arthroscopic knee surgery

sls

i am in no way looking for medical advice on what to do in this situation would just like to hear from others who may of been through the procdure.
thanks


Would like to hear from any one who has had arthroscopic knee surgery (meniscal tear). how were you before and after procedure?
As i am awaiting this surgery myself. I was using a bicycle on a daily basis for 3 hours approx. I had only been doing this cycling for approx 4 months when the knee flared up within a week, this causes swelling and internal bleeding. Straight to the doctor, he said this was not the cause however and was most likely from a previous injury i was unaware of. I stopped on the bike imediately. I was put on a course of anti-inflamatories and a gel plus told to use support type bandage. No long walks, no driving, no cycling. Baths would help and also visits to local jacuzzi.
Now since i am on public waiting list my doctor wrote for me to be seen and after i rang hospital to see any news on when i might be seen. I was told im on the urgent list but was not given a date, but i was told to expect to be waiting at least 9 months.

i was talking with one person in a local club meeting who has had exact same thing as me he said he waited 2 years to be called for his operation and even though he is better knee is not 100% by far. He still has pain if bent and the knee in general feels tight.

uch

Had this done for a Meniscus tear and then for Medial Ligament tear, knee is still sore now and again but not half as bad as before, I returned to football within six months of Surgery and had very little problems with the knee.

murphyaii

ray moran is doing it in santry.
had it done before on my right knee.
prone to injuries as i play football a lot.
6 months and you should be fine.
a few tips though....bring something to read for at least 6 hours as you will probably be kept overnight.
also before you go into surgery ask them not to face the surgery door before going in.
i hate looking at their utensils in there before being operated on and gassed

TouchingVirus

You got anaesthatised in the actual theatre? I've been put under more times that I'd care to mention, but never in actual theatre, usually in a holding room outside the theatre before being wheeled in. I have to say I wouldn't fancy looking at the utensils myself.

enniscorthy

best of luck mate

mawk

I was anesthetized in the theater too. tbh though if they could have given me a great local id rather have watched and asked questions as he did it. im curious like that.

I was fine for about a week post procedure then it became quite painful for a while. its pretty good now but gets sore after a lot of walking or driving.

my big problem was a long waiting list and being off one leg left me with frustrating muscular imbalance for some time after. hard to train only one leg..

overall though, not so bad. definitely better than before and worth doing.

''be kind to your knees, you'll miss them when theyre gone''
damn your late advice sunscreen!!

n32

i tore the cartilage in my left knee in mid 2008 and played on until mid 2009 when the club physio told me to get it done. i had the operation january 2010 and was supposed to be back in action after 4-6 weeks rehab. The club physio however said everyones recovery is different and can range from 2 weeks to a year. I got it removed but if you opt for a cartilage repair its 8-12 months recovery. i did a lot of cycling and weights as running on hard pitches was out of the question and i was back playing by end of february with serious discomfort but felt fine by june/july. the knee is still very sore when training/playing and when i take a hard shot. tbh i dont notice a huge improvement since the operation. i d nearly say leave it if you can play without too much discomfort. as regards the operation, you ll have a stich on both sides of your kneecap that have to dressed every day and they come out after a week, the crutches are gone within 2-3 days. for a couple of days after the operation you ll think that you ll never play sport again but it strengthens fierce quick
best of luck

by the way: if you play football, hurling , soccer etc. dont buy a knee strap or bandage after the op. when you wear it you ll feel awful , it completely constricts your movement and hampers your running like you wouldnt believe. and cycle like a hoor when your rehabbing

Kiith

Just to hijack this thread a little, can anyone who has had it done tell me how long it took for them to be back walking again, or is it only a few days? I've got to get the surgery done as i've an extensive tear on my meniscus (appointment with the surgeon this week). Just wondering how long i'll be out of work, and how long it would take to get me back running. Not so much worried about football, but i'll go crazy not being able to run.

mawk

i walked out of the hospital(chastised for it though). was good for a few days then it got sore. dont recall ever being laid up per say though

the anser

I had this done 7 weeks ago, small meniscal tear.Surgery not really a problem although it was a general anaesthetic. Was able to walk immediately afterwards but recovery has been slow.......still feels delicate and I have'nt returned to vigorous exercise yet. Have played a little golf, done some swimming etc....but full recovery can take several months and strong painkillers still occasionally required. It is still better than not getting it done however......

