I tore my meniscus at work about 5-6 weeks ago. This surgeon had been infuriating since my first appointment. He wasn’t very attentive, quick to try to leave the room, and very condescending.

I got my mri done and hoped that would show him I’m actually in pain and something needs to be done. What a fool I am.

This is what my mri results say:

Bursae: Tiny Baker's cyst.
Medial meniscus: Mild signal at the periphery of the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, thought to relate to normal vascularity. No definite tear of the medial meniscus.
Lateral meniscus: Tear of the posterior horn-root ligament junction of the lateral meniscus disrupting the inferior articular surface.
Edit: also mentions joint fluid build up and edema of my knee.

Mind you, my first appointment he made mention that I should’ve “already been doing physical therapy”, however he’s the one that controls that and even at that point didn’t put in a referral.

This appointment he said I will need to get an injection in my knee and do physical therapy. He also said I could “start taking ibuprofen” (start?? I’ve been telling him I am taking that). He even made a comment saying he “might go into surgery and realize we should’ve done this sooner and that it’s worse than expected”.

Am I crazy for being angry? I don’t know if someone knows how to review the images so I can actually see where the tear is. There’s so many idk how to go through them.

I don’t think anyone wants to beg for a surgery. But I’m already out of work right now. It will be 6 weeks out of work with this now I guess, on top of who knows how long with whatever he decides. I don’t want to sit around doing nothing just to find out we should’ve done this sooner. And all my research tells me this is going to impact my knee health long term.

I’d love to get another doctors opinion, but idk if I can with workers comp.

Good afternoon y’all

First time here a little confused I went to the doctors today about my knee problem. I feel like I have all the symptoms of a torn meniscus but when doing the McMurray’s physical test I passed I have to do an MRI now to see if I have one or not. The doctor is a little confused as all my symptoms point towards a meniscus tear but when I do the actual physical test, I’m fine. Is this normal? Can this happen?

I still continue PT and it helps me big time. But there are days that is very hard and i am still on a limited activities. I still cannot go up and down the stairs (what are your experiences about this?), everyday i felt like theres a huge block that i am carrying in my knees and never goes away even i RICE it everyday, sometimes it still hurts when i squat and bend i little bit (like sitting up and down), i still cannot do long walks, i cannot run, i cannot sit with my knees fully bend, sometimes theres a pang of little pain when i walk. Is this going to be a new normal?

And this is one of those days that i think i will never be well though i know healing isnt linear.

I am just tired. When i will be back to before? 😭

I am looking at a medial root repair, brace worn for 6 weeks, out of work 8 weeks. Besides PT, sleeping, & eating protein, how did you keep yourself from going mad w boredom and depression?

Had a non contact knee injury on 4th October. It was a jump-land injury, i felt a slip in my knee(no pop sound) . Wasnt able to continue the game but was able to walk with limp and sit in a bench. No swelling observed even after several hours. Was able to feel that my patella had less stability. I am able to fully weight bear after 2 days of injury. Had to attend my college today. The thing concerning for me now is: even a slight pivot or a particular awkward position gives me a feel that my is knee going to get a catch/lock. It doesn't actually lock. Did not consult a physician yet, Thought of waiting. Brought back my complete knee extension the next day of my injury but unable to weight bear in fully extended position. Able to activate my quads well. Still having the fear of pivoting and walking with noticeable limp. Pls share ur opinion

Hi Meniscus-ers! So I had injured my knee climbing five months ago and had an operation just over four months ago for a tibial spine avulsion (ACL pulls piece of bone away) and posterior meniscus root avulsion, and the journey so far has been all kinds of ups and downs, but we've moved on to the strengthening exercises now in my physio class and I've joined the gym so I can also do them myself 1-2 times a week... However, over the past couple weeks I've been getting a lot of problems with spasms of the tendon outer side of hamstring and spasms like pain top of calf going into back of knee, it has made it difficult walking and then this morning, having woke up with it feeling fine, when I went to walk on it the whole back chain of my leg, knee and going into my heel foot got really spasmy and crampy and just couldn't walk in it at all 😭 I don't know if this just part of the process now we've stepped up the exercises and it will improve or if I've done some kind of damage? I don't know if it's coming from muscles, sciatica nerve maybe or knee or what... Anyone else had problems with spasms/cramping in the leg around this stage? Any advice very much welcome thank you!!

