Recovery from knee surgery

topcattim

I'm not sure if this is the best forum to post this on, but I hope that people can give me some helpful encouragement and advice.

So, after 3 months off the bike with knee pain, I finally got to see the consultant today. His clinical diagnosis is that I either have meniscal injury or possibly damage to my anterior cruciate ligament. This was likely caused by a horror tackle some 8 years ago when I was playing hockey - my difficulty recovering from the injury was what led me to cycling.

I am to be referred for an MRI, hopefully within 4 weeks. If the scan confirms the consultant's thoughts, then I'm in for an op. If it is meniscal injury then he reckons it will be about one month recovery and he predicts I will be back on my bike in the spring. If it is my cruciate ligament then he predicts a three month recovery period, and the soonest I will be back on the bike is mid summer.

I think I am pleased by this news, as it gives an explanation, a timescale, and an implication that it is recoverable. But on the other hand, the thought of another 6 months off the bike is pretty grim. Also my internet research suggests a long rehab time from ACL surgery, 6 to 9 months. I guess the recovery period will depend on the degree of damage, which will in turn be indicated by the MRI.....

So I don't want to run ahead of myself, but I wonder if anyone out there has experienced anything similar and can offer any words of advice or encouragement?

rake

.

markshaw77

As your doc has said, it pretty much depends on what your the MRI says and what action your doc takes after that.

The timescales quoted are pretty much the norm (the shorter timeframe for ACL is for minor arthroscopic treatment, the longer for full ACL repair/reconstruction). For a very basic arthroscopy to remove the torn piece of meniscus, you may be up and running even quicker.

I had a really bad bucket handle tear of my medial meniscus just over 15 months ago and I was around 3 months off the bike. My recovery was a little longer as I had the tear sutured back into place, so was non weight bearing for 4-6 weeks, but got there in the end

After some physio (and a slight relapse) I am happily back on the bike, doing considerably more mileage than I was before (100-150 miles/week over the summer).

My advice would be to get your leg as strong as possible (current pain notwithstanding) before any op, as the muscle wastage during recovery can be pretty rapid and the stronger you are beforehand, the better you will be.

Also, make sure you line up a good physio - it can make the world of difference after the op to ensure you safely and carefully regain the range of motion and strength in the knee as quickly as possible.

Hope that helps and I wish you the best of luck!!

de_sisti

I'm in the process of recovering from knee surgery. In September I had a lateral release,
followed by some tidying up of the back of my kneecap (the kneecap wasn't straight and
was moving at an odd angle), then the removal of some loose bits of cartilidge.

During this process my knee became infected and for the next few days I watched as
the infection spread down from knee to ankle. My lower leg resembled the size of
a tree trunck and my knee was as big as a football (ok, mabye not, but you know get the picture ).

Two weeks later (mid October) I was in hospital again. This time no keyhole surgery, as
the side of my knee was opened up and the kneecap moved in order for the suction tube
to be inserted to drain the joint of excess fluid.

After the proceedure the knee was still huge due to the operational trauma. It was as least
another 3 weeks before the pain susbsided and I could walk witthout crutches. By mid
November I could just about do one pedal revoloution on the static bike in the phyiso's room
at the hospital.

Fast forward to end of November, I was out on the bike again, albeit doing shorter, slower rides.
I'm riding with the slower groups now because to lack of fitness and loss of left leg strength
due to muscle wastage after the op.

I must add that I followed the post op advice of the physio and surgeon to the letter.

The knee still hurts if I put too much pressure on it and this has ruled out circuit training
for the time being. Both the physio and Surgeon have said that complete recovery will
take some months, but are both happy with the progress I've been making.

topcattim

markshaw77 wrote:

My advice would be to get your leg as strong as possible (current pain notwithstanding) before any op, as the muscle wastage during recovery can be pretty rapid and the stronger you are beforehand, the better you will be.

Also, make sure you line up a good physio - it can make the world of difference after the op to ensure you safely and carefully regain the range of motion and strength in the knee as quickly as possible.

Thanks markshaw and maander for your posts, always nice to hear about the light at the end of the tunnel. Maander's sounds like a brute of an injury.

Interesting to read the bits about physio - my regret is that following the hockey injury, I just allowed it to recover on its own, meaning that it probably never did, and I have been living with the consequences.

I was particularly interested by your post, Mark, about continuing the exercises to build muscle growth. The doc was keen on this too; I pointed out that they hurt quite a bit, and in fact the pain from this had led me to believe that I must be further damaging the knee, so I had discontinued, but he was still keen for me to continue. Looks like I'd better start up again.

markshaw77

No worries - I think it is always better to be informed before you go in so you can be realistic about any decisions that need to be made.

What exercises are you doing? has the doc suggested anything specific or is it just general quad strengthening stuff?

If it really does hurt and you are concerned about doing more damage, then you could even consider Electro-Muscle-Stimulation (like the slendertone abs belts) - you can get pads that you can use on your quads that tense/release the muscle without you having to put any real weight through the knee (it still creates some beding/straightening of the knee) - have a google, there is plenty of info around.