Fragglefur

had it done for a menicus tear a few years ago (2003). I was on crutches for a few days afterwards and back at work a couple of weeks later. It did take a while for the swelling to go down though. The odd time my knee swells, particularly if I've excercised a bit or have been on my feet all day, but otherwise I've had no long term problems. Good luck with your surgery.

Tahuti

It's a placebo surgery, apparently.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/07/020712075415.htm

sls

well since im curently on public healt waiting list rang last week to see how soon ill get it done ive been told now at least a year
is it possible to pay to have it done private or would the cost be crazy
knee is really acting up even when just walking it gives way under me
and when i turn in bed at night the popping and cracking from it wakes my partner
its worst in the morning tends to be weak and stiff
doctor says rest it and not to do much
thing is i had to stop work due to it but my job is there for me once im ok to return but the public healt system is a joke
people out there with no jobs and ive one waiting for me and cant get sorted to get back to it

magooly

I had keyhole surgery for a maniscus tear on my right knee 5 years ago, after landing akwardly in a football match. Before the op I couldn't kneel down on my hunkers, and my knee would give way frequently. Thankfully its now 100%.

For the op I was in overnight after the surgery and out the next morning. Some slight swelling and stitches but nothing compared to pre-op.

Post op, try to take weight on it as soon as possible after; like the next day since muscle wastage on your thigh will set in v quickly and you do not want that. The pain is manageable, force yourself to complete the physio exercises in full every few hours for your own good, and you should be back walking within a few days. You can ice any swelling that may come up after exercises.

Mine was done privately through VHI but there is a treatment purchase fund put in place by Mary Hearney that can cover your treatment in a private clinic if the waiting list is >6 months so would definitley be worth looking into that.

http://www.ntpf.ie/qualify/

Best of luck.

garv123

i had it done.
i used be playing hurling and my knee began to get sore. over weeks it began to get worse. it began to lock in place for seconds. then gradually longer and longer.
doctor told me it was growing pains. next doctor told me the same thing.

it used happen wen i was putting effort into hitting the sliothar. (imagine the steps a keeper takes taking a puck out)
then one night at training i went to hit the ball and happened again, the knee just went from under me. i was going to spain the following day so i went straight to A&E where i waited for 3 hours for some stupid brain dead trainee doctor to tell me i pulled a muscle in my thigh.my knee was bent and i couldnt straighten it past 45 degrees.
i spend all of my holiday on crutches and couldnt walk until i came home. my third doctor was after making an appointment with the surgeon before hand but i heard no word from him for 8 months and then 4 months after his meeting i finally had the surgery. it wasnt painful at all. my choice was take morphine and stay in overnight( it was only 2pm) or go home and have strong painkillers. i took the second option and to be honest it wasnt sore so i didnt take them. 2 months later i finally got told what was wrong when i had a check up. it was a meniscal tear and something was physically getting stuck between the joint stopping it from moving. he said if i continued playing sports after the last time it happened i would have torn my cruciate.

i was on crutches for 2 days and back training after 6 weeks.
from the first trip to the doctor to the surgery was 18 months of been sent back home with bull**** excuses.

i wont put the pic below into the post but click on the link if u want to see the end result. tidy job with no visible scars.

sls

many thanks for advice and photos
all i can do now is wait it seems

Kiith

I had my surgery done 5 weeks ago, and the difference is amazing. It was keyhole surgery, as i had an extensive tear on my meniscus. He had to remove part of it, as it was pretty bad. He showed me pictures of the good one, and the torn one, and the difference was unbelievable. Surgery was grand. In at 7am, and home by lunch. Was able to walk out of the hospital, and was talking at length within a week. No pain after the surgery whatsoever, and i still have a big bag of tylex sitting in the press

I'm now back to running and playing tag, and going to start playing football next week. I basically did nothing but cycling for the past 3 weeks, and it's really helped. Slowly building the quads on my left leg back up, and delighted with how quickly it all went. I just wish i'd done it a year ago.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Biggest piece of advice I can give you, don't get any knee surgery done in Tallaght hospital.

