Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Torn medial meniscus

I tore my medial meniscus and just had arthroscopic surgery. From anyone's experience, what kind of time frame am I looking at to get back on the trails? I just had my first day of PT (physical torture) and will be pushing hard during rehab.
Is there such a thing as pushing to hard? Any rehab suggestions out of the normal PT regiment?

How did you tear it?

What is the time frame your doctor told you?

I was told it was just wear and tear on the knee, not an injury per se. Time frame? It's was kind of go to PT and "do what is comfortable." I do see the surgeon at the end of November and will be asking about a clearer picture. Again, having injured every other part of my body in sports but never injuring a knee, it just freaks me out that it hurts just to stand, let alone put a load on it. Could I be getting old? HA! I'm only 59.

I'm 57 and tore my lateral meniscus in April. I had surgery June 11th and was doing light hiking two months later. I had been planning an August backpack trip but postponed that to next year to allow the knee time to completely recover.

Agree that is important info, but not necessarily predictive. My fellow MD told me in 1994 to stop backpacking and climbing.

Procedures on the knee 1994 microfracture and 2002 meniscus clean-up. I'm still going, although slower. Whitney summits 1996, 2006 by MR, and 2010 (age 59) and a whole lot of other mountains and thousands of miles hiking and backpacking in between.

Both surgery times, I'd say 3 months minimum time to begin backpacking and I did, final degree of recup took 6 months.

Your individual situation may vary of course. Best wishes.

I've had 3 knee surgeries now, and yes there is definitely such a thing as pushing too hard too fast. A bit of soreness/pain as you rehab it is normal, but don't go overboard, as it will definitely set you back in your recovery.

I'd talk to your PT about what you want to be able to do, so they can cater your therapy regimen towards that.

Flat hikes will be easiest first, save the elevation change (either way - for me down hurts worse than up when my knee is acting up) for at least a few to several months down the road.

Also, I'd suggest that even though winter is coming up, try to stay active - treadmill, stationary bike (I was originally told this is one of the best rehabs for the knee as it moves it, but is non-weight bearing), swimming, whatever you can do to continue to condition the muscles and ligaments around the knee (especially your quad - this is prob the most important to strengthen)

Finally, as much as it sucks, you have to come to terms that it might not get to as strong as it was before the 'injury'. But it's not too difficult to find ways to adapt be it hiking a little slower, focusing on a bit more conditioning etc.

Either way, good luck and speedy recovery!!

When I was in my mid 40'ies I tore my meniscus. I suffered for three years trying to rehab it without surgery. I finally broke down and got my knee worked on. The doc fixed me on a Friday, on Monday I was able to do a low impact workout. Two weekends later I canyoneered on a Saturday and climbed 8 pitches on Sunday.

My only regret is not getting the work done 3 years sooner.

Thanks to all the posts. I just hate sitting. Day time TV sucks. I'll be back hiking sooner than later and will definetly start on the flater hikes such as Cottonwood Lakes, etc. Love that area. All you folks are great.

I had both knees done in my late thirties. I went crazy with the PT. Every other day I thought I had overdone it. These were just the Dr. approved, super easy, flex my leg back and forth type of exercises, nothing off the list. But in a couple of weeks I was walking fine. A decade later I still feel like my knees are getting better all the time.

My buddy had one done and was jogging the next week. He paid the painful price. But he's fine now. He was chomping at the bit to get back to work ASAP.

Good luck

Wes

P.S. My Doc made me promise to never run again! But my memory is going so...