Knee arthroscopy (cartilage issues) recovery
Discussion
Had pain in my knee on and off since March. Various scans showed a piece of loose cartilage and also experiencing a slight 'catching' or resistance when totally straightening my leg, mainly experienced goung up and down stairs.
Anyhow, had an arthroscopy on Monday (so 5 days ago), various cartilage fragments and bits removed. Not sure what else was done, seeing consultant again in a week and half.
I appreciate its only 5 days post op but my knee feels worse than ever so wondering what recovery experiences are like? I understand that whats been done will vary hence variation in recovery. Mine sounds clicky and crunchy, this could just be the trauma and bodily shock to the knee from whats been done i guess/hope and that it will settle down.
Motion very restricted but its still swollen and sore too but its the crunchy noises and pain when doing slight bending that are concerning me especially as I feel like an old man this week! Could be the knees shock still from the procedure which will perhaps take konger than I expect.
Anyone had similar? Oh and I'm 48, not over weight and fit/active (usually) and doing all the gentle exercises recommended.
Anyhow, had an arthroscopy on Monday (so 5 days ago), various cartilage fragments and bits removed. Not sure what else was done, seeing consultant again in a week and half.
I appreciate its only 5 days post op but my knee feels worse than ever so wondering what recovery experiences are like? I understand that whats been done will vary hence variation in recovery. Mine sounds clicky and crunchy, this could just be the trauma and bodily shock to the knee from whats been done i guess/hope and that it will settle down.
Motion very restricted but its still swollen and sore too but its the crunchy noises and pain when doing slight bending that are concerning me especially as I feel like an old man this week! Could be the knees shock still from the procedure which will perhaps take konger than I expect.
Anyone had similar? Oh and I'm 48, not over weight and fit/active (usually) and doing all the gentle exercises recommended.
I’m not a doc/surgeon, but I’ve had meniscus debridement and ACL reconstruction.
5 days in and you’ll still be recovering from surgery trauma, and you’ll be swollen which will contribute to pain, discomfort and limited mobility. Give it time, ice and elevate. It’ll improve, and follow the physio regime religiously.
5 days in and you’ll still be recovering from surgery trauma, and you’ll be swollen which will contribute to pain, discomfort and limited mobility. Give it time, ice and elevate. It’ll improve, and follow the physio regime religiously.
I had an arthroscopy on my right knee fifteen years ago at 55.
Operation went like a dream, (only a minor keyhole procedure) although foolishly I went back to work two days later, as I felt OK.
For ten years I was fine, never gave it a thought, but this last five years the pain has come back, and I am considering having a partial, or full knee replacement in a couple of years, but I really would rather not, only last resort.
Had a steroid injection two weeks ago, but not made any difference,
Keep doing your exercises.
Operation went like a dream, (only a minor keyhole procedure) although foolishly I went back to work two days later, as I felt OK.
For ten years I was fine, never gave it a thought, but this last five years the pain has come back, and I am considering having a partial, or full knee replacement in a couple of years, but I really would rather not, only last resort.
Had a steroid injection two weeks ago, but not made any difference,
Keep doing your exercises.
Thanks chaps and Doc. Realise its very soon, I guess some googling of these things throws up the whole spectrum of recovery which hasnt helped (does it ever).
Definitely keeping up the physio exercises and hopefully will see signs of improvement over next few weeks. Being an active person previously makes ot worse but definately won't be doing anything to jeopardise recovery.
I used to do a bit of running (nothing heavy, not long distance), this year its only been cycling for cardio exercise and I wont be sad if I never go for a run again as long as I can get out on the bike.
Definitely keeping up the physio exercises and hopefully will see signs of improvement over next few weeks. Being an active person previously makes ot worse but definately won't be doing anything to jeopardise recovery.
I used to do a bit of running (nothing heavy, not long distance), this year its only been cycling for cardio exercise and I wont be sad if I never go for a run again as long as I can get out on the bike.
Last Visit said:
Thanks chaps and Doc. Realise its very soon, I guess some googling of these things throws up the whole spectrum of recovery which hasnt helped (does it ever).
Definitely keeping up the physio exercises and hopefully will see signs of improvement over next few weeks. Being an active person previously makes ot worse but definately won't be doing anything to jeopardise recovery.
I used to do a bit of running (nothing heavy, not long distance), this year its only been cycling for cardio exercise and I wont be sad if I never go for a run again as long as I can get out on the bike.
