5 mo. after OHS and TORN MENISCUS!

[llewis34]

Well I haven't posted in forever and was looking forward to posting about how well I had done in our local American Heart Association 3 mile walk/run 5 months after valve replacement. However, during that event, feeling great and inspired I decided to jog part of it. Only to have my knee swell up like a cantelope that evening and I couldn't walk without a substantial limp for 4 days. I got to my orthopedic doc and after an MRI found that I have a torn meniscus! Yeah! After feeling great and on my way back to running, another set back! I have the knee scoped next week and will not even be able to do a quick paced walk for at least 6 weeks after.

I know I sound bummed, but I am optimistic that my knee will be better than new and I will be able to start training for the Indy 500 Mini Marathon that is the first weekend in May 2008.

Anyone out there had this surgery after OHS? And if so, how is the recovery? I can only imagine that it is NOTHING compared to the slow recovery that I experienced starting 5 months ago. I guess the only good thing is that I have the 2 surgeries in the same year and I've already met my out-of-pocket max! Yippee!

Lisa
Indianapolis

[Karlynn]

Ow!!!! Sorry to read of your injury. Wishing you a good fix and a speedy recovery.

[Marguerite53]

I had a deeply located torn meniscus. Both knees, actually. Repaired each one separately. My ortho also recommended that I get a "lateral release" of the knee caps at the same time. His feeling was that for me (non-athletic) it would offer protection against having them tear again due to my particular characteristics. Well, 5 years later, they both are pretty arthritic! I'm 53. SO. If your doctor recommends any other work while he's in there, you might think long and hard about it. I wish I had just had the tears repaired and stuck with that. I think there is a tendency for the lateral release thing to lead to arthritis.

I did have major relief, though, for 3 years. Major relief....like night and day. So I'm certainly not trying to caution you away from any repair. It was incredible how well it worked. The worst part were stairs, but it was only a few days, as I recall, before I could go up and down. Very fast healing time.

Good luck!! You'll be happy you aren't waiting for this repair.

Marguerite

[WayneGM]

Sorry to hear the news. I hope you recover soon. Best wishes.

[Adrienne]

I had an inflamed meniscus this summer. I didn't know what it was and finally went to physiotherapy. The PT mentioned mini surgery that can be done, but my case was not a case for surgery. I am just careful now so that it won't happen again.

I know a woman who totally tore her meniscus in a ski accident and had to have the meniscus removed. She feels fine now, although I think she wears a special brace for skiing.

[Freddie]

OUCH!
Wishing you the best for a full recovery:) :)

[llewis34]

Thanks for the advice Marguerite!

I am anxious to hear what all he sees in there. I have had problems on and off with this knee for the last couple of years. I am hoping that this will improve my running....whenever I get back around to it!

Lisa

[MikeHeim]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I ran a half-marathon at 13 months after my surgery and thought I was on my way to a FULL recovery, only to injure my back a month later (bulging disc) and be sidelined for about five months. I wish you a full and quick recovery from this new issue.

[llewis34]

Arthroscopy was successful! More damage in the knee than they thought. But I'm starting at zero again. I'll just be glad to get another recovery behind me! I just look at this recovery time as extra time for the heart to heal, too. I just passed the OHS 6 MONTH MARK! Yeah!

Lisa

[WayneGM]

Great news!!!! Best wishes for a smooth, uneventful, recovery. Also congrats on the 6 month OHS anniversary.

[Isis]

Sorry to hear of your setback, but happy to hear the surgery went well. I guess every path has a few puddles.

Hang in there; you'll get through this quickly I suspect.

[llewis34]

I had my 4 week check today on the knee and the doc has given me the green light to start walking again and some cycling. He said I can even start some light jogging at the end of December. He gave me a great schedule to work with to build myself back up.

I feel like I am finally getting back to myself after the OHS so I am so excited about the chance to start burning up some of this energy again! YEAH!

[njean]

Glad to hear your good news & congratulations on 7-months post-up from your OHS too! Enjoy your walks; enjoy your life!:)

Take care,
Norma

[Mary]

Congratulations on getting the go ahead to start some aerobic exercise again. Isn't it great to be healed?!

[WayneGM]

Great news!!! Congratulations. Now, go to it....but pace yourself and work your way up.

[67walkon]

Lisa, there is no comparison between OHS and getting your knee scoped. They released me within a couple of weeks of getting my torn meniscus fixed some 8 or 9 years ago and it has been pretty much fine. You'll be running in no time!

John