Medial meniscus rupture and surgery: what to expect?

Ronald Reyes3 said:Quick question for the group. What’s the move when you need to replace part of a meniscus that’s either ruptured or been cut out during surgery?

The rest of the meniscus... just picks up the slack

Think of it like this... you aren't swimming through a tiny little gap anymore, the opening is just a bit wider🙂))but you're still swimming

Still just sitting here waiting for my call for that arthroscopy... anyone want to volunteer to tag along and get their meniscus fixed while we're at it? hehe 😂

The worst part is having absolutely no clue when they'll actually reach out. 🤷

Look, man, you can't fix it. Once that meniscus is gone, it's gone. But if you want to stay mobile, you better start pumping up those quads until they're hard as concrete. That’s your best bet to stop the knee joint and cartilage from getting absolutely trashed.

Who even is this hollowdrifter93 guy? The way he described that was actually insane, like a total miracle😂😂😂😂The way he painted that picture, he’s gotta be from Miami—only people from there can describe things that vividly. Google😂😂

Look, urbangull25, hollowdrifter93 and I have got your back. We're gonna help you get through those therapies. 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

Look, I get that you can't just regrow it, but does that area end up having extra synovial fluid to grease the joint and, I don't know, "protect" the cartilage?
Asking because I've got a tear in my medial meniscus and my mom picked up some hyaluronic acid supplements—which is basically the main ingredient in synovial fluid—so will that actually help stop the meniscus or the cartilage from getting trashed? My doctor told me to keep training, but if the pain doesn't quit, he’s looking at surgery. The pain actually stopped, though, and honestly, I’d prefer to keep it that way. I hit stability work regularly and my quads are solid.

Then you catch the flu, and just like that, your quads are gone...

The doctors told me I absolutely have to strengthen them... but how exactly am I supposed to do that when my knee is killing me? I hit the stationary bike three or four times a week, but honestly, that’s about it. It is what it is. I’ve started hitting the local pool a bit too, though I’m not sure if all this is actually going to help much. Who knows.😢

or some virus, just like what I've been dealing with for 5 days now 👎
Personally, I think biking beats rollerblading—way less stress on the knees. People say swimming is killer too. If you want to hit those quads at home, try some isometric holds: sit on the floor, legs straight, lift one foot maybe 4 inches off the ground, hold for 10 seconds, then drop it. Repeat with the other leg. You can also twist your ankle outward to target the inner quad, or inward for the outer side. The key is really feeling the muscle engage while you move. Don't overextend, though—don't lock that knee out too hard or you'll end up with a bum knee. Once you get the hang of it, grab something to use as a weight around your ankle—could be anything, even a bag of sugar or sand if you're being DIY about it.
Hope this helps at all 🙂

Bradley Miller6 said:Who even is this hollowdrifter93 guy? The way he described that was actually insane, like a total miracle😂😂😂😂The way he painted that picture, he’s gotta be from Miami—only people from there can describe things that vividly. Google😂😂

but it isn't really like that, right?🙂

it's more like if you had a huge pillow and they swapped it for a tiny one...

or like having Monica Bellucci in bed every night... then she leaves and some ugly neighbor moves in instead... the sex is the same... but still...

Ronald Reyes3 said:Look, I get that you can't just regrow it, but does that area end up having extra synovial fluid to grease the joint and, I don't know, "protect" the cartilage?
Asking because I've got a tear in my medial meniscus and my mom picked up some hyaluronic acid supplements—which is basically the main ingredient in synovial fluid—so will that actually help stop the meniscus or the cartilage from getting trashed? My doctor told me to keep training, but if the pain doesn't quit, he’s looking at surgery. The pain actually stopped, though, and honestly, I’d prefer to keep it that way. I hit stability work regularly and my quads are solid.

The body produces its own acid to lube the joint......... especially if you're walking regularly... basically staying active

My advice: just get the surgery... tears are hard to heal, and if it snaps during a workout, it could wreck your cartilage..

