Medial meniscus?

[CiscoNJenn]

Has anyone ever had an MRI and told "degenerative changes in medial meniscus? We have no idea what this means or what caused it. Do you? We have an appointment for Monday but are freaking out till then.

[betheny]

I've got it. It shouldn't bother him too much at this point, since he's not walking?

It's degeneration in the cushion of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber in the knee joint. I've had mine scoped twice. Mine always has bone chunks in it too. When the meniscus is chewed up a bit it is pretty painful. They can remove it or file it down and smooth it out, and they take out any hunks of bone they see in there and smooth the ends of the leg bone if they're rough.

I got started young, but by 50 nearly everyone has this to some degree, I've been told.

[CiscoNJenn]

How do you know something was wrong? Cisco just kept saying it feels icky so we got an MRI. Is surgery the only cure?

[darkeyed_daisy]

In an ablebodied person, it can be very painful when walking.

[CiscoNJenn]

It's painful for him to ride his bike. He's been skipping therapy. Do you think it will need surgery?

[betheny]

I was ab both times, it hurt like heck!

Probably laparascopic surgery. It hurts for 6 weeks or so, 10 at the outside. I knew a doctor that went back to work the next day but I couldn't have.

Believe me, this was one of the easiest medical problems I've ever had.

[SCI-Nurse]

It is not necessary to have the surgery unless it is causing pain, but it may still be painful after the surgery esp. if there is also arthritis or other joint damage. I had a MM surgery as well as a lateral meniscus surgery (both had tears trimmed instead of removed) along with an ACL donor replacement 3 years ago. I also have arthritis in that knee, so still have quite a bit of pain. The surgery can be done laprascopically, but there is still a recovery period, and therapy and exercises needed afterwards.

Here is a pretty good article about the meniscus of the knee and what is done for injuries:

http://www.orthoassociates.com/meniscus.htm

(KLD)

[betheny]

They've lengthened the recommended recovery time according to the article linked above. In most people with SCI I think it's a moot point, immobilizing our knees after surgery. I don't recall Cisco walking?

Does he have sensation or is he getting AD from the pain? Either way, if it's interfering with therapy he probably should get it done. It's not urgent, just important. I've postponed mine for a year or more before, but they don't get better, they slowly get worse, the leg atrophies from babying it, makes the recovery that much longer and slower.

The first time I was on forearm crutches was from one of these. I blew it out completely in the Newark airport, en route to Rome for a 10 day tourist trip. Just couldn't bear weight on it, it hurt. Really cramped my style, I spent a lot of time in sidewalk cafes drinking coffee and people-watching. (In retrospect not so bad, at the time it felt like dreadful punishment.)

I always found a heating pad and elevation would ease the pain some. Of course SCI need to use the microwavable heating pads whenever possible. Tell him good luck, please!

[CiscoNJenn]

Cisco is not walking but it is getting more painful and he can't ride his bike anymore. Thank you for all the responces. We're going to the doctor on Monday.