If the damage is severe, you may need arthroscopy surgery to repair or remove the damaged cartilage. I started earlier on the first surgery with chip shots. Callaway RazrX Tour stock shaft stiff/Mizuno MP-30 2 iron with Rifle 6.0 shaft Robert Brophy, MD, on partial menisectomy surgery Watch on Call (314) 514-3500 Make an Appointment Online Request an Appointment totally different experience for someone who had both knees done at different times. Meniscus repair is usually done with arthroscopic surgery. Understand your meniscus tear and your treatment options even if you have no medical knowledge and have looked everywhere for answers with no luck! If your left knee is covered by an arthroplasty, your right knee may experience rotational forces when you swing the golf club. A 6-minute mile takes an average of 1,064 steps to complete. It takes longer for a meniscus repair to heal than a meniscectomy. Lateral was only a small bit of wear, main reason for surgery was medial. I'm only on day 2 so long way to go but hoping to be hitting balls in a month. Sometimes, physiotherapy may be recommended to help reduce pain and improve movement and strength in the knee. Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Digital Radiography: Phoenix, AZ. 7. It is normal for patients to begin running after surgery after about two to three months. There are certain restrictions that you have to follow. Recovery from arthroscopic meniscus repair usually requires a period of limited weight-bearing (using crutches or walker), limited motion, and sometimes use of a knee brace. Many patients are able to return to limited or light duty work 1-2 weeks after surgery. This leaves you with a smaller scar as well as a faster recovery time. There is a specific recommendation for how to protect the knee, whether you swing your golf club or not. Coming back after knee surgery. If a person avoids repetitive activities that cause the knees to twist, bend, or rotate, they can avoid ACL tears entirely. The patient's exercise time after a partial meniscectomy ranges between one week and six weeks. 2. Display as a link instead, . Its not that Im worried that the patient would do further damage to the meniscus, although I suppose its possible. I jogged on Sunday night but didnt do a lot as it was hurting and returned to work Monday. Your link has been automatically embedded. Your previous content has been restored. A meniscus root tear can occur due to a traumatic event or degeneration. 5. The knees experience a great deal of pressure and are particularly prone to damage. What Causes Meniscus Tears? After having arthroscopic knee surgery, you may be able to return to sports in one month or 3-6 months. By the time I got in to see him, it was feeling better, he took some x-rays and couldn't see I had done any damage to that side of my knee. My understanding is that the medial meniscus has poor blood supply and will not heal on its own. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. Recovery time for meniscus tear surgery can go anywhere from 3-6 months after surgery. Trail. Partial meniscectomy: Frequently asked questions Was only the damaged portion removed or the entire meniscus? A cartilage tear is not like a broken bone you can still move around, which often causes progressive damage and a delay in seeking medical attention. For a low-impact sport such as cycling, the patient can return usually at around six months. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I just hope there aren't any surprises when he gets in there. I came home and showed my Dad and said I hurt my knee, he was a Dr., he looked at it and said "you sure did", and went back to reading the newspaper, no crutches, no PT, nothing. After about a week, I decided to go see a knee specialist. Its on my lead leg, left as I'm a right handed player. A repair of the cartilage between the knee bones is a relatively routine procedure to fix a very common injury. Physical exertion will need to be avoided for two to three months, although your doctor or physiotherapist will recommend some appropriate activities that will gradually strengthen the knee and surrounding area. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. Brandon Callahan, MD is a board-certified orthopedic physician with a decade of experience in providing comprehensive orthopedic care to patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Meniscectomy, or removal of torn meniscus tissue, typically has no post-op restrictions. I would make sure you discuss with your doctor how it might affect your golf before you go through with it. For how long? Fortunately, there are a few adjustments you can make to lower your chances of another meniscus injury. poochon puppies for sale in nebraska; Tags . A study in the publication Sports biomechanics . But 99% of the time I would say I have normal function of my knee. An ACL tear can be extremely painful and leave you unable to play golf for an extended period of time. The medical advice varies, but most online resources suggest you can return to playing golf around four months post-surgery if you used a patella tendon graft, or six months if you used a hamstring graft. He/she will insert a small