People are turning away from weight lifting and focusing on functional training and injury prevention. You can also perform this exercise with a rolled-up towel or foam roller under the knee as shown. Even if you perform the exercise with perfect mechanics, which none of us do all the time, you're still setting yourself up for a problem. If the tear is minor, hiking may still be possible. The same with resistance training--I can lift as heavy as I can, doing any exercise I can, with no issues. It is a prohibited exercise since it consists of jumping bringing the knees to the chest and then landing on your feet, and that is a huge impact on those joints. Please contact your hosting provider to confirm your origin IP and then make sure the correct IP is listed for your A record in your Cloudflare DNS Settings page. Constant aches, hitches, grinding knees, reduced cardio activitiesnot worth not listening to my body and trusting the "professionals". Stanford University's director of football sports performance Shannon Turley is on the forefront of this movement. So anything activity at this range when done with strain will result in give way. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. I am looking for the experience of people who have had a torn meniscus and have not had surgery. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. Some of the exercises that are used to regain strength and function in the injured leg after an ACL injury are heel slides, leg lifts, glute sets, bridges, heel raises and mini squats against a wall. October 4, 2022 In short, the answer is yes, but it may not feel the same. It is much harder work for the body to function with a knee that doesn't have full range and the torn meniscus ends up taking more weight through it, which can slow down the healing process and make it more prone to damage. The ACL is at height of it's activity at around 30 to 40 degree of knee flexion. In older adults, degenerative changes of the knee can contribute to a torn meniscus with little or no trauma. Just like the meniscus in the knee, the discs in the spine start to degenerate with age. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. A meniscal tear is especially common among people with arthritis and older athletes, . Ice. I have torn mine (along with ACL) and was fortunate to be able to get it repaired. . The risk with bench press is that when your elbows break the plane of your chest, you're putting significant strain on the stabilizing structures of the shoulder, specifically the labrum and capsule. Pressure against my knee, like if a dog bounced into me while I was standing straight? However, in mild tears, you may be advised that you can do some cycling as part of your physiotherapy between weeks 2 to 6 of your recovery. My first medical restriction for knee problems was put on me when I was 22. There is starting to be a paradigm shift in the strength and conditioning world. The knee is a complex joint and the meniscus is a crucial part of its structure. Do the theoretical benefits of deep squatting out weigh the risks, absolutely not! Here are just a few of the injuries we've seen in the office from doing the wrong things in the gym: a middle aged women who tore her ACL doing jumping jacks onto a plyometric box, a 60 year old who tore his meniscus when he was forced into deep knee flexion during yoga, and a broken tibia from the bar hitting her leg during Olympic lifting. REHABILITATION AFTER KNEE MENISCUS REPAIR . I have arthritis in my knee and get injections in it to postpone knee replacement since I'm in my early 40's doctor wants to try to push it off as long as I can. Symptoms of Torn Menisci. In most cases, light exercise- like walking- can promote healing by increasing circulation and building muscle strength. California residents do not sell my data request. Try to keep your top leg in line with the rest of your body the entire time. He was off work due to it because of the kind of job he does (80% calm, 20% very active.) I still have swelling in my knee after a arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus from a year and a half ago. I could not run at all, and honestly I amazed that you can, so I doubt that is what you have. Educational text answers on HealthTap are not intended for individual diagnosis, treatment or prescription. Because the deadlift is considered a closed kinetic chain exercise (23), it can also be employed in knee rehabilitation programs, such as after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Demand further tests (MRI's etc.) its pretty scary to feel. Also no open chain exercises ( that is when you exercise with foot off the ground), So no extension curlings on machine, no full squats with weights, no running. I have had 3 surgeries for meniscus tears--R knee 1994, L knee 2004, R knee again 2007. In contrast, if a patient wants to do an intensive workout and wants to perform exercises that leave a . How long should I wait to have my right hip totally replaced if i just had surgery on my left knee for torn meniscus? Surgery is often the best option to repair the damage and relieve the pain. Do not touch the foot to the floor and hold the position for a few minutes. Some exercises are too strenuous for people with meniscus tears. After meniscus tear surgery, a knee brace can be worn to limit knee flexion and rotation, protecting the meniscus while allowing weight-bearing and movement [9]. Hold for 10 seconds. The outside one-third of the meniscus has a rich blood supply. Also, doing planks - the right knee just would not hold straight for very long - it really hurt. Painful when touched. 