For those with torn knee meniscus

[Stan]

This just came into my mailbox and might be of interest to those for whom customary scoping of a torn meniscus has proven inadequate. It comes from Bigham and Womens Hospital in Boston, a nationally reknown facility, and presents a relatively new (in the States) procedure to replace the meniscus with an artificial one.

http://healthhub.brighamandwomens.org/artificial-meniscus-offers-patients-real-relief?utm_source=bwhhealthenews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=april2016#sthash.70Tn42BC.dpbs

 

[TCD]

Thanks, Stan. I heard about this on the radio some time ago. I have meniscus tears in both knees, but I can still hike and climb; it only limits running and jumping. (So at 60, I have cut back on running and jumping, for now.) I'm keeping an eye on this device as a future possibility. If it holds up in testing, it will be a big improvement over a total knee replacement.

The device:

http://activeimplants.com/nusurface-meniscus-implant/

Clinical Trial info (locations, etc.):

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02108496

 

[Gremlin]

Thank you, Stan. I'll talk to my surgeon about this. I'm waiting for two knee replacements and suspect I'm beyond meniscus replacement.

 

[Bob Kittredge]

Over the years I've managed to tear the medial meniscus in both knees. I went as far as having the left one MRI'ed, and it confirmed a "complex tear". I forewent surgery, cut back a little on my hiking, grit my teeth, kept at it. It took two or three years but both knees are now back to normal.

As for running and jumping: I had to give up running years ago because it started to aggravate an old back injury. A few years ago I was coming down a trail and came to a three foot ledge, which I carefully clambered down. Behind me I heard one of my companions say "We could just jump." To which I responded "When I was 50 I would have jumped. When I was 60 I would have considered jumping but not done so. Now, the thought never crosses my mind!"

 

[TCD]

Those were the days, weren't they? When I was 30, I would come to a 10-12' ledge, and if it was a sloppy down climb, I would just fly off it and land hard. One time, I actually blew the shoulder straps off a cheap pack on landing. Had to carry the pack out in my arms. Probably paying for those high jinx now...

 

[Seeker]

I remember running down the Osgood trail in my 20s. Sigh.

 

[Woody]

I tried to sign up for this meniscus research project. I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee medial meniscus many years ago. I went to the initial appointment for the project back in January and the Physician's Assistant that saw me took one look at my knee x-rays and said that I had too much arthritis to be enrolled in the project. He said that I would need a knee replacement soon. My knee pain isn't that bad. I don't even take pain killers for my knee very often.
I recently got back from climbing Mount Whitney, so I guess my knee isn't that bad!

 

[CaptCaper]

I tried to sign up for this meniscus research project. I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee medial meniscus many years ago. I went to the initial appointment for the project back in January and the Physician's Assistant that saw me took one look at my knee x-rays and said that I had too much arthritis to be enrolled in the project. He said that I would need a knee replacement soon. My knee pain isn't that bad. I don't even take pain killers for my knee very often.
I recently got back from climbing Mount Whitney, so I guess my knee isn't that bad!

In my experience the knees went fast once they started in. I think as the joint get's rougher it compounds the wear and has a snowball effect in wiping out the remaining cartaledge. I couldn't believe is short order It was an effort or I couldn't make it into a store with out grabbing a carriage for support. So watch them knees as they can go and creep up on you.
I had both knees replaced finally. I wish I didn't wait that long.. but between the doctors I saw and my own research led to thinking wait until your older or old. I decided to wait... wrong choice. The doctors won't come out and tell you to have it done or you should have it done. They just offer information on your condition. Very vague so along I went hobbling thru the years.. Also now the replacements are much better with Rotating platforms and revision surgery is common if ever needed.
I had one done in 2012 and one in 2014... I'm now hiking every weekend up to 7 miles and gains of near 3k ft. Since I had to cut back due to pain and swelling over the years leading to and after I got out of shape.
I don't worry about ever getting a revision for falling and busting one or wearing it out etc. Don't want them to affect what I want to do. But my biggest fear is falling and busting one. So I'm careful in choosing my steps on the down hill hike and not to pound them.
And it wasn't from hiking or working my life on my feet.. I inherited this from my mothers side. She had them replaced and didn't hike etc ..as her shoulders replaced..(mine is going) so did my sister..my brother seems ok. My father never had any to speak off. But I'm an exact copy of my mother. Hands,etc. now at 67 yrs. in age.
But it's so nice not to have pain anymore ...