camera through an incision on your knee and use small instruments to do the repair. If he does well, then he can advance slowly as his knee improves. It depends on the type of injury you had repaired, as well as the surgery itself, but realistically, you should be able to return to sprinting or jumping within six weeks. Some of the pain was similar to that of when I had the original tear. A patient who carefully follows the doctors instructions and stays in a good routine with their rehabilitation exercises will be able to build knee strength and increase range of motion in a shorter timeframe. We will determine during your consultation whether general or regional anesthesia would be appropriate either way, no pain will be experienced during the procedure itself. Home Injuries Can You Play Golf With A Torn Meniscus? 15 years ago I had a meniscus tear, (age 40) they totally cleaned it up and I still had pain. Success rates after meniscal repair range from 60% to 95%, but many reports are based on a small number of patients. For those of you who have had knee meniscus surgery: 1. That was pretty much a lost season for me. First surgery late in 2008 had meniscus trim, second in mid 2011 had meniscus repair in two places. Copyright 2023 Dr. David Geier Enterprises, LLC, Partial meniscectomy: Frequently asked questions, Ask Dr. Geier Meniscus tears in young athletes, Dr. David Geiers Amazon Influencer store. You will feel tired for several days. Its fine now, feel like unless i try to jump or sthg, its like 95percent pre-tear, but it really took about 2years post-surgery to get to that point. Full recovery from meniscus surgery can take anywhere from six weeks to three months. Usually they admitted that they continued to improve and feel stronger the further out they got from surgery. In general, reconstruction of an anterior cruciate ligament tear is scheduled for three to six weeks. But it seemed to get better fast right after that, and then at regionals the next week, I was medallist and we got to the state meet for the first time in school history. rteach1, June 2, 2018 in Instruction & Academy. Everyone heals differently, but generally, the recovery time for a meniscus repair is two to three months. Thought it was a slight tear and they were just going to clean it up. You may also experience limited knee motion and trouble extending your knee fully. Dr. Dan Albright talks about the procedure in his video. Many patients report that their knee mobility following the procedure is at least as good as it was prior to the initial injury. 3. No problems playing golf. Your care after surgery may involve: Crutches to take stress off the knee as it heals. Less time is required for recovery. Years ago, they were very careful. After surgery, swelling, pain, and limited motion are usually gone within three to four months. As soon as your initial recovery period is over, you will need to start a therapy program that will allow for a steady, gradual return to the activities you enjoyed prior to your meniscus injury. Instead, it may need to be trimmed down to keep it from tearing further, or removed completely and . Many patients find that they can put their full weight on their knee after a couple of weeks, but know your limits and be sure to not overdo the amount of time you spend on your feet. It is critical that we return to golf as soon as possible after the rehabilitation following. As stated, your meniscus absorbs and diffuses forces that act on your knee. But, I take leg strength very serious in my fitness habits. 395. In order to successfully repair a torn meniscus, the patient must have the knee completely ubilated for at least two weeks following the operation. If you want to reduce torsion, stop wearing spikes, or only wear soft ones. Any time I try either task, the pain is incredible and I walk with a pronounced limp. Will A Knee Brace Help Bursitis? 5.How long did it take after your surgery before you could play again? Repair of my ACL at 38 and a total knee replacement last September. Some golfers might tear their meniscus because of trauma, such as a big, powerful swing. A tear in the meniscusthe cartilage in your kneecan be painful. An anterior cruciate knee injury may require surgery for as long as six months. Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. on Medically Reviewed By: With a partial meniscectomy, crutches may be needed until you can walk without limping (usually five to seven days). I had some arthritis in the knee that the doctor cleaned up during the procedure. Recover From Knee Surgery Like a Champion! Many people experience stiffness and difficulty in normal activities as a result of surgery. How long recovery takes can depend on a variety of factors, which we will delve into below. Anytime surgery is performed whether via scope or they open you up I was told to expect arthritis to develop. Best of luck! Each meniscus tear is very different. Instruction not desired. But about half of my rounds were walking rounds prior to surgery. Your orthopedic surgeon will most likely perform an arthroscopy. It took about a year until my knee felt "normal" again. Rehabilitation following ACL surgery is very important and requires