Knee injury and golf

esker man

Ok, I strained/tore my left side lateral ligament of left knee about three weeks ago and am finding it still very painful and slow to get around, and now it looks like I may have a Meniscus cartilege tear on the outside left side also (waiting on MRI and may need keyhole surgery to "tidy up" as the doctor put it)

So, anyone else out there had anything like this and how did you find recovery and how did it affect your golf.

I am right handed so, weight transfer goes to left knee on follow through.

I'm a high handicap player trying to improve, but this may be a major spanner in the works going forward

dines08

I'm 26 years old and have had both knees operated on. Right knee was a cruciate ligament tear and left knee was torn meniscus. Both knees took 4-6 weeks after surgery to fully settle down. Both were soccer injuries that set me back and cost me 12-14 months without soccer. I'm playing again and without discomfort. Have been playing golf for 18 months and never had a problem. If surgery is required I'd say you are better off. Orthroscopy(keyhole) is a minor surgery and after 4-6 weeks of physio you'll be as good as new.

Osgoodisgood

I've had similar injuries to both knees and my golf isn't affected at all. Just make sure you do your physio properly and avoid lateral movement (like golf) until the doc says it's ok.

dines08

Exactly... It will keep swelling if you go back to early. Wait until it settles down and is completely pain free

esker man

dines08 wrote: »

I'm 26 years old and have had both knees operated on. Right knee was a cruciate ligament tear and left knee was torn meniscus. Both knees took 4-6 weeks after surgery to fully settle down. Both were soccer injuries that set me back and cost me 12-14 months without soccer. I'm playing again and without discomfort. Have been playing golf for 18 months and never had a problem. If surgery is required I'd say you are better off. Orthroscopy(keyhole) is a minor surgery and after 4-6 weeks of physio you'll be as good as new.

so at least 6 weeks away from golf ?

Osgoodisgood

esker man wrote: »

so at least 6 weeks away from golf ?

You're going to get people tell you that you can do it in less and that Shane Horgan played a 6 nations game 2 weeks after a knee op. Whilst that's true it leaves out any mention of the huge medical team involved in making it happen and also that further pain or damage is inevitable.

My strong advice is to listen to your surgeon, do your physio properly and don't play golf until both you and your doc feel you can do it without causing any damage. What's a few weeks anyway?

esker man

Osgoodisgood wrote: »

You're going to get people tell you that you can do it in less and that Shane Horgan played a 6 nations game 2 weeks after a knee op. Whilst that's true it leaves out any mention of the huge medical team involved in making it happen and also that further pain or damage is inevitable.

My strong advice is to listen to your surgeon, do your physio properly and don't play golf until both you and your doc feel you can do it without causing any damage. What's a few weeks anyway?

Wont go against my Doc anyway. Just hoping its not too long, think I'm a reasonable good healer so fingers crossed.

dines08

Exactly right. Pain and swelling free I'd still wait a further two weeks. You'll know if it's too early it'll swell up again

Waesfjord

deffo agree with above - wait for MRI and consultant review of same, and don';t trust a doctor or physio as they can only act on what symptom you describe, so may miss something.

I've had a full cruciate tear with meniscus tear, only cruciate fixed by surgery. Knee does get a little sore at random times, but golf is no trouble really.

esker man

brian1976 wrote: »

deffo agree with above - wait for MRI and consultant review of same, and don';t trust a doctor or physio as they can only act on what symptom you describe, so may miss something.

I've had a full cruciate tear with meniscus tear, only cruciate fixed by surgery. Knee does get a little sore at random times, but golf is no trouble really.

Waiting on MRI and review, initial thought from Doc is meniscus tear which needs to be "tidied up"

davidrafferty

Happened to me last year - old football injury coming home to roost - right knee finally gave out - torn meniscus! Went through the MRI, then arthroscopy ("clean up of bits of meniscus, ospeophytes, etc.), then physio.
Last visit to surgeon 3 months after op, he asked was I better or worse than before the operation. I responded "worse", to which he said "ah! your arthritis is a lot worse than we talked about, then".
Over a year later, in a push I could walk the golf course but would be in agony after it. So, unless it's 13 holes or less, I use the buggy. Good thing is our club agreed to form a buggy club of about 10 people who pay €10 per week for unlimited buggy use.
Younger people seem to be able to cope better as their arthritis may not be so severe. For the older folk, an artificial knee is not without risk.
Hope it all works out for you, but, if it's any consolation, I've dropped a few shots off my handicap this year, despite having to use the buggy.

Flanders536

Hey mate, I did this to myself, and has effected my golf a huge ammount. I play in waterford and find it very difficult getting up and down the steep hills, I would HIGHLY suggest you do not play untill you are fully recovered.

If you leg slips when your swining and club you could twist and hurt your knee/ligiments so much worse then it is now, I had that problem today.
I drove off a tee, right leg slipped knee twisted and its now sore again.

My opinion - dont risk it, wait the few weeks for it to settle!


6 Months Ago


3 Weeks AGO

DamienOB

both my knee caps are 2 inches higher than they should be (Popped out a few times each) and strains my tendon, meaning ive chronic tendoinitis now for 2 years, hurts t walk upstairs, kneel down, walk down hills but i get through a round of golf, and then stiffen up... Im only recently 21 so chin up, it could be worse could be like me and stuck with it for life

soundsham

Had similar to op a few years back and I was in no hurry to test it out I could hav came back Playing after 6-8 weeks but as it was winter I left it another 3 months till Feb
Came back fine
A few years on though it pains a bit and I've lost 10-15% in distance
Good luck, and as stated above get the MRI
Then you may have to wait for surgery and another 6 weeks of physio after that
Then see where your at