 

[TCD]

I tried to sign up for this meniscus research project. I had arthroscopic surgery on my left knee medial meniscus many years ago. I went to the initial appointment for the project back in January and the Physician's Assistant that saw me took one look at my knee x-rays and said that I had too much arthritis to be enrolled in the project. He said that I would need a knee replacement soon. My knee pain isn't that bad. I don't even take pain killers for my knee very often.
I recently got back from climbing Mount Whitney, so I guess my knee isn't that bad!

I would take the "arthritis" assessment with a big grain of salt. If you want to be sure, you might want multiple opinions.

When I first tore my left meniscus, I was about 54. I went in for X Ray and MRI, and they found all kinds of "serious arthritis." Doc was insistent that the arthritis was the cause of my pain and limited range. My knee was doomed from the "arthritis."

This was prima facie incorrect to me, because of the history and presentation (sudden onset after a particularly hard day hiking and running; zero prior symptoms; pain exhibited only at a particular point in the range; pain indifferent to active vs. passive and to loaded vs. unloaded). So I got a second opinion; the second doc said yes there is some arthritis visible in the MRI, but your pain is from the meniscus tear.

Long story short, the torn area wore down with continued use (no intervention), and that knee is now symptom free. In fact, since I tore the right meniscus last year, the "arthritic" left knee is now my "good" knee.

 

[Stan]

A torn meniscus is literally a tear from whatever cause. Arthritis and a torn meniscus are mostly coincidental when they occur and one doesn't suggest the other.

There are two types of arthritis; rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The treatment of each is very different. Osteoarthritis is the loss of cartilege. There are various strategies to slow down this process but it is largeley genetic and once you have it you cannot ignore it; it is not reversible. The eventual conclusion of osteoarthritis is joint replacement unless you're content with relative inactivity and/or pain killers which, in themselves, can have their long term undesireable side effects.

Bottom line: get a good doctor. One who will learn your history, listen to your symptoms and interests and educate you about your condition, options and outlook. Such doctors are not easy to find so if it doesn't describe yours get another. Word spreads fast so the good ones may be a long wait for that first appointment. And, it is not necessary that the arthritis specialist be the surgeon who you may ultimately need ... who should also be selected with care and advice from trusted doctors and other sources.

My wife has osteoarthritis in every joint so we've developed some experience, expertise and opinions on this matter.

 

[CaptCaper]

A torn meniscus is literally a tear from whatever cause. Arthritis and a torn meniscus are mostly coincidental when they occur and one doesn't suggest the other.

There are two types of arthritis; rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. The treatment of each is very different. Osteoarthritis is the loss of cartilege. There are various strategies to slow down this process but it is largeley genetic and once you have it you cannot ignore it; it is not reversible. The eventual conclusion of osteoarthritis is joint replacement unless you're content with relative inactivity and/or pain killers which, in themselves, can have their long term undesireable side effects.

Bottom line: get a good doctor. One who will learn your history, listen to your symptoms and interests and educate you about your condition, options and outlook. Such doctors are not easy to find so if it doesn't describe yours get another. Word spreads fast so the good ones may be a long wait for that first appointment. And, it is not necessary that the arthritis specialist be the surgeon who you may ultimately need ... who should also be selected with care and advice from trusted doctors and other sources.

My wife has osteoarthritis in every joint so we've developed some experience, expertise and opinions on this matter.

Mine was osteoarthritis... an xray comparison of a good joint and mine was a clear picture of how my cartilage was missing. But back in 2005 I went to a surgeon and he said he could do repair via laparoscopic surgery. It was a waste.. 6 weeks off the knees and it came back.. he did micro fracture ( drill small holes into the bone) to bleed blood out of the bone were it was bone on bone about the size of a dime then. The theory is it produces a scare tissue to around the bleed holes.. No good..all that money..etc. I should of just done the TKR's then.
This was at the Alpine Clnic in Franconia... Dr. Chen.. come to find out he wasn't qualified to do TKR's but was able to do this kind of work.. I like to think a good TKR surgeon would of gave me options then like your going to need TKR soon or now depending on how active you want to be,etc.But not one word was mentioned about TKR and me being bone on bone.