months of skilled physical therapy before returning to golf activities. This procedure allows 67 to 86 percent of athletes to resume their sports. Damaged meniscus (cartilage) repair patients are unable to perform any twisting, pivoting, squatting, deep knee bends, or impact activities for four months. Although, many patients can walk without a knee brace and crutches in about 2-3 months. After an ACL reconstruction, patients typically have six to nine months to fully recover before returning to sports. Depending on how well your body copes with treatment, the type of surgery done, and other factors, you can expect to play golf again within 4-6 months after meniscus repair. Using crutches will also ensure you allow your repaired tissues to become . Any deeper and you might have to consider surgery. Episode 155: What can golfers do to treat and prevent low back pain? Whether or not a meniscus tear can heal on its own depends on its severity. Severe meniscal tears. In the first couple weeks many are essentially high all day from taking opiates. Now, imagine a car with a busted suspension. A particular shout - out to Bigarch for pointing out the importance of leaving some meniscus in place. This is important because how you play the game also affects how easily you get injured. Can you squat with proper form and control? 1. When this happens to you, I urge you to let it heal completely before you swing those clubs. Your doctor or physiotherapist will advise you on how soon you can resume these activities. This makes it common in the older population whove already put their knees through good use throughout their lifetime. Any updates? That's great news! Your doctor put a lighted tubecalled an arthroscope or scopeand other surgical tools through small cuts (incisions) in your knee. Take steps to recover from knee surgery quickly and safely! I didn't think I did anything to my knee, kept playing and finished the 9. If your surgery includes repair of a meniscal tear with sutures or anchors, you . If you ask many surgeons about the timing for the patient attempting to jog or play sports after these surgeries, Id bet that you would get a wide variety of answers. The ACL is a soft tissue structure in the knee that connects the femur to the anterior shinbone. I do want to return to tennis soon..maybe. Despite the fact that golf is difficult to play due to ACL tears, most golfers will be able to play at some point. I have never felt like I have arthritis in that knee and its been 15 years since the surgery, but I have avoided sports like tennis, basketball, or soccer where I would have to move side to side or make sharp cuts. Your knee will be swollen. As for golf,I was playing in about 6 weeks. The recovery time following arthroscopic knee surgery can range between two and six weeks. It is currently standard procedure to treat torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) tears by performing a ACL reconstruction. The same could be said for a patient with a meniscus tear that needs to be repaired (not just just removed). 6. I have done these partial meniscectomy surgeries on professional athletes, many of whom returned to sports within 3 to 4 weeks. While we lean towards al. Your stitches will dissolve on their own and any scarring will fade in time. Osteoarthritis is the most common reason for a knee replacement procedure. An older patient with more wear and tear of the articular cartilage (arthritis changes) might need more time before trying to run than a college athlete with a pristine knee other than the meniscus tear. 1. It is critical that you consult with your doctor before starting running. I saw my surgeon today for my pre-op appointment (Surgery is Tuesday). However, certain conditions can accelerate this process and that includes a tear in your meniscus. So now his plan is put up with the pain till you cant take it anymore and eventually have knee replacement. I can hardly stand to walk 18 holes anymore and the next day will be torture if I do. Disclaimer: Some recommended products may use affiliate links. Weight transfer is great, pain is non existent although I occasionally get some swelling. This is completely normal, and the doctor may prescribe some mild pain medication for you to take when you get home. (1). I felt good when I left his office because I told him that I want to be left with some cushioning and he said that that is exactl. Following a repair, you will typically use crutches for at least three weeks to allow the repaired tissue . Occasionally I have pain ,but only when I bend down and place one knee on the ground.Otherwise asymptomatic.No pain skiing ,golf or working out. I flared my left foot out slightly, think open stance to help alleviate pain and discomfort as much as possible. on November 1, 2022 Medically Reviewed By how long after meniscus repair can i golf. My knee wasn't buckling, just extremely painful when rotating it internally or externally. For partial removal, return to full activities typically occurs about 6-10 weeks after surgery. Golfers benefit from staying fit, losing weight, and improving their emotional well-being by participating in physical activity. You can reduce swelling and pain by elevating your knee when possible. 