Knee pain, osteoarthritis, re-injury, inadequate rehabilitation, and spontaneous osteonecrosis are potential long-term problems after meniscus surgery. Talk with your healthcare provider about treatments to help you find relief if you're experiencing pain or other post-surgery problems.
What are the benefits? Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
So unfortunately, having a meniscal tear which requires surgery may raise your risk of getting arthritis later in life. It has also been shown that a knee that has undergone meniscus surgery has weaker thigh muscles and poorer quality of cartilage 4 years after the surgery [3].
Although arthroscopic surgery of the meniscus is minimally invasive, you may still experience knee pain after surgery. For some people, other problems can occur after surgery, such as arthritis, re-injury, incomplete rehabilitation, and more.
Most people can walk with crutches soon after meniscus surgery. Many return to normal activities within six to eight weeks.
Recovery is helped by physical therapy, which is done for the patient to regain the full function of the knee. Recovery time for meniscus tear surgery can go anywhere from 3-6 months after surgery.
Meniscus (cartilage) Repair patients cannot do twisting, pivoting, squatting, deep knee bends or impact activities for four months. It is vital that meniscus repair patients do not squat for at least four months after the repair.
For a general timeframe, many runners can begin a (safe) return to running program around 8-12 weeks post-op. This timeline provides enough time to significantly reduce swelling, improve strength at the hip and quadriceps muscles, and implement a gradual progression/training plan to resume proper walking mechanics.
An uncomplicated meniscectomy will resolve most of the pain fairly quickly, but swelling and stiffness take time to resolve. It may take 4-5 months for full healing. The patient should be able to bear weight on the knee while standing or walking, immediately after surgery.
Without a meniscus, you might gradually develop knee pain and arthritis of your joint. Replacing your meniscus may provide significant pain relief. It may also help prevent arthritis in your joint. This can develop when your cartilage becomes frayed and rough.
Not necessarily. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
If the meniscus has been removed, even if a small piece has been removed, then the stress on the articular cartilage increase 3-fold. That can cause osteoarthritis, which may go on to require a knee replacement. What is this? Your risk of developing osteoarthritis increases when a meniscus tear occurs.
Most meniscal surgeries (95%) are partial meniscectomies where part of the meniscus is actually removed, not just repaired. Therefore, the remaining meniscus is now smaller and does not perform as well.
In individuals with a degenerative meniscal tear, surgery should be reserved for those with painful clicking, locking, buckling, or recurrent swelling or for those who do not have improved pain or function following a course of conservative treatment.
A torn meniscus can cause temporary or permanent disability and prevent a person from being able to walk around easily. If you have a job that involves manual labor or movement, your injury is likely to put you out of work until you can heal, which may take weeks or months.
After a meniscus repair, partial weight bearing is allowed and a brace may be used. Squatting is restricted for the first 3-4 months depending the size of the tear. Return to sport following arthroscopic meniscus repair can take 3-4 months depending on the severity of the tear and the sport.
If a person experiences persistent pain, swelling, or other symptoms following meniscus surgery, they should contact their doctor. These could be signs that the person has reinjured their knee or developed postsurgical complications that require treatment.
You will recover more quickly if you carefully follow all your doctor's instructions. In your first days after surgery, you will need apply ice frequently and elevate your knee above your heart to help relieve swelling. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, to help your body heal.
If the knee does well and there are no significant symptoms, then it follows that the tear must have healed up and the repair was successful. If, however, a patient is unlucky enough to develop recurrent symptoms and ongoing problems with the knee, then the assumption is that the attempted repair has failed.
You can walk with your full weight on both legs (unless your surgeon has given you specific instructions). You can walk up and down stairs.
The fluid in your knee often remains there for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery until your body can reabsorb it. This fluid will make your knee feel tight or stiff, especially with deep knee bending or squatting.
When a true meniscus repair is performed, your surgeon is likely to recommend a period of limited weight-bearing (using crutches or walker for walking) and limited motion. They may also recommend using a knee brace. These measures are taken in order to protect the repair and give it a chance to heal.
Sometimes providers remove a meniscus if the damage is so severe that they can't repair it. Living without a meniscus can increase your risk of osteoarthritis and chronic (long-term) knee pain.
It's typically done as an arthroscopic procedure. This involves small incisions, about a centimeter long, where an arthroscope (a small surgical camera) and small instruments are inserted so part or all of the meniscus can be removed.