Has anyone ever had surgery for a tear in their meniscus? I'm probably going to have to have this surgery soon, and I am curious about how long it takes and what recovery is like. Am I going to be able to drive or use my foot pedal on my sewing machine during the recovery time?
I know these are questions for my doctor, but my appointment isn't until March.

Yes, Last May, 3 years ago and again coming up in April. I have to wait until the end of tax season to have mine done. It is the same knee as last year. They remove the damaged part and just a tiny piece was left in and I re-tore it in October.
I have to run out the door, right now. If you have no answer by tomorrow I will come back on when I can.

Yes, my hubby had it done - they repaired it with cadavar tissue(?)...was off it for a good week...did therapy for about a month.

I have had this surgery many times over the years back when the surgery was a real nightmare with open incisions 4 inches long so - relax! Now it is a day surgery and they will probably make 3 or 4 tiny incisions and do it laparascopically. My hubby had it a couple of years ago and after being on crutches for about two days per doctors instructions, he was able to bear weight and back to work with no problem in a week. For the first few days, they are going to want you to keep your leg elevated as much as possible to help with swelling and probably keep ice packs on it. They will give you some pain meds but my hubby did not take any after the first day. Only your doctor of course can rule on how soon you can sew and/or drive.

This should be an easy recovery for you. Watch for swelling and drainage. I got staph when I had mine done, but that was 6 years ago. You should do just fine and be out and about soon.

My mother is having her done too she also has a stress fracture not sure if they go hand in hand. Your young you will recover fast!!

i think you should to well it is not as bad as it was in the olden days LOL

My daughter had it a few years ago while she was in high school. She only missed 3 days of school but had a bigtime brace and used crutches.

It is done arthroscopically, I only have 2 holes in my knee. It only takes a little while, You'll be home in a couple of hours. I only used my crutches to take some of the weight off my leg the first day, my shoulders are as such that I cannot use crutches fully. The first several days you will want to keep it elevated and iced. If you can get a "polar care" type unit, those are great, then you can just hook it up and sit and watch TV or read. I'd give it 5 to 7 days before you do much driving or sewing. Make sure that you bend your knee occasionally. It can lock up on you if you don't. My dr has me take 2 weeks off of work, which is why I have to wait for after tax season (I work in an accountants office) I was sent to therapy for a month or so after each of the surgeries and will be sent for therapy again this time. It is better to take your pain meds and actually bend you knee as far as you can than to not take them and not bend your knee cause it hurts too much to bend.
You will do fine. I just can't believe that I have to have the same knee have surgery twice in one year!!!

I wish I could. After spending months in the queue to see the orthopaedic surgeon, he was less than encouraging about it and said there was a 40% chance it might help but more likely that it wouldn't make much difference to the pain. Since the surgery is rather expensive privately (and would be many years waiting on the public lists), that answered the question. I'd love to be able to walk for exercise again though!