Torn Medial Meniscus

[MonstrositY]

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.



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!

Good advice. But I want to highlight getting a second opinion, and not only from another medical doctor, but from another health care professional.

 

[D3thr0n3d K1ng]

Depends which part of the meniscus. One of the parts, the inner or outer one, has blood flow the other doesnt.

 

[tthhoommaa30]

I have had a part of my meniscus removed. From what I heard a small tear in the meniscus could become bigger if you don't have it removed.
The recovery takes quite long... You should start physical therapy as soon as possible after the surgery.

 

[Chulo**]

I started BJJ in October of last year and I tore my MCL 2 weeks later. It was devastating mentally, but I didn't want to stop. By November I was limping all through January, so I had to stop BJJ. I stopped limping in Feb and never got the surgery, just a knee brace and I kept working. My circumstances didnt allow me to stop working. Not its May and I've been training since March. My knee stopped locking up around April 2nd, when we were doing closed guard escapes. I really got em strong.

It took me around 5 months to make a full recovery. Yes it did lock up, and I was limping. Now I'm not limping, it doesnt lock up, and my coach says my close guard is awesome.

 

[Devils Cut***]

Knee locking hurts like a muthafucka

 

[DrawK]

I wonder why this thread got revived, havnt posted in it in a very long time. Anyway, Im fully recovered. I returned to work to early and had more swelling. I realized my physical therepist was wrong in saying to not do full ass to heel squats. After doing my own research, I started doing body weight squats and worked to 3 sets of 34 so basically 100 bodyweight squats every other day. That greatly helped me and I havnt had any knee pain sence. Im also taking fish oil and glucosamine sulfate. The difference may just be mental but Ill continue taking them.

 

[Livenlearn]

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.

This. Meniscal tear surgery is a money maker, but many tears are asymptomatic. Usually it is nearby structures that are being problematic.

My bit of anec-data:
orthopedist recommended surgery 'immediately'. Went for a second opinion to a guy I trusted, but was far away. He recommended three weeks of PT and a check-up, noting that it was actually a strained MCL that was bothering me most (which the other doc didn't even mention). The PT improved my condition, so he had me do another six weeks + checkup, and six weeks after that. I'm back now, no symptoms, full recovery.

My aunt and uncle both have multiple asymptomatic mensical tears. PT, strengthening as directed....these should be first line before surgery, especially if your knee isn't locking up (mine never was).

edit to add: my tear was in the outer meniscus, the one place where a tear can actually heal on its own. Not that doc 1 cared.

 

[rvc2010]

Nice to hear good recovery stories. i went to a diff doc like i said i was in Feb he said i had a small tear in my intra miniscal which was in a red zone and that my mcl was loose. i took a full month off and was told to wear a hinged brace 6-12 month while doing bjj. knee was great. then a week ago i run with a 40lb vest for a couple of miles. next day 90 min of live rounds in bjj then softball day after. knee felt a lil crappy but a couple of days rest and its fine again. As far as exercises i mainly do balancing and biking. i also got some bands to do strength exercise for it. basically side to side motion. this helps with mcl. check livestrong or ask ur doc for pt for ur knee it helps alot

 

[KennyNuncaMuere**]

Ronda Rousey tore her meniscus when she was younger. I'm not sure what treatment option she chose but she said she does have arthritis but she still competes at a high level.