But do what you want... and follow your doctor's orders

You’re lucky you aren't feeling any pain right now, because once that pain actually hits, you're screwed. That kind of ache isn't going anywhere—just remember, it's NEVER going away. Even after you get an arthroscopy, it’s still going to hurt. Sure, your knee might work again, but it'll never feel the way it used to. Good luck. AND YOU, urbangull25, you still haven't answered my suggestion!!😁

Alright, thanks. Good luck to you too

Bradley Miller6 said:So, hollowdrifter93, what was it like when you went out for a run? How did it feel?

Started wearing pads just to take the edge off the impact...

Gonna get an MRI on the knee. If there's no Rupture, I'll start running again...

But if there is a Rupture, surgery's next...

So, how are you planning on filming this? You gonna get an MRI or what? Honestly, why don't you just try some light jogging and see how it feels?👍

Bradley Miller6 said:So, how are you planning on filming this? You gonna get an MRI or what? Honestly, why don't you just try some light jogging and see how it feels?👍

Through the insurance provider... on a private MRI scan... I don't pay a dime...
If there's a rupture, I'm going under the knife...

If I don't run...

I managed to wreck my knee during a soccer game—made one sudden, awkward pivot where my foot stayed planted while my knee twisted right back around. I went through the whole diagnostic gauntlet, and the MRI results from two months ago at the Mayo Clinic show this:

"MRI slices of the left knee reveal a horizontal rupture of the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, extending from the base to the inferior articular surface, with a fragment displaced dorsally toward the posterior edge of the tibial plateau. Baker's cyst present. Minimal intra-articular effusion. ...all other structures within physiological limits."

Any orthopedics experts here? Whether you're actually in the medical field or just someone who has spent way too much time researching their own injuries, I’d really appreciate some insight or a layman's explanation of what this actually means.

Right now, I’m looking at heading to a small town in Ohio to see Dr. Smith for surgery. That said, I'm trying to wrap my head around just how bad this finding is. Based on the report, would they be looking at suturing the meniscus back together, or is it more likely a simple meniscectomy (trimming it down)? Can anyone even tell from this description?

Thanks a million!!

Look, the diagnosis is pretty straightforward: you've got a lateral meniscus tear, but your ligaments and cartilage are still good. Don't overthink this—just go see a solid orthopedic surgeon and talk about getting an arthroscopy. It’s a minimally invasive procedure where they clear out that torn meniscus bit and double-check your ligament stability at the same time. Honestly, I had an MRI that looked almost identical to yours, except mine showed a ruptured ACL too. I had the surgery 17 months ago and my knee feels fine now, but it'll never be quite the same since they had to take out about 60% of my meniscus.

Look, I’m telling you again—your ligaments are fine, which is huge news. Everything else is just minor stuff that usually heals on its own. I actually had a rupture right before my patellar bursa once, and my doctor told me it would just settle itself out over time. But the meniscus? That’s a different story. There's no sugarcoating it: you’re going to need surgery. Just pray it’s just a tear; if it’s crushed, it’ll eat up more than half the cushion, and you'll be dealing with knee issues for the rest of your life. I'm telling you this from experience—don't listen to anyone trying to tell you it's "no big deal." If you decide to see Smith, you'll be in good hands. He’s easily one of the top three specialists in the entire US. He operated on a buddy of mine and a friend of mine, and they both can't stop raving about him.👍

I could use some advice here,

My son injured his knee during gym class yesterday. An orthopedic specialist diagnosed him with a meniscus tear this morning. The doctor suggested he rest for a week, but if the pain doesn't subside by then, surgery will likely be the next step.

Has anyone dealt with something similar?

Is there any real hope that this resolves without surgery, or should I perhaps start mentally preparing for that possibility?

I could really use some help here... I recently had an MRI done on my left knee, and while I won't get to see the specialist until March 21st, I'm already spiraling trying to figure out what's actually going on based on the report... It says something about a structural change in the anterior horn of the medial meniscus, specifically noting a horizontal Rupture with an 8mm meniscal cyst, along with some dislocation toward the anterior edge of the medial tibial plateau... If there's anyone here who actually understands medical jargon and can tell me how bad this looks, I would be incredibly grateful...