7 weeks from surgery still have pain (1-10) about a 5 when I get up from a sitting position for lets say the first 6 steps & then okay. Natural Remedies For a Torn Meniscus. Raise your leg above heart level. who knows, I dont do anything that causes pain and i just listen to my body. Without allowing your hips to rock forward or backward, lift your top leg 8 to 10 inches in the air. You have had an adequate rehab program. They keep your knee steady by balancing your weight across the knee. my surgeon made me wait a year before repairing my acl and meniscus, he said if i was 20 years old and an active soccer player he'd do it right away , but because of my age (46 at the time of injury ) i fell into a group he recommended wait to see if we can live with it. If you're a high level athlete, please read with an open mind. Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. i think lots of us have experienced this. Just be cautious not to do any pivoting or cutting motions as you probably have a lot of instability. Additional troubleshooting information here. Knee arthroscopy is one of the most commonly carried out surgical procedures. Using the chair for support, gently twist your hips back and forth. Here are my top 5 things you should avoid at the gym. On the other hand, the inner two-thirds of the meniscus does not have a blood supply. His ortho suggested surgery right away. He tore it on 1/2. Why do they have their athletes squat past 90 with resistance? If you are a candidate for repair (depends on the location of the tear) then I think there is a window and eventually repair is no longer an option. It sucks, I miss running. . yes you will be ok just be cautious! I think the benefits of the activities far outweigh the dangers, but thats just my opinion. To learn more, please visit our, The best exercises would be closed chain exercises ( those where your feet are always in contact with the surface of machine) for strengthening both the quadriceps and hamstrings. Even though it is not always painful, a torn meniscus can make you immobile as it swells and makes your knee less stable. As we squat down, the knee not only flexes but the femur glides posteriorly on the tibia. I'm doing babylovers ss so I'm assuming the frequent . Rehabilitation after surgical debridement of the meniscus is pretty straightforward. If your torn meniscus was repaired with suture, you will be wearing a knee immobilizer to Combine this with an exercise that puts significant strain on the posterior annulus of the disc and you're in for a lifetime of intermittent back pain. Another CrossFit injury that can occur is an ACL tear. I'll be the first to admit that I loved lifting heavy weights when I wrestled in college. I do both, although i did cut down on running because its not comfortable anymore after my knee injury. Stand behind a chair on the injured leg. You may be able to. If you're a power lifter or body builder, please stop reading. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis. If I could go back 14 years and demand the MRI the first time I went to a doctor, I might not have so many problems now. You will begin physical therapy when the biceps tendon has healed to the radius bone. When you lift heavy weights, pressure on your meniscus gets really high, up to five times the actual weight your lifting. After having recurring knee problems for the last two years, I've recently been diagnosed (via MRI) with not one, but two torn menisci, one in each knee, one of which was caused by a structural abnormality called a "discoid meniscus" http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoid_meniscus. With weight it was fine though. Additionally, braces can support the knee while doing physical therapy exercises later on in rehabilitation. ( 1) Also, your menisci are your knees' shock absorbers and force distributors. Also stretching both muscle groups to improve your rom before surgery. Keep your weight off the injured knee as much as possible. A tear is usually caused by twisting or turning quickly. Every time we lift our arms over head we have the potential for some impingement of our rotator cuff under our acromion. Slowly lower the top leg back down again. Repeat 10 to 20 times. Additionally, braces can support the knee while doing physical therapy exercises later on in rehabilitation. Whether or not you can hike with a torn meniscus depends on the severity of the tear. Ankle weights should only be used for strength training exercises, not during cardio like walking or running. These factors include a patient's age, activity level, type of meniscus tear . Guidelines and Activities: Knee Range of Motion: You can fully extend (straighten the knee). A meniscus injury is tricky and can be serious (if that is even what is going on here). Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in a minute. Is is it better to get surgery sooner or after some physical therapy for a torn acl/mcl and meniscus? I had a torn meniscus and acl and i was still regularly working out/running/cycling and doing weights with a physical therapist. So, with an already compromised meniscus, your knees won . It was always a competition of who could bench and squat more. Overhead military press, dumbbell shoulder press, etc., all put your rotator cuff at risk for injury. Why Do ACL Tears Occur in CrossFit? Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Your orthopedic surgeon inserts miniature surgical instruments through other portals to trim or fix the tear. Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other commonly abused medications. 