The other thing I didn't mention in my original post is the equal importance of stretching - both before and after. My hamstring was (and still is to some extent) really short and tight for a long time after the op and rehab due to me keeping the knee in a slightly flexed position. Again, little and often is your friend here - just keep everything as mobile, supple and strong as you can.

Whatever you end up having done, you can be pretty confident that you will make it back with some hard work and determination.

Good luck

jimih73

Topcattim

i had my 3rd arthroscopic surgery on my knee 3weeks ago, surgeon's thought i had a meniscal tear, turns out i had none to tear! they resected a plica and debrided my kneecap.

it is really important to keep your quads well exercised prior to any surgery (it will help reduce recovery time if you've kept your muscles working). the best exercises i've found for this are all non-weight bearing so should be relatively painless. all are done while lieing on you back or sitting propped up so before getting out of bed in the morning is a perfect time.
the first is really easy, tense up the thigh muscles, trying to push the knee down and raise the heel. Hold that for a few seconds. Try not to tense up the buttock muscles, you should be able to see the muscles on the front of the thigh tensing up and the kneecap move.
the second is a straight leg raise, curl your toes toward your knee contracting your quads raise your heel about 3 inches and hold for 3seconds then lower in a controlled manner.
the third exercise needs a small object under your knee such as a rolled up towel, then keep the knee on the roll while you lift the heel. Try and get the knee completely straight without raising the knee from the roll. If you do this properly, the quadriceps should be contracting properly.
you can repeat these as sets of however many you feel comfortable with. i do 3x10reps currently.
and obviously keep stretching the muscles as much as your knee will allow, it's amazing how difficult some stretches become!
hopefully these will help in the run up to any surgery and they also work really well after surgery.

jimi

lochindaal

But on the other hand, the thought of another 6 months off the bike is pretty grim. Also my internet research suggests a long rehab time from ACL surgery, 6 to 9 months. I guess the recovery period will depend on the degree of damage, which will in turn be indicated by the MRI.....

So I don't want to run ahead of myself, but I wonder if anyone out there has experienced anything similar and can offer any words of advice or encouragement?

It is worth remembering that being on the bike is very good rehab due to the lack of impact. I got an arthoroscopy in both my knees last October. I was able to start using the turbo trainer within a few weeks with a massive 30W power output. Combined with a good physio there is hope.

Good Luck

topcattim

jimih73 wrote:

the first is really easy, tense up the thigh muscles, trying to push the knee down and raise the heel. Hold that for a few seconds. Try not to tense up the buttock muscles, you should be able to see the muscles on the front of the thigh tensing up and the kneecap move
jimi

Thanks for these jimi, will add them in to my morning routine (at last, a good excuse not to get out of bed!
Can you help me out a bit further with this first one? I'm not following the bit about pushing the knee down and raising the heel at the same time.

jimih73

sorry missed the imprtant bit for that exercise! you need to put a folded up pillow or towel under your knee!! :oops:

then all should become clearer!

gregster10217

Hopefully it's a meniscal tear, which is what I had last year. I stood up at a soft play centre I was at with my son and felt it go!!!! How glamarous is that?
Anyway, I had keyhole surgery in October 2008, during afternoon surgery, was out of the hospital that evening and walking the following day. Recovery was very quick with no further problems, although I was lucky enough to be able to go to a work rehab centre for physio, but consultant said it wasn't necessary. I had to get fit for a fitness test in January 2009 and was fine, back on the bike (then a mountain bike) within 3 weeks.
Like I say, hopefully it's a meniscal tear and nothing more serious and you'll be up and about in no time.
The hospital also gave me my tear to bring home, still look at it from time to time!!!! Mrs doesn't like it though!!

markshaw77

gregster10217 wrote:

Hopefully it's a meniscal tear, which is what I had last year. I stood up at a soft play centre I was at with my son and felt it go!!!! How glamarous is that?

Glad I'm not the only one then!!

Did mine coming off a slide in one of these soft play centres - had to be helped out of the building as my knee locked at about 60deg - oh the shame!! :oops: :oops:

carbongimp

im just recovering from my 7th operation in the last 10 years on my knee ive got no cartlidge in the knee from old motorbike crashes and mountainbike crashes.ive just had realigment surgery and my tibia cut and pushed up towards my knee to close the gap from the bone wearing away! i was told after the 6th operation i wouldnt ride a bike again but i just kept going back to different surgoens and found one that spotted what was wrong in 5 minutes !recovery is slow but just stick to what the physio and the surgeon says and you will be fine,and most importantly dont rush it will only end up putting you back not forwards
good luck with it all stay posative

JAnglesea

I've had my right ACL reconstructed twice and would echo the comments made about pre-op fitness. Get yourself in the best shape you can before the op as it will make the recovery quicker. It really is astonishing how quickly muscle wastes away! :shock:
Get those quads built up to protect the knee and improve dynamic stability.
All the best with it.

e999sam

I've had 2 arthroscope on my left knee the last one 3 years ago. I was back on my bike after a few weeks just soft pedaling. Unfortunately my left calf has never fully recovered. Ever since the last op I've had a lump in my calf and the muscle size and tone are nothing like they were before.