Torn Medial Meniscus

[DrawK]

So I injured my knee and my orthepedist is pushing surgery for partial removal. Most the things Ive found say that results in arthritus down the line. Im only 21 so Im thinking trying to let it heal on its own, and then doing exercises to strengthen the joint. Im not sure which route to go and if ill be 100% again. Im also worried about continuing bjj and how this will effect me. My orthepedist is recomending I stop doing bjj or else Ill have troubles with pain and function when Im older. Also Is bjj/wrestling more dangerous on the knees than kicking?

 

[Chucknate]

So I injured my knee and my orthepedist is pushing surgery for partial removal. Most the things Ive found say that results in arthritus down the line. Im only 21 so Im thinking trying to let it heal on its own, and then doing exercises to strengthen the joint. Im not sure which route to go and if ill be 100% again. Im also worried about continuing bjj and how this will effect me. My orthepedist is recomending I stop doing bjj or else Ill have troubles with pain and function when Im older. Also Is bjj/wrestling more dangerous on the knees than kicking?

Sounds like a shitty orthopedist if their saying to stop playing a sport because it'll cause problems down the line.

 

[rvc2010]

Ortho sounds off. i just got over a mcl injury but i popped it again at the gym today . have to start wearing a brace when i roll

 

[Drew Foster]

I just had the exact same injury. One more week and I'll be back training. I've had 3 weeks off so far. The doc sounds a little off. The way I see it is we're all going to have arthritis and stuff later in life, regardless of BJJ. Everyone gets aches and pains as they age. Might as well have fun for it.

Is it a partial or complete tear?

 

[RJ Green]

my doctor recommended i stopped smoking weed, riding motorcycles, and not using condoms. i'll take my short, fun life over a long, boring life any day.

 

[Amave]

the Meniscus will not heal on its own depending on the tear due to lack of blood flow to the area, it hurts like a mofo because of the nerve endings in the cartilage.


yup been there done that



you will need surgery to remove the torn part, but arthritis isnt guaranteed for the future because of the medical innovations being implemented in this day and age .


you either live with the pain of the knee locking up OR get it taken care of and heal up to go back to BJJ

 

[Drew Foster]

the Meniscus will not heal on its own depending on the tear due to lack of blood flow to the area, it hurts like a mofo because of the nerve endings in the cartilage.


yup been there done that



you will need surgery to remove the torn part, but arthritis isnt guaranteed for the future because of the medical innovations being implemented in this day and age .


you either live with the pain of the knee locking up OR get it taken care of and heal up to go back to BJJ

I had a partial tear about 4 weeks ago, and I have almost no pain now and my knee isn't locking up. That's good right? or can the locking up happen later?

 

[Hedgehogey]

my doctor recommended i stopped smoking weed, riding motorcycles, and not using condoms. i'll take my short, fun life over a long, boring life any day.

Those things probably won't make you die early. You'll live to a ripe old age, just with brain damage and sores on your dick.

 

[Badabing1234]

Once the knee starts to lock up, its going to be difficult for it to recover unless you get surgery. The torn piece is acting like a hang-nail and you need to get that shit trimmed off. Of course, I have heard of the torn piece getting ground away on its own or getting dislodged to a place where it doesnt bother you - but its rare.

A meniscus trim should be a quick recovery. If you get that shit stitched up, it will take a long time.

 

[ARIS]

Miniscus doesn heal on its own. It only gets worse and worse until knee blocks, only way to prevent pain until it gets blocked is to do weight training and work the muschles around the knee.

I had surgury in both knees miniscus. I was dignosed 7 years ago, i trained my legs but sudenly one knee failed 3 years ago. So i had to do sergury. This year my other knee failed had to do the surgury.

Look its simple. If your knee is blocked, surgury is the only way. If its not and just hurts a bit you can do weight trianing to work the muscle around the knee and you wont feel pain. Still the damages though doesnt go away you simply dont feel it.

In my first miniscus when the knee blocked i felt a pop standing up from the ground almost no pain but the knee couldnt strech it was on 100 degrees angle could strech it to 180.

 

[Long Dark Blues]

I tore my meniscus and sprained my MCL in my right leg on 1/14/12, during a belt promotion/team training day. Happened first match of the day. Did 5 subsequent matches afterwards, just felt kinda numb. Didn't start hurting until everyone was split into two teams and I sat around for like 30 minutes waiting for my match to come up, as we all did our final matches as more like an in-house tournament.

Got a stripe on my blue belt, now I'm a 2-stripe blue! Knee hurt like a freakin' bitch that night though. Worth it.

I get surgery for the meniscus next week. Doc said he's going to take less than 10% of the meniscus out. Also said I'll be good to go back to BJJ and squatting/deadlifting in 4 to 5 weeks. Though he recommended taking the 5 weeks.