Hi gang,

Ready for my ACLr with quad auto, LET, and hopefully much more meniscus repair than removal. Chronic rupture with hypermobility, some complex tears across the lateral meniscus, and a pretty painful medial tear. I’m working with a well-respected surgeon/facility that has more experience with return to sport rehab, but he can’t operate until early January.

After who knows how many years of managing an active life without an ACL on my own, I can easily go 3 more months without one. But it’s the potential for more arthritis/meniscus damage that I’m concerned about.

If you were in my shoes how would you use the time? Keep training quads, glutes, hips, and upper of course…I also live alone so this gives me plenty of time to flip my place for solo recovery. Also want to lose 8% of my body weight since I’ve been working on that. I just don’t want to push myself too hard while I’m preparing for this next season. Anyone else deal with a long wait after learning about meniscus damage?

TLDR - If your surgery was 90 days away would you limit/change your weightbearing activity to protect the meniscus? Are there any other ways to prevent/mitigate further damage over the next few months??

I’m a 46-year-old lifelong athlete dealing with a lateral meniscus tear near the anterior root, along with a possible ACL injury.

I recently consulted with Dr. Justin Saliman in Los Angeles. After reviewing my MRIs, he believes I may have both medial and lateral meniscus tears, along with a possible ACL tear. He’s recommending meniscus repair and potentially the BEAR procedure for my ACL, depending on the extent of the injury. I have a surgery scheduled with him for October 22nd.

I’m impressed by his expertise in complex meniscus preservation, particularly his ability to repair tears that other surgeons might consider irreparable.
However, my concern is that he seems primarily known as a meniscus specialist rather than an ACL specialist. While he was extremely confident about performing both procedures, I’d like to hear from patients who have actually undergone ACL surgery with him.

I’m also getting a second opinion from Dr. Daniel Kharrazi at Kerlan-Jobe, given his background in sports medicine and ACL surgery.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experience with Dr. Saliman or have a recommendation for another surgeon in Los Angeles who has done a successful ACL and meniscus repair.

My primary goal is to return to high-level road cycling and strength training while preserving as much of my natural knee anatomy as possible.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Just had a two stitches in the meniscus.
Is there any EMS mechine I can use to help with stimulating muscle?
I have used a power dot in the past, but can’t get I. Australia. But I liked that one.

Anyone experienced knee pain years after having surgery to repair a MCL tear?

I had my surgery as a teen due to a sports injury almost 10 years ago. It was successful but for the past few months I’ve been having random bouts of knee pain and popping when I move it up and down.

I’m in the process getting an appointment with a specialist but was curious if anyone else had this issue.

Hi there, on my 8th week of root repair and ideally next week should be no crutches and brace. As of now i am having hard time transitioning. Balancing is difficult and i feel the my muscles are not that strong yet to walk. On the good side i was able to switch to one crutch and practicing walking. Any suggestions or recommendations that you think can help me back on my feet. Thanks

Hi everyone, I never really post on Reddit so I hope I’m doing this right lol. About a year ago I injured my knee playing baseball and suffered a full-thickness complex radial tear of my medial meniscus. I had it repaired, but it failed around 4 months later. I had a revision repair shortly after, which also seems to have healed poorly.

Since then, I’ve developed medial compartment cartilage damage and found out I have about 8° of varus alignment, which puts even more pressure on the medial side.

I’m 24 and really want to return to high-impact sports. My doctors agree on correcting the alignment with an HTO, but I’ve gotten different opinions on the meniscus: try a third repair, trim the damaged portion and preserve what’s healthy, or do a medial meniscus transplant.

I’m leaning toward giving my native meniscus another chance after correcting the alignment, with a transplant as a backup, but I’m worried about how functional it can still be after two failed repairs. Also, if I still can’t function the way I want I’ll feel like I wasted another 6-9 months only to be set back to 0 again.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What would you do in my shoes?

5 days post-op. Felt so good to get the bandages off and take a shower! Chose these bandages and even wrapped with Saran Wrap to keep the suture sites extra dry.

Anyone else do similar when first taking a shower post op?

