Recovery after meniscus surgery - what's your experience

[FastforaSlowGuy]

I'm 6 weeks post-op from a medial meniscopy, and I need a sanity check from the cycling community. My doc is top notch, but the constant refrain of "it will get better" is sounding thin after all this time. How long did it take for you to be back to riding normally again?

My knee still turns into a balloon whenever I get on the bike longer than 15-20 minutes (or do other repetitive-motion exercises, like swimming). It seems okay when I do non-repetitive activities (e.g., strength training). Zero pain, but the swelling sometimes get bad enough that the pressure hurts like hell. I'm going batty!

[Dave]

My luck has been better. I've had three surgeries for torn meniscus. The longest it took me to get back to riding was two weeks. The other two times I had the surgery on a Friday and rode at least 40 miles the next Friday.

Unfortunately, my left knee now has little cartilage left, so I hung up the bike almost 3 years ago. I expect to have a knee replacement in the next couple of years.

[eddief]

so too long ago to remember the details in detail. but i can assure you that both of my recoveries were much quicker than what you speak of. maybe time for a come to jesus meeting with your doc or a sound second opinion other than your bros here in cyberspace. are we not talking about a couple of tiny holes near your knee cap, sticking one thing in there to inflate it, and another thing to go "clip, clip" and then wham bam thank you ma'am?. i hope you get some satisfaction soon.


come to jesus meeting

A meeting where someone close to you (e.g. friend, family, etc.) are confronted over behavior that's causing consternation that's negatively effecting your relationship.

[Ken Robb]

Obviously some operations that sound the same vary in how much work/trimming, etc. was needed in each case. My first knee was about like your experience. My second one needed less work and I bounced back quicker.
My surgeon is a cyclist and he liked the idea of my cycling for rehab but he emphasized "ONLY EASY SPINNING:NO BIG GEARS AT ALL!!!!!" Sorry for the caps but he was very emphatic.

[dem]

Lately my knee clicks with every step up stairs or when I load it up on the bike. Doesn't hurt.. but probably going to join you guys soon.

Hopefully mine is of the faster recovery variety?

[kestrel]

Everyone heals at a different rate, and every meniscus surgery is different.

I had meniscus and ACL replacement at the same time. Two weeks later I was turning a stationary bike (in reverse the first day, for some reason the therapist said it was easier in reverse) and never looked back. I can't remember a bad day and 3 weeks later I did a 25 miler at snails pace. About two months later I was almost back to normal riding.

[FastforaSlowGuy]

By the numbers, it's been a helluva summer:

Number of doctor visits: 11
Different doctors visited: 4
Times a giant needle has been stuck in my knee to drain it: 4
Blood labs: 2
X-rays: 2
MRIs: 1
Surgery: 1
Weeks since I've ridden a bike without swelling: 14


After all this, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease this week. Judging by the test profile, the infectious disease guy thinks I've had it for quite a while (probably was bit last fall). I thought this was worth sharing here because the symptoms are easily missed/mistaken, and hopefully sharing what I learned can help someone streamline their care a bit.

My treating physician is an infectious disease specialist, and he says this about Lyme disease:

Early symptoms (1-2 weeks after a bite) are the usual rash, fever, flu-like feelings. These eventually clear up, so if the rash is not large or very visible, it's easy to miss.
If you miss the early symptoms (or your case isn't cleared up by the initial course of antibiotics), later symptoms include arthritis-like swelling. This usually crops up 6 months after a bite, long after you've forgotten you were ever sick. The bacteria tend to pick one joint, and it's generally a big one such as the knee. Less often it will show up in multiple joints.
The joint swelling for Lyme disease is not like a typical injury. There tends to be lots of fluid, it doesn't respond well to RICE, and the joint doesn't usually turn red when swollen. It presents like arthritis or "water on the knee".

In my case, I happened to also have a meniscus tear. Whether the Lyme cropped up before or after the tear, nobody can say. But I sure wish I had thought to ask about Lyme when all this started in March. I might still have had the surgery, but at least I'd be healed up and enjoying some summer riding by now!

Thought it was worth sharing. I'm going to take my Lyme-killing mega pills now and count the days until I can get back on the bike.

[buddybikes]

As a little FYI, on antibiotics ensure you pound yourself with probiotics, c diff sucks. There is actually a yeast based one that is more effective, daughter currently on it, florastar

[parris]

WHAT STEVE SAID!!!!!!! Having been through that particular issue in the past it's no joke at all.

[tkdbrusco]

I had mine done on March 1st (had my ACL replaced and meniscus repaired) Not sure if yours was repaired or just cut out. They had me non-weight bearing for four weeks, I was back on the bike by 8 weeks and kept it flat and short and rode the trainer at the gym. Honestly the ACL anchors bothered me more than the meniscus, but I also think it depends on what part of the meniscus was repaired/replaced? Mine was in the back of my knee. In mid May (10 weeks after surgery) I was doing some nice hills and logging about 30 miles a ride. On June 8th (a little over three months after surgery) I rode a 100K with 7,000ft of climbing (in 106 degree heat at the end of the ride, but that's irrelevant). I'm now feeling stronger than I did before and am so glad that I had the surgery. I did notice that crank length makes all the difference to the stress on my knee. I was riding 175's or 172.5's depending on my bike, and switched down to 170's and my knees feel way better.

[tiretrax]

Stupid question, but have you been going through physical therapy? My PT got me back on the bike very quickly knowing what my goal was. Also, I used Aleeve for a few months and strapped on gel-ice packs after my rides.

[rdparadise]

Sorry you're still swelling so much post-op. I too had a small meniscus tear and lazer surgery. I stepped off the operating table and was out of there with one crutch for assistance. I was riding normally within 4 weeks. I could have rode sooner, however it was February so I figured I'd wait until march and warmer weather here in the east.

My ortho discovered the Lyme's disease about 6 months post surgery when my knee blew up again and I became really depressed. I was thinking my riding days were behind me. Anyway, the antibiotics were administered via a picc line to my chest. 10 minutes a day for a month. Post 30 day cycle I have been good as gold. Lyme disease was probably advanced 2nd stage or early 3rd stage when discovered.

Get tested for Lyme's disease. I would suspect the swelling is related to that then the surgery. I wouldn't think you'd still have significant post-op swelling that many weeks out from surgery.

Good luck. Pm me if you want more details of my rode to recovery.

Bob

[FastforaSlowGuy]

Not a stupid question at all. I'm super diligent about PT, icing, etc. That's what made this so weird. I was in great shape post-op, doing fantastic on PT, and then the swelling just came back. I've never been so happy to have Lyme. I was actually getting into pretty good race shape, so I have a fair bit of rebuilding to do. Swelling actually accelerates muscle atrophy, so me legs are visibly different sizes now. I suspect that as a result of all this, my PT will stretch out several months rather than several weeks as I try to recoup and rebalance my leg strength.

Stupid question, but have you been going through physical therapy? My PT got me back on the bike very quickly knowing what my goal was. Also, I used Aleeve for a few months and strapped on gel-ice packs after my rides.

[tiretrax]

Not a stupid question at all. I'm super diligent about PT, icing, etc. That's what made this so weird. I was in great shape post-op, doing fantastic on PT, and then the swelling just came back. I've never been so happy to have Lyme. I was actually getting into pretty good race shape, so I have a fair bit of rebuilding to do. Swelling actually accelerates muscle atrophy, so me legs are visibly different sizes now. I suspect that as a result of all this, my PT will stretch out several months rather than several weeks as I try to recoup and rebalance my leg strength.

Wow, what a burden. I hope you recuperate quickly and fully. Will you take up deer hunting?