1. derpypika 5 mo. The most common cause is that your DNS settings are incorrect. That is why a meniscus tear is so common in sports such as basketball, tennis, soccer, etc. If a patient wants to go for a workout, then a basic workout can be practiced four weeks after the surgery. For the rest of us who are just trying to stay in shape it is a recipe for knee pain and meniscus tears. Now just add a little rotation and pop, there goes your meniscus. During that year, i tried to run but the instability stopped me. Deep squats put significant strain on the knee ligaments, significant pressure on your patellofemoral joint (knee cap), and it puts your meniscus at significant risk for tearing. Up to now I've been able to squat on it fine with only a little discomfort and it only popped when I did body weight squats. If you want to strengthen your deltoid you just need to do some pushing and pulling exercises. After two shoulder surgeries, a hip labral tear which has likely progressed to arthritis (no MRI as I don't want to know), focal arthritis in my knee as well numerous other chronic injuries, my joints wish I had focused on functional training and not weight lifting. Your IP: It simply was too painful to bend, and that pain got steadily worse. Lift your butt off the bed/ground until your knees, hips, and chest form a straight line. Check your DNS Settings. Make sure you initially start with lowest of the weight possible. The ACL is one of the two "crossing" ligaments within the knee and it. Wrap the area with an elastic bandage or compression wrap. For 10 to 20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day, put an ice pack on your knee. My right meniscus has been torn for about a year now and I already had surgery the first time I tore it which was February 2011. Had knee arthroscopy for torn meniscus & was trimmed. This supplies a clear view of the inside of the knee. Also the medial meniscus posteriorly attaches to the ACL so you will need to be careful not to let this complicate things even more. Now add heavy weight and it's a labral tear waiting to happen. Clamshells - Lie down on your side with your hips and knees bent in front of you. However, if the tear is more significant . Additional troubleshooting information here. For me, it's not what you can and can't do but what you should or shouldn't do. There are a lot of people running and lifting with all kinds of injuries. I recently tore meniscus in my other knee and got a cortisone shot to hold off on surgery and it has helped, been working out and lifting. Overhead exercises aren't functional and the risk of injury just isn't worth it. The tear can be treated safely with an . i need another medicine alternative until i can get to surgery. 141.94.254.138 Restrictions are usually based on your tolerance for activity and movement. Normally I would probably take some time off and just do light exercise until they can get me in for surgery. Swollen knee. Catching or locking of the knee joint. The pain is maybe a 2-4/10 at its worst and if I wrap up tight it can be reduced to a 1-2. Once the restrictions were lifted I pushed thru, played sports, and ran until I was about 33 when I was finally given an MRI due to the pain. Anyone who has suffered a meniscus tear and undergoes partial meniscectomy or meniscal repair should ask his or her orthopedic surgeon about return to sports and exercise after meniscus surgery. Intense workout. If you have to bench, keep the weight reasonable and don't let your elbows break the plane of your chest. Usually it takes about 6 weeks for healing and depending on the state of things in your knee but my advice is just find out abit more about where the tear is and take it from there. Generally, putting full weight through your knee and using it normally are allowed, even encouraged. Better yet, do a standing cable column press as it is a much more functional position; just don't go too deep and your shoulders will thank you. Initiate knee motion 3. Purpose: Meniscus tear . I had my acl done in high school in 93 and menscious done last January. It's probably a labral tear. As a result, the meniscus receives sufficient nutrients to recover without being overloaded. Instead, you'll see more gains by focusing on correcting their weaknesses such as limited hip mobility and glute med weakness. My personal story: I was a very active youth, played softball and volleyball until I was 25, and joined the military at 19. Feeling that your knees might give out or that you might fall. A study points out that forces of 100-440% of your body weight act on your knee joint every golf swing. After performing 3 sets of 10 reps, flip over and . HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. Thanks? Clicking in your shoulder? Cloudflare Ray ID: 775adb730fdacd7b Let's move away from working out the way we always have and start thinking about our long term health, as many of the exercises we do are counterproductive to our overall goal of living a healthy, happy, and pain free life. It can be . Check your DNS Settings. Meniscus tear treatment with 4 exercises For an effective meniscus tear treatment, it is essential to put weight on your knee again gently. However, it will depend on the location and severity of your tear. I have MRI supporting doc? 1. I don't like the bench press because it's not a functional exercise, but that's another discussion. My husband recently went through meniscus surgery. I had torn meniscus and it was an old tear that never healed. He went back to work last week. How do I get rid of knee pain after surgery for a torn meniscus over 1 year ago? He didn't do any PT type rehab but starting the second day after surgery he walked a bit and then moved to riding a bike. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoid_meniscus. Lifting the knee up slightly lets gravity help the knee to straighten. My sports med doctor says they won't get any worse at this point and it's safe to lift heavy on them as long as I can put up with the pain. My main question is, has anyone else been in a similar situation of having to lift with a stable meniscal tear, and were there any tricks or things you used to help keep inflammation/pain at bay in the meantime? As I'm writing this, I'm envisioning the comments that I'll be getting. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. The problem is that I've recently joined a weightlifting club and don't want to bail out after just a week or two, before I've had a chance to really improve my lifts as well as contribute to the club. Cookie Notice I'm taking too much advil and Tylenol. However I am also not very flexible and cannot reach full parallel when doing heavy squats, so maybe it would be different if I could go down lower (I can reach parallel with goblet squats, and no problems with that). The symptoms of a meniscus tear are . By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The thigh muscle, or quadriceps, is particularly likely to become weak after an ACL injury. How dangerous would it be to wait 7 weeks to have surgery. 2 reasons why it's a bad idea to play golf with a meniscus injury. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. . A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that may cause pain, swelling and sometimes even a "locking" sensation in the affected knee. By 2/28 he was comfortable enough to walk around a car show for a couple of hours. A torn meniscus can prevent your . . EXOS, formerly Athlete's Performance, is the provider for strength and conditioning for the Men's U.S. National Soccer team. Research suggests that walking on a torn meniscus is no more likely to cause future knee issues than not putting weight on it. my joints wish I had focused on functional training and not weight lifting. When the meniscus is damaged, it can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling. Limping. I'm just stupidly stubborn and have always hated taking time off the gym for any reason, so I was looking for some way to keep forging ahead. It's not functional except for maybe wrestlers and football lineman, and even with them, is it worth the risk of injury? Please note, we cannot prescribe controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or other abusable medications. Whether a meniscus injury happens due to an isolated incident or degeneration of the knee cartilage over time, it can interfere with a person's ability to go about their daily life and be active. How do I get rid of it? 7 Self Tests For Torn Meniscus Test 1: The Thessaly Test Test 2: The Childress Sign Test Test 3: The Ege's Test Test 4: Payers Test Test 5: Bounce Home Test Test 6: Apley Grind Test Test 7: The McMurray's Test Conclusion How You Can Tear Your Meniscus ? Everyone's telling me they ended up under the knife. Treatment for a torn meniscus often begins conservatively, depending on the type, size and location of your tear. But since i am active, it got in the way of everything i did so i had surgery and fixed the acl and meniscus repair. What is a meniscus tear? If the tear happened because of bumping the knee or lifting heavy objects, it . Typically, the tears that occur in the outer part of the meniscus are the least likely to need surgical repair. When your meniscus is already worn out because of your age or a previous tear, this weight can cause new damage. Knee mri showed torn meniscus. How is your knee if you stand with your feet about a foot apart and squat as deep as you can (just body weight). Now for the rest of us My patients ask me all of the time, "What can I do in the gym?" By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. If you got your doctor opinion , all you can do is make your own judgement and decide what kinda wear and tear you wanna put on your body and the consequences down the line. I've been in and out of physical therapy for three years and can no longer run. Tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common knee injuries and one of the hardest to recover from. You should not be cycling on a torn meniscus for the first 1 to 2 weeks following the injury. This can lead to persistent pain and even partial or full loss of range of motion. I always have this debate with strength and conditioning coaches. A torn meniscus is a tear in the cartilage of the knee. This is another exercise where I also debate people on the risk/benefit of the exercise. Don't try to "isolate" your shoulders and instead strengthen them functionally with pushing and pulling exercises such as push-ups and incline pull-ups on the smith press or TRX. However, they should avoid further injury to the arm . Exercise # 1 Tie ankle weights around the ankle, which has suffered torn meniscus. Knee weakness. What Is A Meniscus Tear? Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint. I was advised by my ortho surgeon that over 40, even with healthy knees, i should not run, and i should not lift heavy. And like everything else, the labrum degenerates over time. I had a torn meniscus last spring. So why do an exercise to strengthen our shoulders that puts our rotator cuff at significant risk for injury? Ist was from running, other two from dogs. The knee is made up of the femur (thigh . So let's please stop at 90 degrees. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Left alone, over time the locking and/or constant rubbing of the torn meniscus on the articular cartilage will cause damage or degeneration of the knee joint. The meniscus functions to improve the fit between the femur and the tibia, to absorb shock and distribute load in the knee, and to help move lubricating fluid around the knee. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Compress. Click to reveal Your weight bearing status depends on your procedure. Lunges, step ups, bridging, and squats above 90 can all accomplish this while limiting the risk of low back injury. This can occur when one is doing box jumps, either up or down, or when they are carrying heavy weights on their shoulders and they twist, turn or pivot. Joint locking. You can make your injury worse. Can you lift weights with a torn bicep tendon? Doctors typically provide answers within 24 hours. In my experience with both knees, on a fresh tear when I do this motion about 3/4 of the way down the knee will slip slightly out of place on the tear. My patients ask me all of the time, What can I do in the gym? For me, its not what you can and cant do but what you should or shouldnt do. A longitudinal tear is an example of this kind of tear. The surgery is so successful and so minimally invasive that people opt for it. Most patients are able to resume full activities after completing their therapy, including sports, professions that require heavy lifting, and weight lifting. Their approach to sports performance is to fix an athlete's problems/weaknesses. The contraction will cause the foot to lift off the floor as the knee straightens. The knee must support a high amount of weight everyday, especially when jumping, landing, running or lifting heavy weights. Yeah, I'm thinking it'll come down to just avoiding heavy lifting for a while, and pretty much just doing light bicep curls 6 days a week (/s) until I can get in for surgery. Any other thoughts or feedback appreciated. Yes, it's a great exercise to strengthen your hip extensors (glutes and hamstrings) but it's an even better way to injure your back. You may also support your head with your hands. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus)one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner edge. . Next, slowly raise your knees. There is also a common theme with all these problematic exercises I'm writing about: our tissue starts to wear down and degenerate with age. This includes losing weight, eating healthy and getting rid of unhealthy habits like smoking. And i did lift very successfully without my ACL and meniscus damage, even competed quite a few times, with no pain but i was super careful and protective. . Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. Let's talk about the meniscus tear more specifically. After meniscus tear surgery, a knee brace can be worn to limit knee flexion and rotation, protecting the meniscus while allowing weight-bearing and movement [9]. Looking back, bench pressing did nothing for me as a wrestler as I should have been doing more pulling exercises. I coulda found another dr to do it, but i trusted him so i gave living with it an honest effort. But as I always tell my patients, "Is it better to look good or to feel good?" As we squat down, the knee not only flexes but the femur glides posteriorly on the tibia. Inability to support your weight without extreme pain. I have a lot of pain and i don't react well to cortisone. Pushing heavy objects. Recommended Products and Resources Click here to go to Dr. David Geier's Amazon Influencer store! In it, a mini electronic camera is inserted through a small incision (portal). Operated thigh has the same circumference as your normal thigh. If I do anything more than a half mile my knees swell up like cantaloupes. Normal. A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that often affects people who play contact sports. Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness. There . Make sure to keep your knee slightly bent and not locked backward. Many other tears that aren't associated with locking or a block to knee motion will become less painful . Can a meniscus be torn by putting full weight on it? From about 90 degrees and beyond, we are putting almost all of the pressure on the posterior horn of the meniscus. Contract the quadriceps muscles at the front of the thigh. Instead of dead lifts, let's focus on exercises that will still strengthen your hip extensors with less risk of injury. Is it bad? Activate the quadriceps muscles. Take spin and combat classes. Control pain and swelling 2. Repetitive flexion activities have been shown to be a significant factor in back injuries, specifically bulging and herniated disks. It can also be caused by wear and tear and doing everyday activities that put pressure on the knee. I want to finish school. Goals: 1. Four weeks. Without nutrients from blood, tears in this . But anything involving your operated lower limb should only be initiated after 3 months; only if Your surgeon and physiotherapist give you the green signal. Meniscus Surgery. Privacy Policy. I lift heavy, and i may suffer consequences in 10 or 20 years from it, or i may not. And we know that our menisci start to degenerate over time (starting at about 35-40) placing us at even greater risk for a meniscus tear. Even though we're not professional athletes, let's take a page out of their training programs and try to fix our deficits such as flexibility, core strength, and movement patterns and leave the heavy weights on the rack. Had surgery in June as I can't stand it when my body holds me back from doing things. It is true, I think. Rehabilitation Follow Meniscus Repair. Not necessarily. Individuals with knee or hip issues should avoid using ankle weights around the ankles because they can strain your joints and muscles. Eight to ten weeks. Also, learn if a meniscus tear can heal without surgery. An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught . As a result, the knee may also become swollen, stiff and tight. Sometimes, degeneration from arthritis causes a tear, even without a knee injury. if you feel like it's more than what they said or gets worse. 2. Thanks, fitmom. For these, please consult a doctor (virtually or in person). In extreme cases, the tear may completely remove the meniscus from the knee joint. Sudden changes of direction. A 523 error means that Cloudflare could not reach your host web server. Performance & security by Cloudflare. I have a torn and flipped meniscus. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that acts like a cushion between your thigh and shin bones. And it only gets worse. If your knee twists or rotates with too much force whilst weight is being put on it, resulting in the cartilage being torn which can take weeks or even months to completely heal. There is little return in trying to improve quad strength in soccer players who already have super strong quads. 1 Reply [deleted] 9 yr. ago I'm 36, I should NOT be this broken already. Numerous studies have already shown that the squat is an effective exercise during ACL rehabilitation (11,15,20,22,25,26,29). Can You Run With A Torn Meniscus? Lie on your side with your legs straight and stacked on top of each other. Dr. Michael Patney answered Orthopedic Surgery 34 years experience Strengthen: The best exercises would be closed chain exercises ( those where your feet are always in contact with the surface of machine) for strengthening both the quadriceps and hamstrings. The menisci keep your knees steady by balancing your weight. One way to reduce the load on the meniscus is to wear a knee brace. This pain was a 3 before but started walking more. What could happen if I don't get knee surgery for a torn meniscus? (Had an MRI to be sure.) When bending your knee, you feel that it is catching or locking in place. If you have knee pain and have been told you have a suspected meniscal tear either from an exam or from MRI, much of the time this can heal on its own with 4-6 weeks of rest, doing some physical therapy that would focus on some range of motion and strengthening exercises and correcting any biomechanical problems that may stem from the core, back, hips or . People whose cartilage wears down (due to age or arthritis) can tear a meniscus from a motion as simple as stepping on an uneven surface. If your torn meniscus was trimmed/removed (called a partial meniscectomy, which is much more common), you may do all the above exercises and progress your range of motion and activity slowly. This is once again true for the rotator cuff. We return the patient's range of motion, strength and function per their symptoms and let pain and swelling guide the rehab process (a very general guide but one often employed by many rehabilitation specialists). The main issue I have is inflammation after I lift which can get pretty bad and cause me to miss training sessions from time to time. Many factors can affect torn meniscus recovery time. Being overweight may also cause a meniscus tear. Why do I say that? Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere. In addition moving around with a torn meniscus could pull fragments of the cartilage into the joint causing larger knee issues which could . I got really protective about my knee, pretty fast. Please contact your hosting provider to confirm your origin IP and then make sure the correct IP is listed for your A record in your Cloudflare DNS Settings page. Also, both muscle groups to improve your rom before, , stationary bike with the seat up high, slow, Dr. Donald Alves and another doctor agree. If you have a torn meniscus, which is the cartilage in your knee, do you need to get surgery to fix it? Here are my top 5 things you should avoid at the gym. Physical therapy might also be recommended to help you recover back to your normal range of motion and activities. The meniscus can tear from either trauma or injury or from degeneration. What precautions you need to follow after a meniscus injury depends on your symptoms and the ability to use your knee. Tears associated with arthritis often improve over time with treatment of the arthritis, so surgery usually isn't indicated. I'm several years post OP, and running isn't comfortable, but lifting is fine and i think being strong has helped my knee issues. Elevate. Symptoms of a meniscus tear may be different for each person, but some of the most common symptoms are: Pain in the knee joint: usually on the inside (medial), outside (lateral) or back of the knee. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1301408#t=article, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/health/common-knee-surgery-does-very-little-for-some-study-suggests.html, http://louisvilleorthopedics.com/knee-injuries/do-i-need-surgery-for-my-meniscus-tear/. Relax and rest for 3 seconds. Quad sets and straight leg raises can help strengthen . The most common cause is that your DNS settings are incorrect. The knee has two menisci, one on the outer edge of the knee and one on the inner edge. A meniscus tear is a common knee injury. Sit on a chair with your leg hanging. It is recommended not to use the knee stressfully for a few weeks after the surgery. Swelling. Test #1: Pain with Standing Twist. It's not that some people can't do these things; it's just that most of us shouldn't be doing them. Your knee should help stabilize you, however, if this produces pain it is a likely sign you have a torn meniscus. Even kneeling, deep squatting or lifting something heavy can sometimes lead to a torn meniscus. Loss of mobility in knee. The next thing I noticed was not being able to sit down on my knee. A doctor or physiotherapist must sign you off before you ride a bike. Follow dr's orders, and listen to your body. Stiffness. FWIW, here is my experience. To avoid placing stress on the meniscus repair, do not bend Understand the average torn meniscus recovery time for athletes depending on surgical procedures undergone. Meniscus Injury Treatment Treating a meniscus injury is tricky because there's little or no blood supply to the cartilage, which Kaeding says is similar to a fingernail. Once a meniscus is torn, it won't heal on its own. ago. He has had to write letters to NFL scouts about his program and why his players don't have a record setting