Thread: Meniscus tear

I have a little bit of experience in this field, 6 arthroscopes, 2 reconstructions and a replacement. (that was just the left knee, had a bit done on the right one as well.)

My avatar shows the replacement implant.

Arthroscope is generally a day procedure, takes about an hour, walk out of surgery about 2 hrs later on crutches. Generally for a couple of days.

As to taking the Glucosamine, my surgeon likened it to shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic, pretty much a waste of time and effort, not to mention cost. His "theory" is that cartilage cannot regrow, and in my case this was proven.

As Ian said, get a referral and see a specialist.

Whilst I do agree that studies show glucosamine to have no real benefit, I know too many people who swear by the stuff. It is more than likely a placebo effect, however we had friends with an old Rotweiler (sp?) dog which had problems with its hips and couldn't walk on cold mornings. The vet suggested glucosamine and he was good to go for a few more years. If it works for you, don't ask too many questions on how it works.

This may be a little technical, but worth a read , have a look at the section on non operative options as well.

I usually refer people to this site as it has some good general info on a lot of conditions, references to literature (see further down on the page) and an excellent forum (much like this one)

The site is run by a sports doctor in Sydney and in my experience has been a reliable source of info. As always you will need to judge for merit of the information for yourself.

Regards

James

Hi all,

Have had both knees done over the years and found that when it was just a tear the discomfort wasn't too bad.
The other time there was a tear and also some loose cartilage floating around - now that was painful and took a bit to get over it.
I don't envy you - hope you get well soon.

Originally Posted by DavidG

That is sooo nice of you to offer. I would not dream of imposing such an odorous duty on such a kind person as yourself, so I will just have to continue doing it, even though I am suffering.

We'll try real hard to be nice then. :cute:


I take Glucosamine for my neck. I have oestio arthritis, which makes me sound real old. But I've have it for years and not known what it was till a chiro sent me for an xray before he would do anything. I think it is a "proven " pain relief thing for oestio arthritis. but maybe more drastic things like you seem to have need more drastic measures. All I know, for me, if I think its not really doing anything and I stop taking it cos I've run out and have to buy more and I look at the price again and think "bloody hell!!!" and don't buy it, the pain gets really bad. And then i doesn't look to expensive. It only works while you take it and the effect wears off gradually.

Originally Posted by tea lady

I take Glucosamine for my neck. .

I knew it! Now you've actually admitted that you are a pain in the neck!

My wife had a torn meniscus and after the operation developed a deep vein thrombosis -DVT. Was done with an arthroscope.

Specialist said there is something like an 85% chance of DVT after a knee op.So my advice is to take evry precaution if you have an op and ask th doc about clot prevention.

Glucosamine does it work ??????
No idea, I only know that the arthritic pain in my neck, thumbs and knee were reduced when I started taking the stuff.

The pain slowly came back when I stopped for a while.

Reduced when I restarted taking it.

I also added fish oil 3000mg per day and that combined with the Glucosamine seem to keep all the pains away and stopped the need for anti inflammatory drugs.

Not proof but the combination works for me. (Open mind)

Thanks artme, I will keep an eye out for that one. I am on BP tablets, then may prevent clots.

Thanks to all the people who provided links. I nearly know enough now not to need the specialist. Just sharpen the skew correctly and away I go.

Probably get an MRI next week to see exactly what is going on and decide from there.

Originally Posted by artme

I knew it! Now you've actually admitted that you are a pain in the neck!

I HAVE the pain.. Somebody else IS the pain. (I don''t know if we'll get away with hijacking a mods Thread.)

Originally Posted by artme

Specialist said there is something like an 85% chance of DVT after a knee op.So my advice is to take evry precaution if you have an op and ask th doc about clot prevention.

artme, I guess every specialist has his/her own set of numbers but 85% sounds a bit high but I suppose it depends how they define DVT.
My BIL died from DVT after a hip replacement, so I know there's a risk, but I seriously doubt that the chance of it being fatal is as high as that.
I have an allergy to asprin and its derivitives which seems to be the DVT preventative of choice, but I was advised to do leg lifts, many and often, to get around this.

Anyway today, just 33 days after the op my knee has no pain, a bit weak, but otherwise I expect a full recovery.

Ian

Just getting over a muscle tear in my right calf muscle, did it shifting bags of cement with my son we were installing a shade sail and we had to concrete one anchor point, took about ten bags of concrete lifted a bag out of the back of his ute felt something tear,but wasn't too worried kept working ,that was Saturday by Sunday leg blew up ,went to GP Monday, Mmm might be DVT,so of to hospital and put on clexhane, blood thinner twice a day by second day I was black from my toes to the top of my thigh,back to hospital discontinue clexhane, let it heal naturally, after five days starting to itch and turn red around my ankle so back to hospital,admitted ,stayed all day they then decided it was an internal bleed which turned into cellulitus,stared on intravenous antibiotic drip twice a day,in hospital,the sent home back next day spend four hours on the drip,back that night another four hours,back the next morning another four hours, then decide to employ home nursing team to come to my place and give me needles,in and out in ten minutes after five days of this I am starting to get movement in my leg,on oral antobiotics now with white stockin to be worn until end of week.
The public health system aint working fellas!!

Originally Posted by DavidG

Ian, My guess is that you are correct. The only issue will be timing as school holidays start end of the week 'till end Jan.

Don't expect to do anything much before Feb so I need pain relief.

Unfortunately with the tablets I am taking, Jonny Walker relief is not possible so I will have to use Panadol.

Check that one with your pharmacist. Date (mid 80s) was on a considerable assortment of medications, but still could have his nip of port or occasional beer and glass of wine.

That was only curtailed when he had a morphine patch. I think that the effect now would be he's a very cheap drunk.

Originally Posted by tea lady

(I don''t know if we'll get away with hijacking a mods Thread.)

Never stopped you before.

Originally Posted by Johncs

but still could have his nip of port or occasional beer and glass of wine.

Yeh. Can still have a nip but I was more thinking about total pain relief (Take one bottle per night before bed)

Originally Posted by DavidG

Glucosamine does it work ??????
No idea, I only know that the arthritic pain in my neck, thumbs and knee were reduced when I started taking the stuff.

I have an arthritic pain in the neck too! I don't think that Glucosamine will make her go away.