Re-Hashing A Fun Topic (Meniscus Tear)

I tore my right lateral years ago while limbo dancing. Yeah, I know....

I opted not to have surgery and went through about 2 years of going to PT and then doing the exercises on my own. It would flare up off and and on, swell, get sore, inhibit my activity, really impeded any distance running. I finally got tired of dealing with it and went for the surgery. One of the best decisions I ever made. After a few weeks of recovery I was able to do whatever I wanted and not even think about my knee. And I don't mean "Gee, my knee feels pretty good" I mean NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. Like it was never hurt. What freedom! I wish I would have had the surgery right away.

Until the scope goes in it may be impossible to know how much damage there is. I went into surgery having been told I would be able to be back to my active lifestyle within a week, and came out being told I had to be completely non-weight bearing on that knee for a month, with no running for at least 6 months. The non-running part was not a concern at the time as I was mostly a skier and my only running was playing softball.

However, the important part is that I did exactly what my doctor and PT recommended. Being essentially off my feet for a month was a hassle, and I had to give up my softball season. When it was all done, my knee completely healed and I've never had any trouble with it since. Strangely the knee surgery kind of lead me to running - long story. I've since run 7 marathons and a vast number of shorter races. I'm currently running 65-70 miles/week as well with no problems.

I suggest you not try to come back too fast. There will be many other races in the future. Let your body fully recover. Failure to do that could lead to long term problems and possibly more surgeries. What's the big deal with taking a few months of down time when compared with having to live with that knee for the rest of your life?

If you're going to tear anything, the meniscus is the easiest one to fix.  Just a little scope work, a good month of physical thereapy, and you should be back to doing what you need to so long as it was just some meniscus tear.  I have literally no meniscus left in my right knee...had it taken out when my ACL was reconstructed in '97...I had a scope in '99 (long story) that confirmed there wasn't any meniscus left.  Scope surgery was quick recovery, and I have suffered very little pain from it since.  I actually have had LESS soreness in that knee since I started long distance running and triathlon, and I think it's because of how much stronger my legs are in total.

I will say, if you can get it fixed, do it...if it's not fixed, you could mess it up worse as your knee can catch more of the bad stuff and pull up more good stuff.  I lost my meniscus because the family doc mis-diagnosed the ACL rupture and I did tons of sports on it for 8 months (often in pain)...had I not done that, I'd still have cartlidge in my right knee.  Surgery sucks, but if it's just some shaving of a tear to fix it, better than losing it all.

I tore my meniscus a few years ago and had just started a new job so my insurance hadn't kicked in yet.  Function came back to my knee in about a week, but I never knew when I was going to aggrivate it again.   Every time I did aggrivated the knee, I could barely walk for two days.  Anyways, once I was insured again, I went to the doctor and got an MRI.  Apparently I had what was called a 'bucket handle' tear.   For someone my age (I was 24 at the time), there was too much cartlidge that had been sepearted to remove the tear, so I had to go with a repair surgery.  Of course they scoped it, but due to the fact that cartilage takes FOREVER to heal, I was on crutches for 2 MONTHS!!!!  That was absolutely terrible.  I can't even explain to you how bad that sucks.

Anyways, in hindsight I made the right decision.  The recovery was awful and so was the pain after the surgery, but without it, I would not be competing in triathlons today.  My knees are still far from perfect, but with a good pair of shoes, I can now easily run a 10k.  I'm not sure they will hold up for a 70.3, but I've never run anywhere near a 1/2 mary.   If you have been training for a full mary, your knees are already used to the abuse, so after some PT, I'm sure you'll be back to racing form eventually.

Back to your concern, I think your best bet is to get it fixed now rather than wait.  Who knows how much more damage you could do to your knee, especially considering you want to run a full mary.  Also, I'm the only person I've ever known who was on cruthches for so long after a knee scope.  Most people I have talked who have had similar surger are walking again in 1-2 weeks.  You might have to pass on the marathon, but there are always others. 

Thanks a ton for all the input I appreciate it..... I guess the consensus is to get surgery when you can and HOPE for a quick recovery, i would be extremely pleased to have a recovery like some of you (swimming in a week, biking in 2 and running 6) .... I am signed up for another half early April and would probably try to either squeeze the surgery (If i am in need of it) over winter (late nov/early dec) or just run through it.... but i don't think i can take another heavy training season worrying about my knee the whole time.

-andrew