4. I knew then I had to get it scoped. You can add that to a long list mental problems with my golf game. 5.How long did it take after your surgery before you could play again? As a result of improving the design of implants, ensuring that replacements are inserted properly and aligned, and ensuring that replacements are properly positioned, a longer life expectancy can be achieved. After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, you may be able to return to sport within a month. How Should You Choose a Sports Medicine Doctor? It is generally expected that knee rehab following a menisectomy will be much easier and faster than ACL or knee replacement surgery. Neither knee has come back fully to normal but they are better than they were. The number one recommendation is to properly warm up before intense physical activity. My main issue was pain. One such restriction is, all these exercises should be at a 15-degree angle. Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike. Your doctor will likely give you the go-ahead to start playing golf within six to eight weeks after your meniscus surgery, as long as youre not experiencing any pain or swelling. Knee Force does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Quick tips for a variety of sports- and exercise-related bone and joint injuries - Learn when those injuries could be serious and what you should do about them. The recovery time for meniscus surgery depends on the type of surgery you had. Plus any other damage the patient has in the knee could affect return to activity somewhat. During the course of a golf match, an athletes knee may experience twisting motion as a result of a torn meniscus. This lack of shock absorption and dispersion gets magnified over time, increasing your risk for osteoarthritis. The surgeon said that he was able to leave a substantial amount of meniscus, so that ia particularly gratifying. Learn how we can help. Timeline: 1 week to 5 weeks after Surgery. We are an online blog dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate information about orthopedics and injury prevention. A patient undergoing a repair as opposed to a complete replacement of the meniscus can expect to resume light activities within a few weeks. Did you have tears on both sides of the knee or just one side? Thank you all for sharing your experiences. However, most people can expect to return to golfing activities within 3-6 months after surgery. The most direct answer, really, is that you shouldnt be playing golf while your meniscus is still torn. The knee tends to buckle every once in awhile at the top of the backswing. I had 2 bone spurs that were really bad. As the above comments say, i flare my left foot out a bit to counter rotating too much, and let my left foot lift up slightly on the backswing, both of these seem to reduce the stresses going into my left knee. One disadvantage of this argument is that weight gain can cause implants to be stressed. Is it possible to do too much too soon? Of course, It still remains to be seen whether or not the surgery will greatly reduce the buckling that I was experiecing and the pain, but right now Im feeling optimistic. Ironically I had no pain when playing but doing activities like running and jumping caused lots of pain. He said that accepted practice now is to take out the least amount possible to get the job done. I also used to have something 'pop' out of the knee, but again, the second op fixed that, this caused buckling and intense pain when this feeling happened, it would feel like something popping out of position, then going straight back in with a searing pain. I had a tear on one side of the knee. how long after meniscus repair can i golf . Heavy work and sports may need to be restricted for the first 4-6 weeks. To correct my typo, my main issue has been buckling of my lead knee. It's been 9 years since the surgery and no arthritis yet. The surgeon said that he was able to leave a substantial amount of meniscus, so that ia particularly gratifying. So far no arthritis but i am told by others it will happen. Yes, extensively. My doctor told me it was OK to hit balls after 3-4 weeks. A low-grade tear of the knee is unlikely to result in permanent scarring during surgery. These will include recommendations for warm ups, stretching, yoga, playing the short game and avoiding long drives as the force and twist required my tear the meniscus again or aggravate the condition. His response was, "Oh you should still be able to play golf." While meniscus surgery is considered routine, there are still several basic things that patients should do following their procedure to ensure a faster and optimal recovery. If the procedure for ACL reconstruction is successful, sports will be out of commission for three to four months. It can worsen your injury and even lead to more complications down the road. The ability to function in that state will vary drama. A knee arthroscopy usually takes longer to recover than a wrist arthroscopy due to different joint issues for example, a knee arthroscopy takes longer to recover than a wrist arthroscopy. I've worked hard to build up my skinny legs better but