 

[Chulo**]

Ive had this MCL sprain since November, and it's been recovering on its own. I went from limping all the way in December to walking in January normally and being able to bend it. I'm bending my MCL injured leg as I'm typing right now. I only notice pain when I'm walking up and down stairs, its a bitch. Here's the funny thing though, it's only painful at certain times. Sometimes it hurts to walk stairs and sometimes it doesn't. I don't know what the fuck is wrong with it.

Sometimes my knee locks up but it's like 1 time a week now. Compared to having it locked up all the time back in Nov-Dec.

 

[DaGenius]

If it requires surgery, go ahead and get it. Then just work on your rehab hard so that you get as much range of motion back as possible.

 

[Drew Foster]

Miniscus doesn heal on its own. It only gets worse and worse until knee blocks, only way to prevent pain until it gets blocked is to do weight training and work the muschles around the knee.

I had surgury in both knees miniscus. I was dignosed 7 years ago, i trained my legs but sudenly one knee failed 3 years ago. So i had to do sergury. This year my other knee failed had to do the surgury.

Look its simple. If your knee is blocked, surgury is the only way. If its not and just hurts a bit you can do weight trianing to work the muscle around the knee and you wont feel pain. Still the damages though doesnt go away you simply dont feel it.

In my first miniscus when the knee blocked i felt a pop standing up from the ground almost no pain but the knee couldnt strech it was on 100 degrees angle could strech it to 180.

So you're saying even though I don't need surgery now and there's no pani or locking that it will still lock up eventually?

 

[Chulo**]

Also does anybody have any rehab exercises they can share? Before the injury I used to Squat but now it hurts to squat, so it's a no go almost.

 

[KahleyTriangles]

People are continuing training with knee pops, torn meniscii and MCL?? You guys are nuts.

One of the biggest dangers of knee injuries is that your healthy knee starts to take more of a work load than your other one because you are compensating for the lack of strength/support on your injured leg. Since your non injured leg is now doing the work of two, the chance of injuring that leg due to muscle imbalances grows. That's why you see people who blow out 1 knee, then the other in succession.

Not to mention, since you're favoring your leg that is not injured, your currently injured leg muscles in your injured leg are in a state of atrophy. The muscle structure surrounding your ligaments get weaker, and instead of only having a sprained MCL, the next time you try and explosively use your injured knee that you think is healed, you will now rip your meniscus, your ACL, and PCL depending on which one is weakest.

Long story short, go see a doctor. If you don't like your doc's opinion, go get a second one. But don't keep training. At the very least go see a physical therapist.

If it requires surgery, go ahead and get it. Then just work on your rehab hard so that you get as much range of motion back as possible.

One of the smartest posts in this thread so far. Your rehab work and whether you take it seriously or not dictates how well your knee recovers. I sprained my MCL and my physical therapist kicked my ass for 8 weeks. I thought I had strong legs prior to seeing her. I dreaded the work outs but in the end BOTH my knees are stronger than they have been. The great thing is you can keep doing the work outs you learn to further bullet proof your knees!

 

[rvc2010]

Mb gracie barra u ever have ur knee go out again. mine popped again Monday locked up today doc tomorrow . u wear a brace? was just out 6 weeks its killing me to think i might be out again . I'll probably go and do technique once the pain is gone and avoid sparring . going to see bout cortizone shot.

 

[KahleyTriangles]

Mb gracie barra u ever have ur knee go out again. mine popped again Monday locked up today doc tomorrow . u wear a brace? was just out 6 weeks its killing me to think i might be out again . I'll probably go and do technique once the pain is gone and avoid sparring . going to see bout cortizone shot.

Hey rvc2010, I have been back to training for 5 weeks now, no knee pain after 8 weeks of physical therapy. My ortho diagnosed my injury as an MCL sprain with no meniscus damage so he advised against surgery and instead to do physical therapy as the MCL does heal on its own. I don't wear a brace. Sometimes I definitely feel some weirdness but I take that as my body telling me to take it easy so I stop rolling for a few days and just focus on the exercises my PT gave me.

Good luck with your knee injury. To be honest having your knee give out on you and locking up is a good indication that you've injured a ligament in your knee. Hopefully your doctor can examine it and direct you to either an xray or MRI and that you'll be on your way to getting better.

 

[rvc2010]

I had the same thing as u. mcl sprain no miniscus damage p/t and rest. 6 weeks off. 2 weeks back get swept to half guard bottom when taking his back pop so i guess i didn't rehab enough. going to doc tomorrow. pretty sure its not torn. no swelling and more mobility , less pain this time. so hopefully its just a light sprain and p/t will do the trick. going to see about cortizone shot and definitely wearing a brace from now on. Thx for ur input good to hear your back on the mats.

 

[MonstrositY]

you've got to remember that your orthepedist is a surgeon. that's all he does and all he is able to do. they will always recommend surgery. my mother was in the exact same position. she saw a chiropractor instead and now she's fine.

imagine going to have a consultation with a bmw salesman, he will never recommend you go and see what mercedez has. it's sad because your health care professional should have your best interest in mind, but he doesn't/can't.