Recently I made the mistake? of telling my readers that I had injured my knee and that an MRI, combined with an orthopedic consult, suggested that surgery would likely be in the cards to repair it. Yesterday, an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon finally provided a definitive diagnosis and a suggested course of action. It was a long wait until after the Thanksgiving holiday week.
Since I’d mentioned the injury in the first place, I figured I needed to report the outcome to my readers. Besides, my blog is my way of keeping family and close friends up to date.
Human Knee – Image in Creative Commons
The MRI revealed that I had strained (rather than torn, whew!) my medial collateral ligament (MCL) but my initial orthopedist told me it would likely heal on its own within two weeks. Yesterday was 15 days after the injury occurred and thankfully it has mostly healed. My surgeon concluded that it was no longer of much concern, if any.
But the MRI had also revealed that I had a “complex tear of the peripheral body and posterior horn medial meniscus” and that’s what I was most worried about. My initial orthopedist said that any injury to the meniscus that was more serious than “minor” would likely require surgery and a “complex tear” didn’t sound minor to me. The very last thing I needed was having to be on crutches and unable to drive (the injury is to my right knee) for weeks on end while I’m still struggling to recover from major back surgery – a 4-level lumbar fusion.
So yesterday morning I was immensely relieved when my surgeon told me that it was unlikely that my meniscus would need surgical repair. It turns out that most or all of the pain I had after the injury was caused by the MCL strain rather than the torn meniscus. At this point I have little pain or even discomfort anywhere in my knee and my surgeon said “why have surgery to prevent pain you don’t have?”. He also said that it’s “very possible” that the meniscus tear is an old injury.
A bullet that I was very happy to dodge.
Ron
Such wonderful news to hear today!! My husband had all of the meniscus in his right knee removed when he was in his early 20’s (he was in the Marines and had an accident playing basketball while stationed in the middle east on the island of Cyprus). That was around 1972. He is now 73 years old and hasn’t had any problems with that knee, even with it being bone-on-bone, for 40 some years. It truly is amazing how the body can adapt. I am very happy for you.
That’s an amazing story about your husband’s knee, Karen.
Such great news, all of it, Ron! As a victim of a vicious ACL tear and major meniscus damage 40 yrs ago (much like April’s ) — supposedly fixed 20 yrs ago (not) by partial, then total, knee replacement — I can feel your relief from here. Now, let’s just get that back in shape for the new year! 😉
I’m working on the back, Chris – but that surgery is in a league of its own.
Happy to hear it turned out better than expected. Always happy when that happens in the doctor’s office! Enjoying the posts you are able to get out periodically, look forward to a full schedule! Best wishes for your continuing recovery.
Thank you, Quentin. After this long photo draught, a “full schedule” looks pretty damn good to me too.
Great news about being able to avoid surgery! Glad the MCL sprain has healed so quickly too!
A good Ortho is worth their weight (and then-some) in platinum! I feel very fortunate to have a good one as well. As arthritis runs in our family and I’m quite the klutz, I know we’ll be seeing each other on the regular. 😂
Marty, I suspect that at some point I’ll be seeing this surgeon again too. I just hope it isn’t anytime soon.
Really good news, Ron! The illustrations you’ve provided for these knee posts are great, as Granny Pat mentioned.
As a veterinary technician, I saw a ton of dogs with torn ACLs and assisted in many of their knee surgeries. These illustrations show so clearly what was happening in their knees – thanks!
My current foster dog had the TPLO surgery 3 weeks ago for a complete CCL rupture. Now that she’s feeling better, the challenge has been to keep a 70-pound goof-ball of a dog from damaging the surgical site. Easier said than done! 💜🐶💗
I’m glad you appreciate the graphics, Carolyn. Thanks.
WONDERFUL, wonderful news to start my day on.
Wonderful news! I think they often wait a couple of weeks before you see a surgeon with knee issues. I guess if tears will heal they start the process by the time you have a consult. I believe my one knee is bone on bone because they had to remove so much meniscus due to the amount of damage. Apparently now I have a lot of bone spurs too. I am lucky that the two accidents on that knee did nerve damage and I don’t have much pain, just stiffness and loss of mobility.
