torn meniscus lateral left leg

Question

think i have found the problem now for 4 weeks i have been having sever left leg pain starts at the knee then to the back of my leg then to the upper part towards my thigh .. and then in the front like my shinn bone at frist it only botherd me when i layed down or was sleeping i would have to rub my leg and take an advil or ib to feel some relief now 4 weeks later nothing helps i have use icy hot ,bengay ,cold pad ,hot pads and nothing seems to work for me i have only slept 10hrs in about 4 weeks iam mess and phycially iam also .. now i have gone fromit just bothering me to not being able to do my everyday thing if i sit my leg falls asleep when i stand i have to hold on i have no strenght on my leg i have stop driving because it hurts when i sit for long periods at a time iam miserable i went to see a orthopedic doctor and he thinks i have a lateral meniscus ... i have been schld to take a mri on nov 1st .trying to get in sooner but there schld is full and then see my orthopedic doctor again on nov 19th what do i have to look foward to and surgery was spoke of what do i have to look foward to and how lng will the recuperation be my job requires i stand all the time with only a 15 min break how long do u think i will be out of work .. or should i plan on being out i have to lift 80 pd bags and i stand on a hard cement floor (airport ) i only work 5 hrs and only get a 15 min break there is no light duty at my job so when should i plan on returning to a full duty job .....

Tuckamore · Answer

Hello,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum of MedHelp. I am sorry you have a meniscus tear. They are very painful until you have a surgical repair or until it heals. Knee pain is horrid. If you have tiny tears with fragments of cartilage in the joint area it is usually best to have the tear  trimmed neatly rather than to leave it ragged and/or leave any fragments. Your surgeon can advise you as to the best route. 

Usually these are done with Arthroscopic surgery. It is a procedure that is used to look inside a joint. Through one small incision (about 1 centimeter) a small camera, about the size of a pencil, is inserted into the joint. Then using one or more other small incisions, the surgeon places other instruments inside the knee to remove the torn cartilage. 

If you undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery for treatment of a meniscus (cartilage) tear you can usually return to normal activities quite quickly. Most ppl take a few days or a long weekend off work. If the meniscus is removed (partial meniscectomy) then there are usually few activity restrictions. Patients can walk and move normally, so long as they don't have pain. 

This should not require you to be off for weeks but if so remember your good health is the more important than anything else. I wish you the very best. Please let us know how you are doing. Take Care, Tuck

Jaybay · Answer

Ditto what Sandee said.  You won't know what's going on for certain until you get that MRI done, but your ortho is probably on the right track.  Try not to panic until you get a firm diagnosis and treatment plan worked out.

Do you work in the baggage area of the airport?  Surely there is something else you could IF you have to have surgery.  Could they put you to work driving the carts from the terminal to the planes maybe?  Any kind of administration work a possibility?  Just some ideas to get you thinking outside the box.  If the time comes, sometimes it helps to make suggestions to your boss instead of just saying, "Sorry guy, I can't work for X weeks."

Orthopedic surgery has improved a great deal in the past 30 years with the advent of arthroscopic procedures.  If your doctor recommends surgery, hopefully he'll use the scope instead of diving right into an open procedure - but it all depends on the severity of the injury.

sandee1818 · Answer

Reasons to have the surgery...
Surgical repair may result in less pain and the return of normal function to the knee.
If you don't have surgery, you may have more pain or your pain may recur, making it harder to do your daily activities.
You may be able to prevent long-term complications, such as joint degeneration (osteoarthritis), with successful surgical repair of your tear.

Reasons to delay the surgery or opt out of surgery...
The meniscus could possibly heal on its own, making surgery unnecessary.
All surgery, including meniscus surgery, has risks. Meniscus surgery poses a risk of infection, damage to nerves or blood vessels around the knee, and blood clots in the leg.
You must follow your health professionals rehabilitation plan for the best level of healing. Afterwards, you may still continue to have pain and require more physical therapy or, sometimes, additional surgery.
Taking some time to see if a meniscus tear heals on its own before having surgery does not necessarily mean that a surgical repair, if needed later, will not heal as well.