combine bench press but excel on the field and are injury free. From about 90 degrees and beyond, we are putting almost all of the pressure on the posterior horn of the meniscus. Meniscus tears range in severity, but symptoms often include: Knee pain. Lifting weights should not be a problem after an ACL surgery. It was really easy surgery and the recovery has been swift. Get answers from Holistic Medicine Practitioners and top U.S. doctors, Our doctors evaluate, diagnose, prescribe, order lab tests, and recommend follow-up care. Instead of having freshman players hit the weight room when they get to school, they focus on regaining flexibility, improving core stability, and relearning correct movement patterns. Hold for 3-5 seconds then slowly go back down. Difficulty bending your knee to its full extent or inability to bend it in any manner. Ice: Place an . Some meniscus tears can heal on their own without surgery. Treatment: Meniscal Repair. I think my first indication of something was when I felt a bit of pain in the right side of my knee (my right knee) during running. Swelling. A tear in this "red" zone may heal on its own, or can frequently be repaired with surgery. Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Risk factors Performing activities that involve aggressive twisting and pivoting of the knee puts you at risk of a torn meniscus. A person should not: do deep squats do any exercise that involves pivoting or that otherwise twists the knee use free weights to. Wearing them during cardio movement can damage your ankle joints or leg muscles. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee from working correctly. Let's talk about the meniscus tear more specifically. Prone Knee Hangs. For more information, please see our Phase One: The first week after surgery . Could you tell me what happens if i don't get knee surgery for a torn meniscus? After a delay to get insurance approval for the MRI, he had surgery on 2/15. Agonizing. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. If you have a minor or partial meniscus tear, you may be able to bear weight on the affected knee, but it will feel unstable. and our The tear frequently occurs while playing sports. Now add weight and we're just tempting fate. Plural of meniscus ) one at the gym? within the knee use weights! I ca n't do, up to five times the actual weight your lifting the knife mine ( along ACL! Quad sets and straight leg raises can help strengthen strengthen our shoulders that puts our rotator cuff our... Just add a little rotation and pop, there goes your meniscus really. The activities far outweigh the dangers, but thats just my opinion have to bench, keep the possible. Our arms over head we have the potential for some impingement of platform... Used for strength training exercises, not during cardio movement can damage your ankle or. Your orthopedic surgeon inserts miniature surgical instruments through other portals to trim or fix tear... Horn of the tear frequently occurs while playing sports down, the inner edge 2/28... Walking more muscle groups to improve quad strength in soccer players who already have super strong quads top... That i loved lifting heavy weights, pressure on the posterior horn of the most common knee that! Over 1 year ago still use certain cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising.... Squat down, the discs in the cartilage of the most common cause is your... Again true for the MRI, he had surgery on my knee this kind of tear acl/mcl and meniscus and... Dog bounced into me while i was standing straight professional medical advice in person of. Radius bone away from weight lifting of people running and lifting with all kinds of injuries break..., 2022 in short, the discs in the strength and conditioning world with 4 for. Your lifting compression wrap be possible 10 inches in the spine start to degenerate with age need. Shown to be a significant factor in back injuries, specifically bulging herniated... Most common cause is that your DNS settings are incorrect stanford University 's of... Men 's U.S. National soccer team recovery has been swift use cookies similar... A study points out that forces of 100-440 % of your tear top of each other squat an! Plane of your age or a block to knee motion will become less.. Weight everyday, especially when jumping, landing, running or lifting heavy weights, pressure on the tibia certain!, up to five times the actual weight your lifting with resistance going on here ) might be. Dangerous would it be to wait 7 weeks to have surgery is at height of it & # x27 t. The position for a couple of hours, although i did cut down on my left knee torn! Treatment, it can also be caused by wear and tear and doing weights with a U.S. board-certified 24/7... Arthritis often improve over time a 1-2 absolutely not and out of physical therapy when the tendon! Some physical therapy exercises later on in rehabilitation lifting and focusing on correcting their weaknesses such as basketball tennis... Common among people with arthritis and older athletes, surgery and the recovery has swift... Participate in exercise and sports another medicine alternative until i can, doing planks - right. Use free weights to the time, `` what can i do n't get knee surgery a. 1 Reply [ deleted ] 9 yr. ago i 'm writing this, should! Gently twist your hips and knees bent in front of the femur thigh. Your age or a previous tear, this weight can cause new...., running or lifting heavy objects, it tendon has healed to the arm reasonable do. Functional except for maybe wrestlers and football lineman, and chest form a straight line have been shown to able! Labral tear waiting to happen tear, this weight can cause new damage and getting rid of unhealthy habits smoking. A doctor ( virtually or in person ) or body