Keep up the healing so you can get out for photography. We have some storms coming in, not the light you like, so maybe that will lessen the cabin fever.
“I am lucky that the two accidents on that knee did nerve damage”
Now that’s a statement you don’t hear very often, April.
That’s a big relief, Ron. Anytime you can avoid going under the knife is a win in my book.
I couldn’t agree more, Ryan.
Want to thank you for the updates on your health. We all care about you and want you back in action, doing what you like the most.
Trudy, I really don’t like turning my blog into a running commentary on my health but the way I’ve been doing things lately doesn’t give me much choice.
Excellent outcome. Thanks for the good report.
Thank you, Kathryn.
Good news Ron – I had meniscus surgery 40 years ago back in Newport Beach and at almost 85 the knee is perfect, and I do all my birding on foot.
Reading the blog now is like reading about your favorite NFL team with all the injuries by this time in the season.
Take it slow and be careful – none of us want a major interruption to our morning Feathered Photography. 🙂 🙂
“I do all my birding on foot.”
I’m jealous, Everett. So very jealous.
Oh, hooray! As someone with a long history of knee issues, pain and knee surgery experience I am so happy to hear this news! Glad the Thanksgiving elves delivered such good news… now just back to helping that back recover!
Thank you, Barbara.
We’re all smiling, Ron, from all around the world! And I bet you can feel it.
Thanks, Nina.
Yaaaaaaaaaay! Great news, Ron. My first dog’s name was Fang. After my grandmother had a series of TIAs, which affected her language skills and cognition, she began to call him Tang, which was a hugely popular orange drink when I was a kid. He remained Tang until his death!
Diane, I remember Tang (the drink). I never did like it.
No pain=definite gain in this case. Being a vertebrate is a mixed bag. One advantage invertebrates have over us “higher” life forms. You never hear about octopuses suffering from sore joints.
Good point about invertebrates, Lyle.
That is good news! Please take care..and don’t get restless…
Take it easy and rest that knee,
Kaye
That’s my plan, Kaye.
Great news Ron.
I am glad to hear it and very happy for you
Whew!
Yup.
From stories I’ve heard, “why have surgery when you don’t need it?” isn’t the first response of every orthopedist. I’m glad you heard those words; I’m even more glad that your body’s been busy repairing itself, and that you’re going to be able to continue being out and about!
I’ve heard some of the same stories, Shoreacres. I made the appointment with that particular surgeon because he came highly recommended by Diane Olson, my ex-wife and still good friend. I’m glad I did.
When I can continue to be out and about very much still depends on how this back surgery eventually turns out
YES! That IS great news and grateful you didn’t have a “cut happy” surgeon! 😉 Hopefully it will continue to heal on it’s own….. Interesting that he meniscus is “probably” an old injury but then you’ve had ample time and opportunity in your life for that to happen – if it hasn’t caused problems for you no point messing with it IMO. 😉
Thanks, Judy. Much of the meniscus has no blood supply so that part can’t heal on its own. Apparently, some meniscus tears don’t necessarily cause pain or other problems.
Wow! Good news, indeed, Ron. And you were overdue for some. The knee, indeed the entire body is a wonderful piece of engineering. That we got them by trial and error over millenia is even more impressive. Don’t know where you find those drawings but they are great.
Thank you, Granny Pat.
Congratulations!! Surgery is best avoided when possible!
That’s for sure.
Hooray!!! I am so very happy for you Ron! That is a huge, slightly late Thanksgiving gift. Are you still wearing a wrap around your knee or any kind of protection so so that the knee will continue to heal? Isn’t it strange that’s such a little move could cause such a big problem?
Strange indeed, Melanie. Doctors never did suggest a brace or a wrap so I’ve never used one on my knee.
VERY good news Ronnie!!!
I hope you aren’t planning to go out this morning and clear your driveway. I would think that shoveling or blowing snow is definitely on the list of things you just cannot do yet!!!
Thanks, Sue. I’m not (quite) as dumb as I look.
YIPPY, Ron!!
Yippee Skippy! Skippy was the name of my first dog – he was born on the same day I was and I had him for 13 years.