Good luck Definitely keeping up the physio exercises and hopefully will see signs of improvement over next few weeks. Being an active person previously makes ot worse but definately won't be doing anything to jeopardise recovery.
I used to do a bit of running (nothing heavy, not long distance), this year its only been cycling for cardio exercise and I wont be sad if I never go for a run again as long as I can get out on the bike.
Keep doing your exercises, it's easy to get lazy and pack them in after a few weeks.
I was given some by my Doc two weeks ago, and I've done half of them twice.
Starting tomorrow, prompted by this thread, I'll make the effort.
Wacky Racer said:
Good luck
Keep doing your exercises, it's easy to get lazy and pack them in after a few weeks.
I was given some by my Doc two weeks ago, and I've done half of them twice.
Starting tomorrow, prompted by this thread, I'll make the effort.
Thank you. Managed mine 4 times today, hope you had the motivation to do yours. Keep doing your exercises, it's easy to get lazy and pack them in after a few weeks.
I was given some by my Doc two weeks ago, and I've done half of them twice.
Starting tomorrow, prompted by this thread, I'll make the effort.
OP, just seen this thread. I had an arthroscopy on my right knee a few days before you on the 7th Dec.
Mine was a recurrence of a tear I did in late 2015 playing squash. I went through months of physio, all to no effect, before having an MRI scan and then being operated on in mid 2016. It was absolutely fine up until spring this year, then started to really hurt. I'm not sure what I did to repeat the injury, it was nothing specific. Following more physio, I had a steroid injection in the summer which achieved nothing and then after an MRI scan in November revealed the tear had got bigger, I had a full meniscus repair done with the meniscus being stitched back together and the knee cleaned out of all the loose bits.
How are you getting on with the physio? It's a real bugger isn't it
I was told I could weight bear immediately but I have to wear a brace for 4-6 weeks limiting the bend to 90 degrees. So far I've religiously done the physio but being a pretty active person I've overdone it a few times hobbling about and paid for it a few hours afterwards. Having to sleep in the knee brace has been interesting too, there's cushions and pillows everywhere in our bed just to keep my leg supported
Anyway, all the best with the recovery, I'd be interested in your progress
Mine was a recurrence of a tear I did in late 2015 playing squash. I went through months of physio, all to no effect, before having an MRI scan and then being operated on in mid 2016. It was absolutely fine up until spring this year, then started to really hurt. I'm not sure what I did to repeat the injury, it was nothing specific. Following more physio, I had a steroid injection in the summer which achieved nothing and then after an MRI scan in November revealed the tear had got bigger, I had a full meniscus repair done with the meniscus being stitched back together and the knee cleaned out of all the loose bits.
How are you getting on with the physio? It's a real bugger isn't it
I was told I could weight bear immediately but I have to wear a brace for 4-6 weeks limiting the bend to 90 degrees. So far I've religiously done the physio but being a pretty active person I've overdone it a few times hobbling about and paid for it a few hours afterwards. Having to sleep in the knee brace has been interesting too, there's cushions and pillows everywhere in our bed just to keep my leg supported Anyway, all the best with the recovery, I'd be interested in your progress
Mine go back 35 years , I took a tumble while having a bad dose of the flu while attached to the forces in Germany
I ended up in the RAF hospital in Wegberg had an op to repair a tear in my left knee . Home after 3 days
3 months later I'm playing cricket against the hospital and batting the bowling of the surgeon that had operated on me . He actually heard my knee pop and tear as I turned and slipped when next to him . We were playing in the grounds of the hospital so I went straight from the pitch to the ward and was in theatre by 10am the next morning. Out of hospital the following day. Loads of niggles over the next couple of years .
After a series of locked knee I was taken into my local UK hospital for my third op . This was in and out the same day , I knew something was wrong as I was in pain which I never had been before after an operation
Two days later I'm back in hospital with a knee the size of a beach ball and full of infection.
Constant grinding and locking for the next two years. Then another op and told by my consultant that I have osteoarthritis and would need to replace the knee but I was too young
.
I ended up in the RAF hospital in Wegberg had an op to repair a tear in my left knee . Home after 3 days
3 months later I'm playing cricket against the hospital and batting the bowling of the surgeon that had operated on me . He actually heard my knee pop and tear as I turned and slipped when next to him . We were playing in the grounds of the hospital so I went straight from the pitch to the ward and was in theatre by 10am the next morning. Out of hospital the following day. Loads of niggles over the next couple of years .
