Advice: meniscus??

Probably meniscus. I have had mine "repaired" which means they clean out the torn part. I now could stand to have surgery again. I would not have bothered the first time. Take that advice as you will. Others might have other experiences/ opinions

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you think that just resting it would have done the trick?

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Hi folks -

I'm a fairly low mileage hobby-jogger type guy. For the last month, I've had recurring inner knee pain and weirdness. It's not an acute pain, but it's somewhat sensitive to the touch and very mildly worse when I twist my leg (but not too bad even then).

There was no memorable incident. It basically just started on one run, then got worse when I went out the next.

I've probably run 15 miles over the last four weeks. I rest and it feels better after 2-3 days, but when I try to go out again, it flairs up within 1-2 miles: a weird kind of wonky feeling first, then slight pain. Mornings after are the worst.

Any thoughts? Could this be meniscus/MCL?

My insurance situation is kind of shitty now, so I've been holding off on the doctor.

A very good possibility. Doctors will question it because you didn't have a "memorable incident" as you said, but that happens frequently and happened to me.

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Thanks for sharing your experience. Do you think that just resting it would have done the trick?

Rarely. If a torn meniscus then by trimming the tear it can prevent further damage.

You really REALLY need to get it imaged to see what is going on, otherwise you are throwing the dice with your running future.

Don't take a chance if running is important to you.

Running is very important to me. But long story short, if I get an MRI, I'm likely paying out-of-pocket.

I'm thinking about just taking the next month or so off, cross training, and hoping for the best when I return in mid October.

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Running is very important to me. But long story short, if I get an MRI, I'm likely paying out-of-pocket.

I'm thinking about just taking the next month or so off, cross training, and hoping for the best when I return in mid October.

The meniscus has a very low incidence of healing with rest with the exception of small tears. Pay for the MRI before you wreck your future. No other surgery is proven as effective as a meniscectomy.

Knowledge is power.

Thanks for the input...You are making me reconsider.

I suppose if I did not seek an eval, I'd be going on the assumption that I have just a small tear/strain, since the pain is very minimal. But I also obviously don't want to F things up long term.

As an aside --- good cross training? Thinking stationary bike.

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Thanks for the input...You are making me reconsider.

I suppose if I did not seek an eval, I'd be going on the assumption that I have just a small tear/strain, since the pain is very minimal. But I also obviously don't want to F things up long term.

As an aside --- good cross training? Thinking stationary bike.

What happens is the flap of the tear can rip more and more as you move the knee. So a small tear that with surgery can be almost completely resolved for your running gets bigger and bigger without surgery.

Without knowing what you are dealing with all bets are off and you are playing with fire.

Swimming with little-to-no knee flexion would be something to do. I had a large tear and would say I came back to about 99% of normal, only an occasional twinge and several marathons later.

Good advice --- thanks.

Do you think stationary bike is a safe bet?

I developed what sounds a bit like your pain gradually some years ago. I used to ski competitively in college. MRI showed fluid buildup, but no tear. The radiologist said it was common, could be operated on or I could just live it. I started running and working out with weights to rebuild stability. I ran in a knee brace for about a year until I didn’t need to anymore. It’s been 13 years and it never came back, so so much for surgery or having to live with it.

Might be pes anserine.

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Good advice --- thanks.

Do you think stationary bike is a safe bet?

I just saw my doctor yesterday for a potential medial meniscus tear. I'm scheduled for an MRI later this week, but based on the symptoms, exam and tests he strongly believes the meniscus is torn. I asked what I can and can't do until I have the MRI and follow up appointment to confirm or rule out a meniscus tear. I was told I can bike. I was also told that I can run as long as it's linear - as in flat, even road or treadmill, but no trails (I'm primarily a trail runner). I was also told I can continue with my usual weight lifting routine, even squats and lunges, just no side-to-side movements, so front lunges are okay but side lunges are a no-go.

Discus Meniscus wrote:

The meniscus has a very low incidence of healing with rest with the exception of small tears. Pay for the MRI before you wreck your future. No other surgery is proven as effective as a meniscectomy.

Knowledge is power.

Things aren't as black and white on meniscetomy as you're making them out to be.

Bummer. Good luck with the MRI and whatever follows.

How bad has the pain been? Was there any precipitating event? How long have you been running?

I partly tore my meniscus to the point where I couldn't even run one step without pain. I took about 6 weeks off from running, then gradually started training again. After about 1 month of training, I was 100% pain free, and have been ever since.

I don't even know this is exactly what you have, and can't tell you that this wasn't a risky chance on my part. The smart decision is obviously to go to the doctor and get a diagnosis. I'm just offering one example of taking time off, and having it heal on its own, without any doctor visits.

Interesting. Did you get it imaged? If so, what advice did the doc provide?

Was it painful when you first returned after 6 weeks?

Glad you were able to get back to it sans surgery.

TheJoggingFinn wrote:

Bummer. Good luck with the MRI and whatever follows.

How bad has the pain been? Was there any precipitating event? How long have you been running?

I’m 45 and have been running for over 30 years. I believe it happened when I fell while running on the trails a couple weeks ago, since the pain started right after that. I’m assuming I twisted it during the fall. I have a mild, dull soreness when running on level ground, but downhills or if I twist my knee just right I will get sharp pain in the inside at the joint. If I stay on the treadmill I just have a mild ache on the inside of my knee. I also get some clicking and pinching sensations and occasionally it will feel like it’s going to lock or give out. Also, if my knee is bent for more than a brief time I will have a painful pop when I straighten it out, I can’t quite straighten my knee all the way. Even though there isn’t any visible swelling, it feels a little “full”, if that makes sense. Finally, if I press around the medial edge of my knee cap it is extremely tender and painful, which is most likely where the tear is.

I never got it imaged. I had a doctor friend that I ran with that helped me. I hadn't played sports outside of running for years. Then, I started playing pickup basketball. Shortly afterwards, my meniscus got torn, from the sharp twisting and turning of the knee, which my body wasn't used to doing. The inside of my knee became severly swollen and painful to the touch, it was also painful to striaghten my leg, and I couldn't put much pressure on it. After six weeks off, I could run in a straight line without any pain. However, even a slight turn would cause pain while running. For example, I could run the straights on the track without any pain, but the turns were painful. Trail running wasn't possible. It gradually got better each day, until about 1 month later, I could run turns and trails without any pain. Didn't do any PT or anything during those 6 weeks of rest.

OP here again.

So, I took four weeks off, and went out for a first, cautious mike yesterday. No pain, slight wonkiness. Then, weird sensation after and pain on waking this AM.

For you with injury experience, do you think I can continue slowly building up with knee feeling as such? My basic strategy would be to run if a bit wonky, but to stop if painful.