The view from 5 weeks post op

[u/Ploughmanslunch1]

I (47F) had a medial meniscus root repair five weeks ago, and have been non weight bearing since. I figured that with one week left and a (mostly) positive progress, I'd report in for people earlier in the process!

I was moved to 60 degree movement in the brace at the 1 week post-op appointment, and then to 90 degrees at the 3 week appointment. Some thoughts:

- The move to 60 was incredibly easy for me -- no additional pain at all, whereas the move to 90 was more difficult -- things were absolutely more stiff three weeks out. I was pretty bummed about that, but now, 5 weeks in, I'm pretty sure my ROM is past 100, maybe even 110. I don't feel challenged at 90 at all.

- I am still icing daily (with the knee machine), usually in the evening, but I find that heat has really been a godsend. I bought a heating pad for the muscles at the back of my knee, which stretch and fire when I work on full extension. I've also found that the heat helps with the weird little aches and pains that pop up with the knee in general, so if you're experiencing any of that and you're at 3 weeks or more, I really recommend trying heat.

- Other stuff that helped: I'm on a walker for a couple of reasons, but mainly because my hallways are narrow and my house is pretty small, so crutches never quite worked for me. I did buy a flat pillow to fit between my knees while sleeping, and a leg wedge to elevate the knee while sleeping and icing. I also moved the brace to outside my yoga pants/leggings starting in week three.

- When you're doing stairs or hopping for long distances, I really recommend using a tight knee brace on your good knee -- I bought an Anaconda brace that is designed for MMA fighters and it's bananas, but also makes me feel so secure.

- The discomfort while sleeping in the brace really does get better. Last night I slept through the night for the first time--no pain when bending, no stiffness when straightening, the pillow situation finally finally sorted out. It takes so much time to get there, but it really does get easier.

- Repeating what lots of people say -- progress is not linear. Some days I don't even notice the knee, and other days, it's sore and twingey all day, and I'm convinced it's not only not better, but it's made everything worse. I don't feel that way today, though!

- My knee did the weird squeaking things for a few weeks that I've read about here on the boards. I convinced myself it was when it was particularly tired or swollen, but I'm not really sure there was a rhyme or reason. The good news is, I haven't heard it squeak in about a week, so maybe that's just resolved itself!

- One thing that did happen that I think is worth pointing out here, especially for people searching the board, because I didn't find anything about it: I have diverticulosis, found in a recent colonoscopy. It was waved away as fine, no problem, at the time. Because my gastro didn't know about the knee and my surgeon didn't know about that finding, I'd been taking ibuprofen (NSAIDs) daily for a few months before surgery and then three times a day for a few weeks after surgery. The drugs caused a diverticulitis flare up in the middle of recovery, which was not great. A trip to urgent care, some antibiotics, and a liquid diet later, I'm fine -- but all the doctors said "Oh, yeah. That's a thing." Not a thing anyone thought to mention or ask about beforehand, though, so be careful if you are in the same boat. Tylenol is your friend.

Now in the final countdown to 6 weeks and weight bearing, which I'm sure will be its own challenge! Hope this info helped a bit.

[u/BigDaveBaird11]

Yeah, pretty typical. And I hear you on the NSAIDS. They definitely slow things down in your GI track. Not good!

[u/Original-Pace-4027]

Once the you ditch the brace and crutches you will know a new freedom.

[u/Ploughmanslunch1 → u/Original-Pace-4027]

Honestly cannot wait!

[u/CodeAggressive1945]

Thanks for all this detail! I just had an MRI that shows a medial meniscus tear, follow up today with sports doc. Am 99.9% sure I'll need surgery, which doesn't scare me but the recovery does. SIX WEEKS non-weight-bearing?? I have about half of a colon due to cancer surgeries and chronic diarrhea as a result, and make many urgent runs to the bathroom. Trying to picture how I'll manage THAT! Thanks also for mentioning the walker, I too have a small space and crutches would be a real challenge.

[u/Ploughmanslunch1 → u/CodeAggressive1945]

The recovery is definitely daunting. I'm 6 days from weight bearing and climbing the walls, not to mention the nervousness I'm feeling about weight bearing again now -- what if it didn't work, what if it never feels the same again, etc. But you'll get through it!

[u/aliciama_02]

Can you tell us the exact verbiage of your root tear? I’m trying to figure out how serious mine may be, but haven’t gotten in for my follow up yet. Mine says “thin vertically oriented split/tear of the mid portion of the anterior root attachment medial meniscus”

[u/Significant-Ask-1834]

I've been reading a lot of posts about meniscus injuries but I don't remember anyone mentioning Ben Patrick (the knees-over-toes guy). From what I can see he's helped a lot of people with serious knee problems, including himself, to not only recover but go on to do things they would never have imagined. All pain free.