- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances: September 24 - October 31 (2015)
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I just got back from doing just over 200 miles on very sad knees and my amazing orthopedic surgeon made this happen for me. I am close to 80 and will get new knees and repairs to torn meniscus in January.A year ago I was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus on my left leg. At that time I received a cortisone shot and have been having no issues up until a couple weeks ago. I’ve been averaging over six miles walking a day. Apple Health tells me I’ve walked about 1300 miles so far this year. When training I walk a fifteen minute mile. In the past two weeks I’ve started experiencing pain again in the left knee. I’ve made an appointment with my knee doc to have a recheck. I’m expecting I’ll get another cortisone shot at that time and hope that that will suffice. Surgery is always an option and may be necessary at some point. I’ve been hoping to put it off. I have slowed my walking pace and lightened my training schedule for the time being.
Here are my questions, for those of you that did have your meniscus repaired, what was the result and how long was your recovery? I am walking my second Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. Where I’m leaning right now is to get the cortisone shot and see if the knee settles down. Honestly, up until a couple weeks ago it’s been good as gold.
I had an arthroscope to repair a torn meniscus about ten years ago. In the last few year the same knee has developed osteoarthritis which gives me pain at times and I don’t have a lot of flexibility in the knee. I have walked the Camino Frances in 2015 and the Camino Portugues in 2017 with no problems. I always wear one of those compression knee supports and use walking poles. About a year before I started my last Camino I was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in my right knee. The orthopaedic surgeon stated that they don’t recommend surgery anymore because it causes to osteoarthritis in the future. I had lubricating gel injected into both knees about two months before I started my last Camino. So I had two buggered knees but no problems. I’m planning on walking from Le Puy to Pamplona next year. I’ll eventually have to have knee replacements.A year ago I was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus on my left leg. At that time I received a cortisone shot and have been having no issues up until a couple weeks ago. I’ve been averaging over six miles walking a day. Apple Health tells me I’ve walked about 1300 miles so far this year. When training I walk a fifteen minute mile. In the past two weeks I’ve started experiencing pain again in the left knee. I’ve made an appointment with my knee doc to have a recheck. I’m expecting I’ll get another cortisone shot at that time and hope that that will suffice. Surgery is always an option and may be necessary at some point. I’ve been hoping to put it off. I have slowed my walking pace and lightened my training schedule for the time being.
Here are my questions, for those of you that did have your meniscus repaired, what was the result and how long was your recovery? I am walking my second Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. Where I’m leaning right now is to get the cortisone shot and see if the knee settles down. Honestly, up until a couple weeks ago it’s been good as gold.
Thanks for this info. I’ll have to ask about the lubricating gel. What I’ve read is that surgery is necessary if the torn meniscus is causing your knee to lock, but that surgery won’t necessarily eliminate the pain from a torn meniscus. Did you find that to be the case?I had an arthroscope to repair a torn meniscus about ten years ago. In the last few year the same knee has developed osteoarthritis which gives me pain at times and I don’t have a lot of flexibility in the knee. I have walked the Camino Frances in 2015 and the Camino Portugues in 2017 with no problems. I always wear one of those compression knee supports and use walking poles. About a year before I started my last Camino I was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in my right knee. The orthopaedic surgeon stated that they don’t recommend surgery anymore because it causes to osteoarthritis in the future. I had lubricating gel injected into both knees about two months before I started my last Camino. So I had two buggered knees but no problems. I’m planning on walking from Le Puy to Pamplona next year. I’ll eventually have to have knee replacements.
I was pain free for a couple few years but I still had limited flexibility and osteoarthritis developed and so did the pain. The orthopaedic surgeon said that the gel is recommended instead of surgery for as long as you can until a knee replacement is necessary. Well that was his opinion. Another surgeon will probably have a different opinion. The gel wasn’t 100% successful. It’s supposed to last up to 12 months and it’s quite expensive.Thanks for this info. I’ll have to ask about the lubricating gel. What I’ve read is that surgery is necessary if the torn meniscus is causing your knee to lock, but that surgery won’t necessarily eliminate the pain from a torn meniscus. Did you find that to be the case?
Hi Tom - Ouch! I had a motorcycle accident when I was young (should rename them donor cycles!). Usual thing of a car pulling out and me taking my bike over the top.
Thing is, one of the traumas was that my right knee got ripped apart .. they stuffed it all together again and I could start learning to walk again a few weeks later. I was registered disabled for about eight years but tore the card up and forgot about it (the card, not the knee).
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So - to the point .... I am 70 now and that right knee really causes some fairly serious pain problems, one of which is from the sixties cobbling together of the lateral meniscus as well as other ripped apart bits.
Cannot be healed of course, only pain killers can help and I refuse to take strong ones - but! a few years back I found a knee support made by an American company, McDavid - they have a type that is not only truly supportive but have aeroplane grade aluminium hinges either side - this ensures that the knee can only track in a certain way, a wonderful design that really works so much better than general supportive models - and this has been utterly brilliant for me .. the two models specific to this damage are the MD422 and the MD429X - on the 422 the hinges are too far forward for me, rubbing exactly where I don't want pressure on the inside, but the 429X is perfect, hinges set back and fully adjustable for tension.
I am not saying that these will help you, but I would be really surprised, considering my own trauma, if they don't.
Here the MD422
View attachment 45975
and here the 429X - you will see that the hinges are set further back - perfect for me.
View attachment 45976
Here the American website - https://www.mcdavidusa.com/product-type/sportmed/knee?___SID=U
I hope that this helps. Oh, and if you do try this (go for the 429X) don't wear it all the time, only when walking and needing it - not in bed and so on, you don't want to weaken muscles!.
Buen Camino.