haven't noticed much of a difference. Recovery After Meniscus Surgery. If the tear affects the inner two-thirds of your meniscus, an area of cartilage that lacks blood flow, it can't be surgically repaired. How quickly this progress occurs varies by surgeon, but a typical range is 4-8 weeks. If you stress the joint too much, it becomes less stable, and joint failure is more likely. Again, this post and answer do not provide specific medical advice. There is so much "Just DO It". It takes time and would require small steps starting from walking to get back the full strength of the knee. I had tears on the inside of both knees. Took me like 4-5 months to be back to normal. I've had both knees scoped with the damaged parts removed. Bridgestone J 40DPC w/Aerotech Steelfibers 95 r This is typically performed on the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, or wrist. Did they suggest physical therapy at all? A meniscus repair to the knee cartilage is a minimally invasive surgery that can normally be performed on an outpatient basis. The knee is fine, other than some clicking at times, but no pain. During the procedure, scar tissue is removed in order for the knee to return to its original state. After suffering a cartilage injury, physical therapy can help you recover your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Can a meniscus tear heal by itself? (2,3). Patients are usually out of the brace and walking without crutches around 2-3 months. This was in 1975, I didn't have anything done to it, no surgery then (which given the time, was probably a good thing), it never really healed 100% IMO. There are many websites that will offer various guidelines to playing golf with a meniscus tear. An arthroscopy can cause a patient to require a period of time to recover. That's a total of 2,660 times your body weight pounding down on each meniscus after running a mile. It may take three to six months for you to be able to resume sports after you have had a knee repair. After a partial meniscectomy, you may be able to play sports for 4 to 6 weeks. The time that may be required to achieve a complete recovery after surgery will depend on the injury and the extent of meniscal surgery necessary. The left one, i was in so much pain it was just crazy bad to now zero pain. I have a torn lateral collateral in my trail leg, which could be a problem for most in the swing. Meniscus transplant The most extreme case, a meniscus transplant, calls for the longest recovery time: 7-16 months. (1) Also, your menisci are your knees shock absorbers and force distributors. 2. Much of the recovery and return to activity depends on the individual patient. While you may be able to resume most of your routine daily activities within a few weeks, it will likely take several months before you can resume more intense physical activities such as sports or running. Driver: 10.5 Epic Speed Graphite Design AD-ITZ 60, Fairway Wood: 15 Epic Speed Graphite Design AD-ITZ 70, Fairway Wood: 19 Epic Flash Tensei Blue 75, Irons: Apex Pro '19 4-AW, Aerotech Steelfiber 95. No, arthritis did not develop as as result of surgery. How many? I often hear from patients that do try to return very soon after surgery that their knees swell and ache. Have you been able to play the same way that you did prior to your surgery? Meniscus Tear - Recovery. It's not that I'm worried that the patient would do further damage to the meniscus, although I suppose it's possible. Cobra F9 Driver 10.5 (set to 11.5) UST ProForce V2 HL 46", Tour Edge Exotic EXS 220 16.5* UST ProForce V2 HL 44", Cobra Bio Cell 3-4 (20.5) Stock Bio Cell 41.75", All wedge shafts Apollo Matchflex Wedge 36.50". Just home from meniscus surgery, had both lateral and medial trimmed. Yes, it will. The reason it takes 8-10 weeks to get back to running after a meniscus surgery is that the knee would not be able to take a lot of pressure which is required in running all at once. That is a terrific question. An older teenagers ACL reconstruction can be performed successfully using the standard method. I remember Tiger's bone fracture in his left kneebad. If you have torn knee cartilage, a meniscus repair is the go-to treatment to ensure a marked improvement in mobility and to help prevent potential complications down the road. I play golf every week and walk all the time without any difficulty but feel it in my knees later. PT gets you back on the course faster and safer while also teaching you how to prevent reinjury. To provide the doctor with a clear view of the operation, a fiber-optic cable is installed inside the joint. Mich Torres (PT) If you have just torn your meniscus and it has been repaired your recovery will be faster than this as it is a much less significant injury. My answer to this question largely reflects my personal experience doing hundreds of these operations each year. I've had both the lead leg and trail leg done. Meniscus repair is one of the most effective methods. By Tuesday (my work involves a lot of bending down) my knee had swollen up a little more and pain returned to my knee. Many of them say that doing too much activity in the early weeks after surgery actually caused them to have a longer overall recovery.