After a series of locked knee I was taken into my local UK hospital for my third op . This was in and out the same day , I knew something was wrong as I was in pain which I never had been before after an operation
Two days later I'm back in hospital with a knee the size of a beach ball and full of infection.
Constant grinding and locking for the next two years. Then another op and told by my consultant that I have osteoarthritis and would need to replace the knee but I was too young
.
AndrewGP said:
OP, just seen this thread. I had an arthroscopy on my right knee a few days before you on the 7th Dec.
Mine was a recurrence of a tear I did in late 2015 playing squash. I went through months of physio, all to no effect, before having an MRI scan and then being operated on in mid 2016. It was absolutely fine up until spring this year, then started to really hurt. I'm not sure what I did to repeat the injury, it was nothing specific. Following more physio, I had a steroid injection in the summer which achieved nothing and then after an MRI scan in November revealed the tear had got bigger, I had a full meniscus repair done with the meniscus being stitched back together and the knee cleaned out of all the loose bits.
How are you getting on with the physio? It's a real bugger isn't it I was told I could weight bear immediately but I have to wear a brace for 4-6 weeks limiting the bend to 90 degrees. So far I've religiously done the physio but being a pretty active person I've overdone it a few times hobbling about and paid for it a few hours afterwards. Having to sleep in the knee brace has been interesting too, there's cushions and pillows everywhere in our bed just to keep my leg supported
Anyway, all the best with the recovery, I'd be interested in your progress
Sorry, late reply here as been busy. Not busy running about I may add, just other stuff. Mine was a recurrence of a tear I did in late 2015 playing squash. I went through months of physio, all to no effect, before having an MRI scan and then being operated on in mid 2016. It was absolutely fine up until spring this year, then started to really hurt. I'm not sure what I did to repeat the injury, it was nothing specific. Following more physio, I had a steroid injection in the summer which achieved nothing and then after an MRI scan in November revealed the tear had got bigger, I had a full meniscus repair done with the meniscus being stitched back together and the knee cleaned out of all the loose bits.
How are you getting on with the physio? It's a real bugger isn't it
I was told I could weight bear immediately but I have to wear a brace for 4-6 weeks limiting the bend to 90 degrees. So far I've religiously done the physio but being a pretty active person I've overdone it a few times hobbling about and paid for it a few hours afterwards. Having to sleep in the knee brace has been interesting too, there's cushions and pillows everywhere in our bed just to keep my leg supported Anyway, all the best with the recovery, I'd be interested in your progress
My knee has been very delicate since my op. The reasons became clearl when I had a follow up appointment with the surgeon who explained it hhad been a difficult op, I was in theatre for 2 hours solid and he only stopped as it got to the point whereby the tourniquet had to be released before it would cause issues. In his words, I've never known so many loose bodies/tiny bits in a knee and in the hardest to access areas. In short, my miniscus and other cartilage actually looks ok and smooth I'm told and I saw some pics he showed that he took. One piece he had to cut first insitu as it was too big to grab with his instruments further explaining why I was in theatre so long. In terms of diagnosis he suspects synovial chondromatosis.
So 2 hours of fiddling about in my knee clearly caused the knee a lot of stress so recoup has been slow and steady. No 2 days have been exactly the same albeit it is getting better slightly each day. It aches more at the end of the day, which is not a surprise. I haven't driven yet and indeed walking even short distances for the first 3 weeks was painful and I'd have to stop sometimes due to sharp pains or stiffness.
Today it's definitely a little bit better than yesterday so looking positive. 6 weeks to get over the op he told me (currently in week 4) with further time to address muscle wastage etc.
Two small pieces left floating about still that he didnt have time to get out, whether they will need to be dealt with in the future I will have to see and seek the docs advice.
Doing the physio still. Its amazing how quickly strength and muscle mass drops off with inactivity. I'd been nursing my knee issue for 6 months prior to the op amd before that was doing regular exercise, gym and cycling so 6 months pretty much ceasing all of that had taken its toll on the leg.
About to lie on the floor now and do my 2nd set of the day.
Edited by Last Visit on Friday 5th January 14:09
Edited by Last Visit on Friday 5th January 15:58
Last Visit said:
Sorry, late reply here as been busy. Not busy running about I may add, just other stuff.