Sure you can get a quick turn around for an acute issue. Injury happened on the Monday, saw my GP on Tuesday refered to hospital, saw A&E that night and admitted and operated on Wednesday morning. I was let go on Friday. Thats the good news.

The bad news was that I needed several operations over nearly two years to be fully right (the last nearly 3 years ago). Over the two years I was all but banned from exercise (because a brisk walk or a trip up the stairs could send me screaming for ice and painkillers) which really ****ed up my weight and general fitness(up a 100 pounds).

I was able to generally walk within 2-5 days after a surgery for short periods but left a crutch next to the stairs full time during the period.

sls

ok time for an update and some views
im out of work with this since 20/9/2010
contacted waterford regional hospital orthopedic clinic recently to see if any news on getting an appointment to be seen.
once again ive been told im looking at over a year.
went to local social welfare office and they told me because of my situation and waiting time to fill out form for disability allowance.
my local fas placement service also said i need to apply for same.
my doctor is now also in process of filling out disability allowance form for me.

i can afford to pay to be seen privately for a consultation but been told if i do that i will be stricken from the public waiting list to have procedure done.
And i cant afford to pay to have procedure done.So cant win.

now my condition doctor tells me no heavy leg work, no driving, no long walking, if i do use my leg so to speak i usually end up on anti inflammatory tablets and use cream on a daily basis. i use a leg strap when walking to help. I have good and bad weeks depending on what i do. im told stay home keep the leg up and if swelling keep ice on it and visit jacuzzi as much as possible as this may help as well. i have been also given strong pain killers to use if required as some times the pain even with these can be unbearable and i cant move with it at all.
welcome to ireland my doctor tells me
and its terrible medical system.

when on disability could i apply for Mobility Allowance?
open to views on my situation folks laugh's included
keep the spirits up kind of

sls

Just a quick note i have a job waiting for me when im good to return to work if i ever get seen.

garv123

i had mine done in waterford regional.
i was told 2 years. got a letter and appointment to see the surgeon after 8 months and the op was done 4 months after that. alot of waiting but still a year ahead of schedule.
lucky for me its at me again and the other one is now too

sls

Still being told over a year to be seen in waterford.
Both social welfare and my doctor have told me i need to be on disability, due to my condition.
I can work if the work is suitable this may not include long periods of driving walking or lifting, as my leg does give from under me from time to time. the doctor says as i am it is not getting any better the more im using it and i need to be seen and have it treated asap. he complains about the medical system in ireland all the time but is actively involved about changing it.
So for now im making sure the form is filled out correctly crossing the t,s and dotting the i,s ny doctor has warned me also that in sending the form for disability my payment of jobseekers benefit will be cut oof and i will be 8 to 10 weeks before it will be processed correctly as he has a few patients in similar position. Seems i cant win no matter what i do.

darklighter

sls wrote: »

Still being told over a year to be seen in waterford.
Both social welfare and my doctor have told me i need to be on disability, due to my condition.
I can work if the work is suitable this may not include long periods of driving walking or lifting, as my leg does give from under me from time to time. the doctor says as i am it is not getting any better the more im using it and i need to be seen and have it treated asap. he complains about the medical system in ireland all the time but is actively involved about changing it.
So for now im making sure the form is filled out correctly crossing the t,s and dotting the i,s ny doctor has warned me also that in sending the form for disability my payment of jobseekers benefit will be cut oof and i will be 8 to 10 weeks before it will be processed correctly as he has a few patients in similar position. Seems i cant win no matter what i do.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. Had the same knee ligament repaired twice so I know the agony it can cause.