Good point. I couldn’t find a category that exactly fit my post.Gee, with all the 'tin men' and 'tin ladies' out there, perhaps we should have a permanent, separate "knee issues" forum thread in the resource section. We can swap stories and constructive suggestions there.
Ivar, y'all listening?
I suffered a full rupture of my right quadriceps tendon in 2011. I had the repair surgery a week after the accident. It was a long road back from that injury, but when I walked in 2015 the right leg was great. It’s as good as gold now. Now if I could just get the left knee to the same place.I was unable to walk the Camino in 2017 following a fall that tore 3 quadriceps tendons lose from the kneecap. Tried physical therapy and a hinged brace similar to the McDaniel brace @David shared with us. Still was not strong enough to carry a pack, even a light one, I tried. Ended up having surgery to reattach the tendons to the kneecap and clip some torn meniscus at a facility that specializes in repairing sports injuries. I am almost 7 months post surgery with a strength test scheduled next week. I suspect good things. Now to just keep losing weight and exercising. I plan to walk a stretch in December for a few days before hospitalero'ing and then afterwards before returning home.
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I am trying to avoid an artificial joint replacement. Instead, I am in favor of keeping my original bits, but making them like new...if that is possible.
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Replacing a natural joint, any joint, with an artificial one, no matter how good, is a one-way street. ...
A year ago I was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus on my left leg. At that time I received a cortisone shot and have been having no issues up until a couple weeks ago. I’ve been averaging over six miles walking a day. Apple Health tells me I’ve walked about 1300 miles so far this year. When training I walk a fifteen minute mile. In the past two weeks I’ve started experiencing pain again in the left knee. I’ve made an appointment with my knee doc to have a recheck. I’m expecting I’ll get another cortisone shot at that time and hope that that will suffice. Surgery is always an option and may be necessary at some point. I’ve been hoping to put it off. I have slowed my walking pace and lightened my training schedule for the time being.
Here are my questions, for those of you that did have your meniscus repaired, what was the result and how long was your recovery? I am walking my second Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. Where I’m leaning right now is to get the cortisone shot and see if the knee settles down. Honestly, up until a couple weeks ago it’s been good as gold.
I have slowed my pace of late. As far as walking surfaces, unfortunately the trails around my neighborhood are all blacktop. I can drive out a bit to gravel trails, but it seems a shame to have to drive someplace to walk.Ps. Try to stay away from asphalt and concrete
I lost about 15kg before my first Camino. 13 of that is still off. I lost 5 more on my Camino. That 5 hasn’t stayed off. I’m planning to lose 5kg more before walking in Feb. Losing the weight is critical for me to be able to walk with comfort.Just some more thoughts to add to the Knee debate. Of course these only relate to my case, and we are all different. But it's useful to share experiences I think.
I finally got in to see a specialist today. Scans showed torn meniscus and grade 3 arthritis.
It seems by policy thus far of walking very overweight (extra 15-20 kg above ideal weight) and 'training on the Camino' during the first week, probably contributed to all of this.
So if I'm going to walk another Camino, three things have to happen according to the Doc.
As we all know, a meniscus tear cannot be repaired, and it does not regenerate. I asked about surgery. Seems this is only done these days if the tear keeps 'catching' and causing pain. Basically they cut away the section that is torn. This means the joint will wear faster!
- Lose at least 10 kgs. I'll try 15. to get from 96 to 80 ish kg. I've put on weight since returning from Camino
- Exercise for 20 minutes 5 times a week on a static bike, to build up leg and knee muscles. This will protect the knee.
- Optional. Have PRP treatment. Plasma injections into the knees to speed up recovery. 3 injections spaced over a month. ($1,000 all up)
So no promises it seems. There is a risk that part way through the Camino it could all flare up again. But a change of lifestyle, focused on losing weight and regular exercise seems to be the plan. Rather than rushing to get fit at the last minute.......
We live and learn.......
So for those who walk very overweight, like I have been doing, it could quite possibly cause irreparable damage.
Hi Tom. Bummer about the meniscus tear. I tore my meniscus in July, had to have surgery. Recovery time was 8 weeks (including PT). I was very diligent w/ PT. Am going backpacking tomorrow...A year ago I was diagnosed with a torn lateral meniscus on my left leg. At that time I received a cortisone shot and have been having no issues up until a couple weeks ago. I’ve been averaging over six miles walking a day. Apple Health tells me I’ve walked about 1300 miles so far this year. When training I walk a fifteen minute mile. In the past two weeks I’ve started experiencing pain again in the left knee. I’ve made an appointment with my knee doc to have a recheck. I’m expecting I’ll get another cortisone shot at that time and hope that that will suffice. Surgery is always an option and may be necessary at some point. I’ve been hoping to put it off. I have slowed my walking pace and lightened my training schedule for the time being.
Here are my questions, for those of you that did have your meniscus repaired, what was the result and how long was your recovery? I am walking my second Camino Frances this coming Feb and Mar. Where I’m leaning right now is to get the cortisone shot and see if the knee settles down. Honestly, up until a couple weeks ago it’s been good as gold.
Well, the good news is that two years later I still haven’t needed surgery. In fact, I haven’t needed a cortisone shot for over a year, if not more. I’m still walking a lot. I wear a knee brace, which helps a lot. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m glad your surgery worked out well.Hi Tom. Bummer about the meniscus tear. I tore my meniscus in July, had to have surgery. Recovery time was 8 weeks (including PT). I was very diligent w/ PT. Am going backpacking tomorrow.... I was hesitant to have the procedure done, but couldn't risk my left knee going out on me unexpectedly. Had a great surgeon also. He said (and I believe him) it will be close to 6 mo. before my knee is back to normal...it is sore and i take ibuprofen and use voltaren but it is healing nicely. The fact I can backpack is huge from a healing perspective. Well wishes with your decision Tom. Mary
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