Physical Therapy for Knee Meniscus Tear - The Hull Truth

LI Sound Grunt · 07-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Has anyone had sucessful physical therapy for a torn meniscus in the knee? So far everyone is saying get the orthoscopic surgery - its fast and PT usually doesn't work. Is there ay data on this?

oneill469 · 07-23-2009, 04:45 PM

Surgery is the way to go.

hevysrf · 07-23-2009, 05:22 PM

18 months ago I injured my knee at work, torn meniscus, out of work 6 weeks but therapy did the job. 49 at the time, and had previous damage to the knee. I'm still working construction.

saltman · 07-23-2009, 05:49 PM

The orthopedic surgeon i am friends with, a graduate from West Point, and now
working at Bethesda in DC tried to explain it to me.

when i tore mine.

I tore my meniscus and kept running. eventually it healed and apparently some
portion of the tear gets absorbed by the body and because the joint is shaped like a cam
the leg compensates blah blah blah and eventually things seek normal function.

Surgery is a 50/50 shot because most people will not work it out do to the
length of time it takes to heal. So therapy is a good choice first.

I was just pushing through the pain until something happened and finally it subsided

DogTired · 07-23-2009, 10:09 PM

Take it from me. PT hurts like hell, especially if you don't get started on PT soon after surgury.

Make sure up front that your physician will prescribe the therapy and you insurance will cover a part of it.

The surgury wasn't bad. They didn't think I need therapy. WRONG!!!! I started two months after surgury which was a bad mistake. Took them two months of three times a week plus me working at home to get my knee straight and out of some pretty bad pain.

I had a pretty bad tear and am older (50+). Doc said I'm bone to bone now and eventually both knees will be replaced. I'm doing ok on Aleve for inflamation for now.

Problem with my tear was the knee locking up and some really bad pain.

Get the therapy ASAP after surgury.

BTW, I'm not much for pills and especially herbal stuff, but there is some stuff out there called Move Free Advanced pills. It's a condrotion/glucosamine supplement. My physician said to try that stuff, though there is a lot of argument about that type of thing amongst physicians. I tried a couple of different brands of C/G, but the Move Free Advanced seems to help at least some. I'm also taking vitimin D in the evening which might help me as well.

Welcome to the club.

mesndt · 07-24-2009, 05:42 AM

I had surgery and it was successful, depending on the type of tear it will most likely only get worse with time if not tended to. Surgery won’t guarantee it will be returned to a 100% forever. Usually there are things that have been done to cause the damage that allow the injury and the PT afterwards is something that must be carried on long after the surgery.

LI Sound Grunt · 07-24-2009, 06:42 AM

Thanks I was told it was a minor tear and surgery would be orthoscopic - 1/2 hour- 3 holes and I would walk out the door the same day - it would hurt for a short while but I could resume anything I wanted to the point of dealing with the pain. Many folks told me the PT alternative doesn't work. My surgeon says no hurry - I will not make it worse if I do nothing or try PT first. He says with my type of injury PT may work.

I would definitely go the PT route if it wasn't middle of summer and I have several projects I am in the middle of and am think the surgery may get me repaired and back to my projects sooner.

I just made an appointment for 11 with a PT that cured my back and he says he can usually tell if PT will work for any given case by looking at the knee and he won't waste my time if there is little chance - so I feel good about that and will know more this PM. Also, I am sixty and have never had surgery of any kind - hoping to match my Dad who went to 90 without any surgeries.

Thanks again - always good to know you're not the only one!

Snapper Head · 07-24-2009, 07:29 AM

Grunt,

Here is my experience: meniscal tears in both knees (distance runner, though you would not think so to look me these days.....). Had the left one done first, was mowing the lawn 2 days later. No PT required. Had the right one done several months later. After surgery Doc asked me "did the back of your knee ever swell up for a few months?" Yes, one time years ago after a rather spectacular get-off during a hare scramble (dirt bike racing through the woods). He said that my ACL had been partially torn once upon a time, and that since it was not properly repaired, after it healed itself to what degree possible, my right kneecap started tracking a little "off". I ran for years with it that way, and it finally ground the hard covering on the bottom of my femur into grisle. He had to clean that stuff off, and my recovery was very slow. 6 weeks of PT; and I have not run since because I can't. Knee hurts every day. I don't take any pain relievers, just suck it up. No basketaball, no running, no tennis. Nothing. Hell, if I have to dash across the street, I can hardly stand on it the next morning.

Take it for what it is worth to you.

Big Al

54bullwinkle · 07-24-2009, 08:22 AM

PT first...............absolutely. You can alway have the scope down the line if PT dosent help. PT will increase strength and impove range of motion going into surgery, if you end up needing it.

nausetlight · 07-24-2009, 09:02 AM

Torn meniscus and a chondroplasty surgery back in May, still out of work, doing the PT. Feels pretty good until you load it and try to push off. That is when the pain becomes an issue, sharp pain followed by throbbing for hours after.

LI Sound Grunt · 07-26-2009, 08:31 AM

Thanks again to all

My Therapist said he wouldn't waste my time and after a quick exam - with my condition PT has a good chance of working but if I am not better after 2 weeks (of a six week program) then go for the surgery.

Snapper Head - yea I hear that everyone and every knee is different - Swelling inback of the knee is aparantly a telling sign - I have not had that yet....

Went on the boat yesterday the pounding (waves and beer) set me back a few days - Finally got the daughter to drive and I went back to the transom seat. A beautiful day here - One of maybe 2 or 3 all summer - back to the rain today. This is like the summer we never had. That Mississippi summer weather isn't looking all that crazy to me right now.

prxmid · 07-26-2009, 05:37 PM

Just coming off surgery 6 weeks ago. Cleaned up the miniscus on both sides of the knee. 45 minute surgery, one day of pain, it's a nothing operation worth doing.

After 3 weeks I was riding my bike 60 miles a week. at six weeks just started hitting golf balls, going to try some tennis this week. It's a simple and easy procedure. It's the torque movement (golf, tennis) that you want to be slow in getting back to.

My knee feels better than it's felt in five years already

seaburt · 07-26-2009, 05:39 PM

I used PT for a meniscus tear. Worked great. I still do some of the exercises to keep the muscle built up.

mhogancu · 07-26-2009, 06:32 PM

my younger brother is a catcher in the Rangers orginization. tore his meniscus in his left knee while playing for Clemson had it fixed in the off season.....tore his menisucs in his rt knee this season. had the surgery, rehab for 1 month, back catching every day. doc says that both knees are stronger now than prior to tearing them.

XV2PS · 07-27-2009, 05:05 AM

Hi LI,

I went through 3 orthopedist who all said I needed surgery. At day I had about no pain, but hell pain at night when my muscles where loose. So pain I even did a plaster cast for myself. Nothing did.

Finally, I changed my sleeping position, and for more than 5 years, not a single pain. I hope you get as lucky as I did

More fishing is a proven alternative therapy