Knee Injury, anyone else have same.

[Green Nomad]

Over the last 2-3 years I have been having a lot of pain in my left knee, it has been more painful trying to kneel or bend a lot. I had an MRI scan on it recently and was diagnosed as having a torn Medial Meniscus, which is a tear in the cartilage cup between the ball joint and the lower leg bones. It appears to be quite common among sporty people. I have been told for the moment by my Orthopaedic surgeon that I should continue with physio and exercise. Sometimes I get days when I feel no pain and others when it is very painful to walk, or bend to an extreme. I was originally told by my physiotherapist that I should not bike ride anymore, but I feel that its a great exercise for this.

Anyone else have an injury like this?, if so what have you been told and how are you dealing with it.

GN.

[arcadianagain]

I had a similar problem, not sure if it was the same technically as yours, but I tried cod liver oil capsules with omega 3, and the pain eased, and has now disappeared altogether with a daily dose.

[usual suspect]

I had a very bad knee injury.
I cannot walk far before the knee aches, but I CAN cycle..I do believe the cycling-motion while having my weight supported by the seat works well for me & without the cycle-rides my knee always stiffens-up.
I also try remember to take CLO capsules.
(When I'm not out on my bike I use the free 'outdoor gyms' around Hua-hin to keep the knee moving).
Hope your situation improves for you soon.

[lizzy]

Had the same thing but I ended up having surgery. A very quick recovery time as was walking the next day, a few weeks physiotherapy and then back to normal. No pain at all after the operation but I still keep takingCLO and Glucosamine Sulphate

[Dr Mike]

If you had had the problem for 3 months I would advise physio and the suggested medications.
After 3 years the chance of improvement without surgery is minimal.
The Arthroscopic key-hole surgery has a very short post-op recovery time.

[Bomber]

I have had the same injury but it did heal over a 3 month period. These injuries heal very slowly due to minimal blood supply in this area however 2- 3 years is way too long and the only way to correct it is through Arthroscopic surgery which is relatively straight forward with a quick recovery time. Glucosamine tablets will help but will take time and are expensive. I would therefore get another opinion rather than keep waiting.

Hope this helps

[Green Nomad]

Thanks for all your replies, this echoes, to an extent, what some of my colleagues have been saying. There are a few people here with the very same injury but with different post diagnosis treatment.

Dr Mike, not sure if you can answer this?. Yesterday after a particularly bad couple of days at work with pain (think I may have turned on it slightly), I over bent it and it was extremely painful for a few seconds and then I was able to walk and bend it with no feeling of pain at all. I have read that with a tear in the Medial Meniscus that it could have a flap of cartilage that moves and can either cause pain or not depending on its position, do you think this could be the case? Also, if I want a second opinion, where in Thailand would you recommend. Here in Oman, I have been told, even by my Omani colleagues not to have any surgery here, a lot of Omanis here go to Thailand for hospital visits.


Thanks again for inputs on this,,GN