I’m going in to the local hospital this morning to plan my ambulatory future. I’m getting some X-rays of my knees done, and meeting with an orthopedic surgeon to, I hope, schedule arthropedic surgery to patch up a torn meniscus. This has been pending for over a year — a long, miserable year of aching knees — but my initial treatment was canceled when I had a broken blood vessel in my eye. Clearly, it was too dangerous to operate on my knee!
So, fingers crossed. I really want this surgery to restore my mobility, all of my summer plans hinge on it. This doctor seems to be pretty quick to put off work on the slightest pretext, though, so I don’t have a tremendous amount of confidence that I’m going to be restored soon. I’ll know in a few hours.
It was a successful meeting: I am scheduled for knee surgery on the 16th of May. Hip hip hooray! Or should that be knee knee hooray?
Best of luck getting the knee fixed.
Thoughts and
prayersbest wishes.(for what that’s worth)
Best wishes from me as well. May it go as smoothly and well as possible.
Best wishes from me as well. May it go as smoothly and well as possible.
Interesting stuff on the horizon.
A simple shot shows promise to reverse osteoarthritis within weeks
Can This “Living Knee” Revolutionize Joint Replacement?
New Research Brings Joint Repair Closer for Millions With Osteoarthritis
Hope you can get that fixed, then maybe parlay physical therapy into a long term hip and knee strengthening/stability/flexibility regimen. Your problems helped inspire me to take action for the long term. I used to have knee wobblies and occasional ankle tenderness before I started my quest. No more.
Also drastically changed my diet trying to cut the visceral fat. By drastic I mean no more ultra-processed foods or fast food. No fries. High fiber and protein. Healthy fat. Moderate digestible carbs. Protein first…then carbs later. More veggies. Little to no added sugar. Been trying to avoid beer too lately 😡 Cutting out soda has probably done the most for me.
I will eat an occasional cheeseburger (no fries/soda).
My sister is a retired physical therapist. She is known to remark, “Your doctor/surgeon fixes you, but your physical therapist HEALS you.” Follow your PT back to health. Good luck!
Good luck PZ!
Good luck, PZ.
Insist upon PT and do it for as long as possible.
When I had a meniscus repaired, the surgeon refused to refer me to PT.
He literally told me to “Get your butt out of bed earlier and go to a gym before work.”
When I asked how I could possibly know what exercises to do, he replied “That’s what personal trainers are for”.
I don’t believe that knee ever healed properly, and led directly to my back surgeries.
If your surgeon won’t refer you to PT, find another one who will!
Hope your surgery goes well and your recovery better.
I used to tell my pre-op patients, the doctor is not going to fix (return to normal) your knee, he is going to change things to try and improve your current situation. How improved will depend on many factors. Your need to follow his post-op directions are very important. I know you will give it your best.
See #7 and #9 in regarding post-op PT.
I’m already referred to PT. Starts before the surgery.
I had arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus. I know not everyone’s experience is the same. But for me, the surgery was painless and non-scary—the drugs are great. The recovery, with PT, was quick. I’m sure your surgeon will have done hundreds, or thousands.
I can empathize with what you are going through. My wife is having knee issues like you are and will probably have surgery this fall to replacement surgery. It’s long and arduous, but in the end, it’s worth it. Good luck!
The day I went in to schedule my appointment, the hospital was celebrating his 2000th surgery.
Oh man! Hope that works out for you. I’m no youngster either and one of my biggest fears is becoming immobile.
I’m still shaking my head that they would actually cancel your surgery for a subconjunctival hemorrhage, which has nothing to do with poor blood clotting whatsoever. Well, better luck this time!
Oh, and what surgery are they going to do, a TKR or just some gardening around the menisci and cartilages? The 3 months after a TKR tend to suck a bit.
They’re planning to shave some cartilage and maybe put in a stitch or two. They’re telling me 2-4 weeks recovery.
Hoorah, I hope the surgery goes smoothly. It is ridiculous that they have put it off in the first place.
I hope you have a good PT practitioner. Mine stuck tape on me and claimed my pain was from poor posture rather than damaged cervical vertebrae due to being T- boned by a Semi. Luckily I found an osteopath who did manage to realign them so I could turn my head again.
My mum just had hers done recently. Her recovery has been great. The only people I know who’ve had a bad experience with this are the ones that didn’t do PT, and didn’t follow the post-op instructions. So happy to hear you’re on top of this! Best wishes for your great recovery.
Might want to have a look at this: “Common knee surgery found ineffective, may make things worse” https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260505234603.htm