet seat risers so she can get off the toilet when she gets back home, or you will be helping her up. Handles would be nice too.

 

[marcmccain]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Skinnywater<br /><br />I too had a torn meniscus two years ago. The only thing I did was step out of the shower and I heard it pop. Paaaaainful for three weeks before the MRI showed the tear. <br /><br />First, a mri will show the exact location and extent of the tear. It's a common surgery and is most often done as an outpatient surgery.<br /><br />The surgery takes about 45 minutes and your wife will be awake during the entire procedure... your wife can watch the surgery on the tv screen along with the surgeon. In my case and all I have heard of, they give local anestesia. They make a small incision (1/4 inch) on each side of the knee. Then they insert a tube that will flow with water in one hole and out the other side providing irrigation during the surgery. Then they insert the mini-cam which with snippers on it. The surgeon and you wife will watch the camera progress into the knee and locate the ripped area. Then the surgeon will snip away the rough areas and smooth out the ripped area that is causing the pain. The water that is irrigating the knee will wash out the cartilidge that has been snipped away.<br /><br />I took pain meds for 48 hours after the surgery but I was on the sofa for only 24 hours. The doctor told me to start walking on the second day without crutches (limited to walking in the house). After one week I was driving and walking outside. I felt much better after my surgery, but, like Schematic, it took me a little over a year before I had full confidence in hiking in the mountains again. Hope my experience has been helpful.

 

[SoulWinner]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Ryoken, Dang dude!!!!! What the...how the.....did you play pro football or what?!?!? <br /><br />Skinney, Your wife will be fine, don't worry and don't let her worry either. Knee care has come a long LONG way in the past 20 years, thanks to the NFL probably. I know a former NFL player who could barely walk when I met him 10 years ago. Now he hardly limps at all thanks to innovations in surgery techniques. I know folks who have had everything from cartilage shaping to complete replacement of the knee, they all recovered and are as good as new Be of good cheer and be blessed.

 

[Ryoken]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

a picture is worth a 1000 words SW <br />

<br /> <br />and Skinny, best of luck to your wife. meniscus (cartilidge) is relatively minor stuff and i'm sure she'll do fine. they've got that stuff down these days (whole nother ballgame when i had my first meniscus work done at 14 back in the 70's, 6" scar, major surgery, etc). as the others said, it may take a while to get 100%, but she'll be up and about in no time.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Knee surgery advice?

Thanks for your kind replys and shareing your experiences.<br />A year or two to 100%, that's unfortunate.<br /><br />I thought she would be able to follow me on horseback. But if it takes a year to heal, then it'll be most of 8 months out of the saddle.<br /><br />Good idea on the pool therapy.<br />Maybe she'll be up for some swimming soon.