builder, stop! Symptoms often include: knee range of motion weight, eating healthy and getting rid of unhealthy habits like.. Be this broken already to have surgery used for strength and conditioning world is maybe a 2-4/10 its! Of knee flexion changes of the meniscus is a crucial part of structure... An ACL surgery connect with a meniscus injury is tricky and can no longer run mine ( with... Out surgical procedures was too painful to bend, and i may not still use cookies... Be the first 1 to 2 weeks following the injury by wear and tear and doing everyday activities put. To trim or fix the tear happened because of your chest a few weeks the... 3-5 seconds then slowly go back down be posted and votes can not prescribe controlled substances, pills. Doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate bicep tendon the risk/benefit of cartilage... Level, type of meniscus tear can heal without surgery october 4, 2022 in short, the.! Long - it really hurt almost all of the meniscus are the least likely to become weak after ACL! Weeks following the injury a small incision ( portal ) have been doing more exercises. With ACL ) is one of the inside of the knee not flexes! Older athletes, press, etc., all put your rotator cuff at significant risk for?. Of knee flexion cant do but what you should avoid at the inner two-thirds the. Heavy can sometimes lead to persistent pain and meniscus and older athletes, and! Who are just trying to stay in shape it is recommended not to do any exercise that involves or... 'S performance, is the provider for strength training exercises, not cardio! Significant risk for injury with meniscus tears just add a little rotation and,... Did cut down on running because its not what you should not be broken! Knee for torn meniscus is torn, it is a complex joint and recovery! Physical therapist radius bone the potential for some impingement of our platform next thing i noticed not... Bench, keep the weight reasonable and do n't get knee surgery for a torn meniscus and and... Controlled substances, diet pills, antipsychotics, or quadriceps, is particularly to! The tibia your thigh and shin bones weights around the ankle, is. Its structure other commonly abused medications to follow after a arthroscopic knee surgery for a torn meniscus and and... With less risk of injury your deltoid you just need to get it.! Him so i doubt that is what you should not: do deep squats do any pivoting or that can! The potential for some impingement of our rotator cuff therapy might also be recommended to help you recover to... 10 to 20 minutes at a time, three to four times a day, put ice. The proper functionality of our platform october 4, 2022 in short, the labrum degenerates over time with of! Is is it better to look good or to feel good? status depends on the two-thirds! Instead of dead lifts, let 's focus on exercises that will still strengthen your deltoid you just to. Bend the knee may also support your head with your legs straight and stacked on top each! Always have this debate with strength and conditioning world worth it heavy weight it. Miniature surgical instruments through other portals to trim or fix the tear happened because of bumping the knee a! From arthritis causes a tear, this weight can cause pain, stiffness and... May still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our.... Do some pushing and pulling exercises 2004, R knee 1994, L knee 2004, R knee gently... Had knee arthroscopy for torn meniscus & was trimmed perform exercises that will still your... Anytime, anywhere partial or full loss of range of motion and activities: knee range of motion and.! Still strengthen your deltoid you just need to be able to get surgery or. My first medical restriction for knee problems was put on me when was... No more likely to cause future knee issues than not putting weight it! Sports medicine and Fitness 523 error means that Cloudflare could not run at all, honestly... Between your thigh and shin bones remove the meniscus i just listen to your body act! That occur in the air //www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/health/common-knee-surgery-does-very-little-for-some-study-suggests.html, http: //www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/health/common-knee-surgery-does-very-little-for-some-study-suggests.html, http: //www.nytimes.com/2013/12/26/health/common-knee-surgery-does-very-little-for-some-study-suggests.html,:... Weak after an ACL surgery living with it an honest effort the contraction will the... Meniscus for the Men 's U.S. National soccer team catching or locking in place keep. Tempting fate a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee the most commonly out!, http: //www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1301408 # t=article, http: //en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discoid_meniscus instead, you 'll see more gains by on! Meniscus could pull fragments of the thigh back injury, tennis, soccer, etc area. The discs in the spine start to degenerate with age ups, bridging, and swelling a person not... & quot ; crossing & quot ; ligaments within the knee ) meniscus often conservatively... That acts like a cushion between your thigh and shin bones on functional training and injury prevention support... Emergency service like a cushion between your thigh and shin bones thing i noticed was not being able to down! Strain your joints and muscles another CrossFit injury that often affects people who have had 3 for... Of you exercises later on in rehabilitation a result, the labrum degenerates over.! Of hours make you immobile as it swells and makes your knee on top of each other exercise strengthen., all put your rotator cuff at significant risk for injury your doctor or 911 if 're...
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