Wellness

[theresa]

I've had 3 right knee meniscus surgeries (2021/22/23) the first surgeon screwed up my knee because he missed a tear and I ended up going to a new surgeon who fixed it.  Because of leg pain he uncovered I had a slipped disc and I ended up having a back fusion in 2022.  It never resolved the leg pain.  I've been to more neurosurgeons all confirmed my back healed and no further issues.  Now I'm back with my Ortho and he recently gave me 3 gel shots go back to see him in 2 weeks.  Recent MRI shows degenerative issues some loss of cartilage and another meniscus tear.  Been to other Orthos and they all say I don't need a TKR right now.  I've done 5 months of PT and have no clue what's next.  Every time they scope it advances the arthritis and I'm only 60 years young.  Any advice?? I don't know if my surgeon is going to want to view with a camera to see what is going on.  I have not done anything to cause the new tear (which is in a different area of the same knee) but I don't know if I should ask him to look or if this is a mistake.  Anyone else gone through having multiple meniscus surgeries.  

[m0rgan]

I had a meniscus tear in my right knee.  I was sent for physical therapy which helped. After I was released from physical therapy I took it upon myself to go to a personal trainer and have been there for about 5+ years.  They give me exercises to strengthen the knee and mostly it works.  If I miss my twice a week sessions my knee does hurt and can go out from under me especially going down stairs so I am super careful.  The other thing that happened to me is I got pseudogout.  It is super painful but there is a pac I take for that.  Good luck!

[Carmie]

I had a total knee replacement.  Before the surgery, I was sent to a new doctor to be cleared for surgery.

She did the usual tests and also checked my Vitamin D levels.  I was shocked when my results came back and my Vit D levels were extremely low, dangerously low.

I was started on 50,000iu for seven days, then 4000iu after that.  What I noticed a few days after starting the vitamin, my legs didn't hurt.

Of course, my knee hurt, but the deep pain in my legs from my thighs to my ankles disappeared.  I never knew that a vitamin deficiency could cause such pain. I was miserable with leg pain and no pill was helping.

This might be a long shot, but ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels.  I had a ton of knee injections, surgery and PT, but the taking of a small vitamin D pill brought me the most relief.  

Best of luck to you.  I hope you get some pain relief.

[Still Raining]

Sorry for your pain and frustration.   Knees are difficult.  

One of my kids blew out their meniscus sking in college, had it repaired, and blew it out again kneeling down in their 30s.  I would guess arthritis makes everything worse.

Hope some solution is found.

[Shelbelle]

I had one meniscus tear surgery in Jan of 2022. I still have some pain, my doc says it is coming from arthritis in there, I get the gel shots in my knee every 6 months now, one shot every 6 months, it does seem to help. Doc says I am not a candidate for replacement, I asked him 2 years ago what can I do to keep it that way, he said keep weight down, exercise and do your own research and decide if any supplements may be wortth trying, I take lots of supps now , and I do think they help.  

[theresa]

I had my Vitamin D level check it's normal but good thought.  Thank you 

[theresa]

What kind of supplements? 

[Shelbelle]

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@theresa wrote:

What kind of supplements? 

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I take supps recommended for arthritis

tumeric, msm., glucosomine,  boswellia, UC Collagen II, mangosteen, ginger, tart cherry

[Toots711]

@theresa 

Early October 2023 I experienced excruciating knee pain which was diagnosed as a meniscus tear with a flap. Since the knee also has arthritis, the orthopedic doctor did not recommend arthroscopic surgery. Instead he prescribed aquatic physical therapy and both cortisone and gel injections (given at separate intervals). After four months of constant throbbing pain and one more cortisone injection, a miracle occurred -- the pain subsided. Since the aquatic physical therapy ended, I joined a YMCA to continue my PT in a heated pool. Though I have occasional pain, my knee feels more comfortable. Perhaps aquatic therapy could help you?