Is a case like yours not what the National Treatment Purchase Fund was set up for? I was under the impression that if you were waiting more than 6 months to be operated on for certain procedures (knees been one), that the NTPF licked in then. Have you discussed this with your doctor? [Apologies in advance if im talking through my arse]

n32

heading in tuesday morning to get the other knee done. hoping for a better result this time

sls

I have to be seen by the specialist first then be waiting six months im told on public waiting list before i can apply for than scheme. If i pay to see spealist privately as my mother said she would pay for this then i will be knocked off public waitng list my doctor told me as technically i could wait six months then apply for that scheme thus we could all possibly go private to be sen but the then everyone would be waiting to be seen six months later we all apply for the scheme. go figure dammed if you do and dammed if you dont.
have not sent off disablity form yet but my condition is not getting any better at all, doctor says ill be struggling to get money out of them for weeks.
no idea really half the time what to do.

heyheyhey1982

i had mine on the public system and i was waiting for 6 weeks to be seen by the consultant. after that i was 5 weeks waiting for the Op. That was 11 months ago and i'm still not right- although thats due to the type of injury i had. I sent my docs letter to 5 hospitals and Cappah national Ortho Hospital got back to me. The Op would cost 2K if you went private- and you could claim back on the tax! if that helps. Good luck

sls

an update but not much recieved letter from disability section stating they recieved my application before christmas and i rang them in about 14 weeks ill get my reply to see if i wualify or not for temporary disability
other than that no news

BoDiddly

@SLS , You and I have the same problem, except I am waiting for my second arthroscopy, after the first one in 2007 and subsequent lubrication injections in 2009 & 2010. I have been waiting since October last, a longer wait than the original operation.

sls

another update rang waterford hospital to see if any news of possible appointment, was speaking with referals officer for orthopedic clinic. ive been told to ring back in sept 2013 !

i have been refused for disability on the grounds that my condition will not have lasted a year or continue for another year. and also that i must be out of work due to it which i am. they want if i apeal it a specailist report. however i have been informed by waterford that if i get a specailist report/consultation i will no longer be entitled to have my procedure done on public waiting list and will be stricken from it.

cant win!

BoDiddly

sls wrote: »

another update rang waterford hospital to see if any news of possible appointment, was speaking with referals officer for orthopedic clinic. ive been told to ring back in sept 2013 !

i have been refused for disability on the grounds that my condition will not have lasted a year or continue for another year. and also that i must be out of work due to it which i am. they want if i apeal it a specailist report. however i have been informed by waterford that if i get a specailist report/consultation i will no longer be entitled to have my procedure done on public waiting list and will be stricken from it.

cant win!

I hate to say this but........

I was injured at work in 2006 had first op in 2007 still not right and waiting for 2nd op since 2009 ! Had all the problems you have had, been waiting for Invalidity pension for 10 months, etc etc It's is a total nightmare, if I had gone private no problem, I would have been seen quicker , the ironic problem is you can't afford to go private once on disability / invalidity etc.

I worked in the same industry for 30 years unable to work in that sector since and can not work, full stop, until knee is fixed. I am going nuts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cathk

Do you mind me asking what surgeon did the operation for you?

sls

received phone call from my own doctor the other night. he recieved letter stating that i have been removed from waiting list in waterford due to a request from myself. he obviously rang e to confirm this of which i had no news or idea what was going on he will contact them and insist to put me back on waiting list. he said they were probably reviewing and simply making cuts as they wanted. !! what can i say not surprised really but where does this leave me lord only knows im going to call down to waterford and try to see what is going on as i think a phone call wont get me far.

sls

ok yesterday i booked an appointment privately paying from my own pocket to see specialist in kilkenny appointment nest thursday. tried ringing waterford to see what the story was elaine ronan in the referrals office is closed from 3rd to 10th og this month she had told me to ring back in sept 2013 for possible earliest appointment. but i feel i have no other choice now than to go private. im waiting long enough.