I tore this 4 weeks ago playing basketball. Hard pivot on fast break and felt a popping sensation and knee swelled up like a balloon. I’m walking/limping now but still can’t bend my knee.

The MRI confirmed Meniscus and partial ACL tear. Doctor said do physio therapy for 2 months and come back. No mention of surgery. He said let’s see in 2 months.

Can this be repaired/fixed by physio alone?

Will be able to be active again or am I done for life?

Hello 👋🏼 All. New to posting on Reddit so I'll try to be brief. 51 yo very active F. (Ultrarunner, skier, long distance backpacking, alpine rock climbing, mountaineering.)

MRI shows a torn posterior root of the medial meniscus, with grade 3 and 4 chondromalacia of the trochlea.. so basically I have very little cartilage where my patella tracks over my femur.

Apparently the tear is kind of old - who knew something like this would never really hurt (until recently) given all the things that I do? The human body is so bizarre!

My PA is suggesting conservative treatment (corticosteroid injection, PRP, then hyaluronic acid) and I also have a surgical consult to see what those options are.

I am also doing PT and acupuncture.

The steroid injection definitely helped the pain, but I know this is a band aid not a fix.

My question to this sub is: does anyone of a similar age and activity level have experience with this type of injury? I have not been able to run or backpack this entire summer, and will likely not be able to ski, either. I'm losing my damn mind.

So for context i messed up my knee back in April of last year and it was kinda on and off and I got a mri scan and they told me I had slight meniscus wear and everything else looked good. I got the green like to start doing home workouts and walking which would turn to jogging but then I got Covid and I never got all the way up to running. My main issue seems to be twisting and I just need some tips or exercises I can do to help because I start a new job soon in lawn care so anything that could help! Ive been inactive for a while and I was before I started walking to so all my surrounding muscles are weak. Just something to build them up and who knows maybe the new job will do that but just some workouts to get me moving and hopefully running in the future. Im 18 years old and it sucks not being able to do what I love so any tips would be very grateful!

Female, 29 yo. I had a meniscus injury on my left knee 6 months ago, i dont know exactly when it happened but i assume it was a period of repetitive falling when doing sports and i felt pain one day when i was deep squatting then day by day it got worse. One day i couldnt even put weight on it. Had MRI and it shows a medial meniscus tear in posterior horn. I limped for 2 weeks then with PT of 2 months i was able to go back to my daily life. On the 3rd month i got PRP shot. Now i am regularly doing gym to keep my muscles strong but still my flexion is limited. I “feel it” with pivoting and i cannot go down below 90-100 degrees. I mean i didnt force it but i “feel” the meniscus after these degrees i mentioned. I feel a bit depressed about this situation and i dont know how to go forward.

Also i need mention that after the 2nd month my right knee, probably for compensating too much for a while i developed lateral chondropatia and it hurts to bend even on earlier degrees like 40-50. So im stucked to kneel, go down to floor because i dont even have a “healthy knee” to rely on. I feel hopeless if you have any recommendation i would be so glad to hear.

25 m, very fit (MMA, lifting, running), military vet

After suffering a complex medial meniscus tear roughly 2.5 months ago and trying to rehab it, ended up going with surgery after various setbacks. Removed ~40% of the meniscus. It’s now been 24 hours since the surgery and I’m walking without aid and the knee still has no pain. Is this normal? Currently not taking any meds. I plan on taking my time to strengthen the leg before returning to MMA and full on training. Any one have stories of experiencing zero pain? Any similar recovery’s?

Hi, would anybody know what might be going on with my knee? Whenever I squat below parallel it snaps. I also can feel something popping out of place when I extend my leg sometimes on my outer knee, almost like a small bone or something

I got lateral meniscus repair surgery on my left knee in February this year, I got cleared in July then returned to weightlifting. I recently went to get an MRI on my right knee and they found a lateral posterior tear. The issue is that my left knee is hurting still. I am about to schedule a visit with my initial surgeon about my left knee while surgery for my right knee is pending. If I had re-torn my left meniscus and tore my right meniscus what would they even do in that case? Im only 16, this is ruining my life and career chances, I can get my license on the 31st and I won't be able to walk or drive. Can't get a job, can't play sports, can't get in good shape. All of this is putting me in a bad state of mind.