My knee has been very delicate since my op. The reasons became clear when I had a follow up appointment with the surgeon who explained it had been a difficult op, I was in theatre for 2 hours solid and he only stopped as it got to the point whereby the tourniquet had to be released before it would cause issues. In his words, I've never known so many loose bodies/tiny bits in a knee and in the hardest to access areas. In short, my miniscus and other cartilage actually looks ok and smooth I'm told and I saw some pics he showed that he took. One piece he had to cut first insitu as it was too big to grab with his instruments further explaining why I was in theatre so long. In terms of diagnosis he suspects synovial chondromatosis.
My knee has been very delicate since my op. The reasons became clear when I had a follow up appointment with the surgeon who explained it had been a difficult op, I was in theatre for 2 hours solid and he only stopped as it got to the point whereby the tourniquet had to be released before it would cause issues. In his words, I've never known so many loose bodies/tiny bits in a knee and in the hardest to access areas. In short, my miniscus and other cartilage actually looks ok and smooth I'm told and I saw some pics he showed that he took. One piece he had to cut first insitu as it was too big to grab with his instruments further explaining why I was in theatre so long. In terms of diagnosis he suspects synovial chondromatosis.
Oh dear, sorry to read about the pain that you are experiencing. Hope further time will soon bring about an improvement for you.
A different knee operation (usually later in life) is required, after the cartilage becomes extremely worn.
I just mention this to you, because I kept a progress record of the post surgery pain, following a 'half knee replacement'.
Daily doses several times each day of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen, difficulty sleeping for a few weeks. Strict adherence to the recommended physio routines three times each day, which helped eventually to enable a 140° knee bend. It was in week eleven that the constant pain ended. Fortunately I had discovered a very skilled surgeon.
It is surprising to me, that your operation involves more post operative trauma than a knee replacement, but I am no medical expert.
Best wishes and hope you will be feeling better soon.
AndrewGP said:
OP, how’s your recovery going? Hopefully you’re seeing some progression and some reduction in pain?
Yes, it's significantly better now thank you. I can cycle now which was a relief, have been driving for weeks again and the pain is not completely gone but it's slight niggles more than anything. It's still not as strong as it was and going up and down stairs isn't quite back to normal. When I do get pain it's front of knee amd in an area where there's a definate lump, whether that's scar tissue or something else that wasn't removed (as I said earlier the surgeon couldn't get all the bits out) I will have to see. Follow up appointment emd of this month. Managed to do a circuit training session at the gym last night, couldn't do all the exercises and was only giving 80% or so effort plus I had to improvise on a few of the exercises. Today I've been on 9 different trains having travelled Suffolk, into London, out to Kent and then return journey which meant loads of stairs. Hence it's a bit achy today which is my own fault. Can't complain though.
Wacky Racer said:
I had an arthroscopy on my right knee fifteen years ago at 55.
Operation went like a dream, (only a minor keyhole procedure) although foolishly I went back to work two days later, as I felt OK.
For ten years I was fine, never gave it a thought, but this last five years the pain has come back, and I am considering having a partial, or full knee replacement in a couple of years, but I really would rather not, only last resort.
Had a steroid injection two weeks ago, but not made any difference,
Keep doing your exercises.
UPDATEOperation went like a dream, (only a minor keyhole procedure) although foolishly I went back to work two days later, as I felt OK.
For ten years I was fine, never gave it a thought, but this last five years the pain has come back, and I am considering having a partial, or full knee replacement in a couple of years, but I really would rather not, only last resort.
Had a steroid injection two weeks ago, but not made any difference,
Keep doing your exercises.
Consultant says I have "Severe" arthritis so I am going in for a complete right knee replacement early Summer.
I'm actually looking forward to it,
Consultant has done over 1000 Ops, so no proplems on that score.
Well, as I suspected would be the case recovery has not been 100% due to more bits needing to be removed which he couldn't do during the first arthroscopy. Surgeon also very confident it's synovial chondromatosis, he also says that in patients with similar once sorted he very rarely has to see them again which is positive. I can feel one piece of cartilage under the knee cap which is now quite prominant and will definitely need removing as it causes me pain.
So now waiting for knee op number 2, which hopefully won't be 2 hours long like the first.
So now waiting for knee op number 2, which hopefully won't be 2 hours long like the first.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff