Meniscal Tear - advice sought

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi folks

I damaged my knee in just before Xmas when I fell in a rather nice European city, walking up the steps to a designer shopping mall...I was knocked by a guy...and fell....corner of marble step versus tibial plateau of knee ! 

Thankfully, I was xrayed at the time, and no bony injury was seen. However, my knee was black and blue with bruising lasting and lasting. Since then, I have been unable to fully bend or straighten my knee, and its exquisitly painful when I walk up a slope, or climb the stairs....down is sore but more than OK...up is a different level altogether ! 

Being a health care professional, I left it as long as I could, carrying on with my shifts, in the firm belief that the gentle exercise and movement I do all day everyday, would aid its healing and promote healthy healing if at all possible. 

However, its not improved...so I went to my GP who informed me that I was "too old" to be referred directly for an MRI...Im 48...and I had to go to orthopaedics first....no worries thought I...except I didnt see a consultant...just another GP with an orthopaedic certiificate. 

My GP and this Dr both did the McMurray Test and its positive. 

He sent a letter to the consultant recommending an MRI, which i was able to get quite quickly.

The report says I have a meniscal tear. 

But, I'm being referred to physio. No worries there either, except I am now being discharged from orthopaedics. Yep, not even seeing a consultant, so cant ask questions, cant ask where the tear is, and the nature of it, and discus the options of treatment or not. 

SO, Im unable to tell the orthopaedic consutlant that I had ankle reconstruction sugery on the same side, and physio is going to be very problematic. 

I've aslo been told to take analgesia.

Well...how on earth do they think I've survived this long...

Its 7 months for goodness sake, ...not weeks  !

All of the information I can find on the "interweb" regarding referral to physio with regard to meniscal tears, implies that the injury is new, and that things should calm down 4-6 weeks after the injury when the pain is mild to non-existant. 

I have not had a good nights sleep since Xmas, sleep with a pillow under it, and have a knee that still produces bruising and swelling after all this time...

I dont like to say I've been let down, as I work for the NHS, but I dont feel as though I'm receiving the best care, and am being put on a "conservative management" program without actually being consulted. 

I've not seen a consultant or registrar, and today in the letter I received, discovered I'm not going to...

Would be most grateful for the opinion of other health professionals, physios in particular with regard to meniscal tears "healing" after this time....

AND when the pain is slowly increasing...the ourcomes I can realistically expect....

I will go to physio "with bells on" if it'll work on the MENISCUS

if its just to strengthen other muscle groups...how does that actually help the MENISCUS ? 

Dont worry, I am seeking a second opnion, and have decided to pay for an orthopaedic consultation, because the NHS has failed to provide that for me...

Comments gratefully received 

2

Wow that's dreadful. I have a meniscus tear and so does my husband, mine is form wear and tear, and his is from a fall. 

We both had MRI's done within days, and I saw an orthopaedic surgeon the next week, as did my husband.

the first surgeon wanted to operate the following week, we were going to Vietnam for a wedding, so we declined. 

Fast track a few months I had to go and see another orthopaeidc surgeon for a follow up from hip replacement surgery 2 Years ago...when I mentioned it to him he said if you want to get an arthroscopy on your knee come and see me first I will give you 50 reasons not to do it...so very different from the first doctor who wanted to operate  right  there and then,..

so neither of us have done anything about it my husband manged to walk up to the temples and do stairs etc, se we felt that why mess about with it when he is functioning ok, obviously if you can't walk you have to attend to it,

I can't believe you can't see a orthopaedic surgeon for valuation it's ridiculous,...

 

3

Your knee needs to be arthroscopically evaluated and meniscal tear either 1) repaired (Sutured) or 2) removed and sculpted so your knee has no more speed bumps to cause inflammation, swelling and pain.

4

Totally agree with there, I have had tears in both knees before snd have had MRIs and arthroscopies.  How you have been treated is so wrong!!! Definite second opinion if I were you.

5

Hi I have a meniscus tear on the right side of my right knee. I did it 7 months ago and still is not any better. Still very swollen and can't bend it completely, can't kneal down nor straighten it properly.

Keep on at thaem and I cant beleave they are not very interested

I would recommend not to use the pillow at night as you need to start to encourage it to get straight. And keep icing for 12 minutes at a time

Had a MRI after waiting 3 months, went to see consultant for results and was told it dident show anything. Went back 8weeks later and then tells me I have a tear in my meniscus. He offered me a injection there and then to reduce the swelling but dident have it (as dont do needles so needed time to sic myself up).

Went back 3 weeks ago to have injection and says he dosent want to give me the injection because of causing infection. Very frustrating, as just want to get it 100% and back to playing netball.

6

Hi, I opted for the injection to give me pain relief while we were on holiday that was April and it's still working. 

The only thing I've heard about meniscus surgery is that  it fast tracks you for joint replacement, since I have  5 of them, I'm not in a hurry to do another...

obviously if you are seriously impaired you have to do something.

7

thanks everybody

i know its dreadful, especially as I work for the NHS as a radiographer...hence how i got the MRI so fast...we have to have one perk in life ! I also know i have a tear.. the consultant radiologist told me...after I asked him to report it !!!! So now you can see how / why its such a ridiculous situation I'm in...no patient should be treated like this...

I'm about to phone the knee surgeons secretary, and ask for an appointment for a second opinion...its my right

I damaged the same knee 25 years ago or something with a similar mechanism of injury...had an arthroscopy...and the bits "washed out"...since then I've had NO issues and to be honest...having had much more serious surgery since often forget about my knee on the list ! 

I hope to be around on the planet for another 50 years yet...the fact my knee has been written off...and deemed nothing possible...lets wait for arthritis and do a replacement...when I'm still young....its outrageous...

Anyhoo many thanks all for your support and advice...