skaface

Hi, sorry to hear about your misfortune
My son ruptured his cruciate in sept. 2010, playing football with the school. I brought him to WRH, they took an x ray , told him to rest for 6 to 7 weeks and he,d be fine - they never diagnosed it!! He went back playing and one night at training, his knee went again.. brought him to the Whitfield for an MRI scan and we were told the news. They advised that he wait 2 years until he was 16 to have the op . We went for a second oppinion, brought him to the Santry sports clinic to Ray Moran.. he was operated on at the end of December and was back playing in July 2011, i couldn,t speak highly enough of Ray Moran and his staff, thank god we had VHI. As for WRH...less said the better... hope you get sorted soon

sls

ok ive been to see doctor im going for surgery this friday two operations both arthroscopic surgery and also having bursa in front of knee cap removed im told to them lay up for 8 weeks after this but at least ill be back better waterford hospital and public waiting

sls

on the road to recovery had arthoscopy of the right knee
was given print out of all details
surgery details
extensive grade 3 articular cartilage degeneration of the patella was treated with the electrosurgery ablator.a pre patellar bursa was removed arthoscopically with the shaver and the ablator.

knee is well swollen and will be for 6 to 8 weeks plus ive physio excersises to do along with using ice on it but everything went well and ill be back like new after christmas.

good site to see picture of patella and pre patellar bursa http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Prepatellar-Bursitis-Housemaid%27s-Knee.htm

sls

cade

I think I may have to line myself up for someting like this in the future. I'd say for the last six years I haven't been able to sit in a cinema for the duration of the film without hobbling out at the end. I can't sit for long periods of time with my knee bent, I can feel the pain building under my kneecap.

Nothing had really progressed on that until last Monday when I kneeled down for a moment and when I went to stand up my knee clicked rather paifully and I found myself collapsing to the ground. Since then it's been a recurring pain while sitting at my work desk. I did however notice that eventually when it reaches a point my ankle hurts too and it feels like my toes start to curl up and spasm.

pedro7

Hi Mate,

Good luck with your op.

I am 25 now. Had it done when I was 18. I had 2 tears in the meniscus. the one at the front of the knee cant remember what it was called. I had my operation done semi private in Cappagh Hospital near Finglas. I think the surgeons name was Dr Mulhall? He was excellent.

Before the op I was extremely active in sport, hurling and football mainly. One day I jumped for a high ball and when I landed my knee was locked in the bent position and was very painful to unbend. I went to numerous doctors who pawed it off as growing pains and such. But I went to a good physio who knew exactly what it was.

I then had an MRI which confirmed the tears. Then was scheduled for the arthroscope. I was knocked out for the op. I was in and out of hospital in 15hrs. Staff in Cappagh were very nice to me. I was quite scared having never been in hospital before this. I woke up still feeling really euphoric from the pain killers and the anesthetics. It was brill! But about an hour or so after I felt nauseous and sore. I was very nauseous on the car journey home. But then straight to bed and slept for nearly 20hrs. When I woke up I was fine. My knee was quite swollen for 10 days after and mildly painful if I attempted to move it at all. I couldn't really move it much for about 3 weeks after the op.

My meniscus was not removed during the repair. It had some blood flow so was repaired some how. I was told to stay off the leg for 6 to 8 weeks. So I was on crutches for that time. Then I started a lot of physiotherapy. Once a week for the first month off the crutches then once a fortnight for the following 2 months and then once a month for the remainder of the year after that.

Because I was on crutches so long I had a lot of muscle to regain so I was in the gym lifting weights and doing strengthening exercise at least 3 days a week.

A year later I was back running and playing hurling within 18 months of the surgery. I haven't had any problems with it since. Touchwood. On very cold mornings it can be a little sore intil I warm up. But other than that its 100% again.

I hope that helps somewhat. If I can be of any more help let me know.