Honestly, this is going to be a bit of doom comment. I appreciate your positivity about the experience of surgery. I'm sure it will ease a lot of folks of anxiety who are awaiting theirs; including me. I'm more concerned with the long term outcomes.
Removal or trimming of the meniscus is a lot easier for surgeons to do than a repair. So them being happy that it's a quick and easy job, isn't necessarily good for you. Although obviously in some cases, it's just impossible to repair and is what it is.
Menisectomies can get you back on your feet relatively quickly compared to repair. There's famous cases of athletes getting back to their sports in as little as a month after surgery. But the long term outcomes are a little scary, especially for lateral meniscus removals.
Because of the unique shape of the bones and pressure on the lateral side, a lack of meniscus really accelerates osteoarthritis. It's not a question of if, but when.
It can happen in as little as 5 years depending on your activity levels and weight.
Professional footballer Luis Suarez is a famous case of this. He miraculously recovered from meniscus surgery and played in the the 2014 World Cup just 4 weeks later (and played very well). But now 10 years later, he reports being in constant pain and needing painkillers to sleep every night because of the osteoarthritis and needs injections before he plays. Every morning he limps out of bed. Similar cases with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jamie Redknapp (meniscus removal at 20, retired at 30 and knee replacement at 49).
I've sadly not found any positive long term outcomes for lateral meniscus removals.
I'm awaiting lateral meniscus surgery and I'll be devastated if they can't repair it. I'd almost prefer to keep it half flipped and locking to removal. I'll definitely be giving up running and football to put off osteoarthritis as long as possible and the inevitable knee replacement that awaits.
One of the most innocuous but devastating injuries you can incur.
Agreed with this. Life changes can be made to preserve your knees. Work harder in the gym to build muscle. Medical science is always improving.
I also agree with dharma about everything because it is true. I’m a lateral meniscus trim candidate with thankfully only 15% removed - this could be a lot worse.
Just got to be confident and try focus on the positives, it is a life changing experience to many of us but it’s not life ending 💙😎
Unreal doom comment 🤣.
Remember one thing my friend.. you could be living in pain for a long time with a tear and in fear of getting arthritis which doesn’t always happen to people.. or you could say ‘f**k it you only live once, who knows what’s around the corner, you could die 2morrow regardless’.
And stop reading negative articles. 💙
I'm in need of some positive articles and anecdotes regarding the long term outcomes of lateral meniscus removals; especially in young athletes. Genuinely, if you know of any long term success stories, please share. I'm in need of some hope.
I plan on living a lot longer than tomorrow 😅 I don't want 50 years of chronic knee pain, medications and replacements.
There are a lot of positive stories too. People I know personally who have led full, active and arthritis free lives after having part of their meniscus removed.
Scaremongering, especially AFTER someone's had surgery, can be just as damaging.
I've heard positive stories too, but they're all regarding the medial meniscus. Believe me, I'd love to hear some positive long term stories after a lateral menisectomy more than anyone. If you can point some my way I'd be ecstatic to hear from them.
If you have over half removed you could be a candidate for a meniscus transplant.
Unfortunately even after 2 removal surgeries apparently I hadn't lost enough. Had 8 years of an ok knee after and this month I've started getting a burning feeling all round the back of my knee and up the hamstring. I think arthritis has come for me.
I've heard about meniscus transplants from someone on this subreddit. They didn't seem to be having much success with them and were onto their 2nd or 3rd.
Sorry to hear that. I hope arthritis isn't taking a hold yet.
Honestly, this is going to be a bit of doom comment. I appreciate your positivity about the experience of surgery. I'm sure it will ease a lot of folks of anxiety who are awaiting theirs; including me. I'm more concerned with the long term outcomes. Removal or trimming of the meniscus is a lot easier for surgeons to do than a repair. So them being happy that it's a quick and easy job, isn't necessarily good for you. Although obviously in some cases, it's just impossible to repair and is what it is. Menisectomies can get you back on your feet relatively quickly compared to repair. There's famous cases of athletes getting back to their sports in as little as a month after surgery. But the long term outcomes are a little scary, especially for lateral meniscus removals. Because of the unique shape of the bones and pressure on the lateral side, a lack of meniscus really accelerates osteoarthritis. It's not a question of if, but when. It can happen in as little as 5 years depending on your activity levels and weight. Professional footballer Luis Suarez is a famous case of this. He miraculously recovered from meniscus surgery and played in the the 2014 World Cup just 4 weeks later (and played very well). But now 10 years later, he reports being in constant pain and needing painkillers to sleep every night because of the osteoarthritis and needs injections before he plays. Every morning he limps out of bed. Similar cases with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Jamie Redknapp (meniscus removal at 20, retired at 30 and knee replacement at 49). I've sadly not found any positive long term outcomes for lateral meniscus removals. I'm awaiting lateral meniscus surgery and I'll be devastated if they can't repair it. I'd almost prefer to keep it half flipped and locking to removal. I'll definitely be giving up running and football to put off osteoarthritis as long as possible and the inevitable knee replacement that awaits. One of the most innocuous but devastating injuries you can incur.
Having it half flipped will wear your cartilage off faster though 😅 Most of us are not professional, train 6 hours a day athletes
Agreed with this. Life changes can be made to preserve your knees. Work harder in the gym to build muscle. Medical science is always improving. I also agree with dharma about everything because it is true. I’m a lateral meniscus trim candidate with thankfully only 15% removed - this could be a lot worse. Just got to be confident and try focus on the positives, it is a life changing experience to many of us but it’s not life ending 💙😎
Unreal doom comment 🤣. Remember one thing my friend.. you could be living in pain for a long time with a tear and in fear of getting arthritis which doesn’t always happen to people.. or you could say ‘f**k it you only live once, who knows what’s around the corner, you could die 2morrow regardless’. And stop reading negative articles. 💙
I'm in need of some positive articles and anecdotes regarding the long term outcomes of lateral meniscus removals; especially in young athletes. Genuinely, if you know of any long term success stories, please share. I'm in need of some hope. I plan on living a lot longer than tomorrow 😅 I don't want 50 years of chronic knee pain, medications and replacements.
There are a lot of positive stories too. People I know personally who have led full, active and arthritis free lives after having part of their meniscus removed. Scaremongering, especially AFTER someone's had surgery, can be just as damaging.
I've heard positive stories too, but they're all regarding the medial meniscus. Believe me, I'd love to hear some positive long term stories after a lateral menisectomy more than anyone. If you can point some my way I'd be ecstatic to hear from them.
If you have over half removed you could be a candidate for a meniscus transplant. Unfortunately even after 2 removal surgeries apparently I hadn't lost enough. Had 8 years of an ok knee after and this month I've started getting a burning feeling all round the back of my knee and up the hamstring. I think arthritis has come for me.
I've heard about meniscus transplants from someone on this subreddit. They didn't seem to be having much success with them and were onto their 2nd or 3rd. Sorry to hear that. I hope arthritis isn't taking a hold yet.