Hello! I had a meniscus repair on my right knee on 6/10. I still can't straighten my leg, still walking with one crutch, and having some pain when I try to walk? I had no idea it was going to take this long! How long did yours take? Yes, I am in PT. But it is exhausting just trying to get around!! Feeling sort of low here.

Some folks have told me it took them 6 months to a year to be back to what they called "normal".

It all depends, hon! I know that's not the answer you wanna hear.

Are you overweight?
How old are you?
What is your diet like?
Did you exercise before your surgery?
How often do you go to therapy?
Do you follow their suggestions when you're at home?
How long were you in pain before surgery? Was surgery a result of injury?

i didn't have a meniscus repair, but had rotator cuff surgery. i could function well in a few weeks, but it did take a full year to get my range of motion back.

slightly overweight, 55 yrs old, ok diet, yes, exercise & therapy before the surgery, 2-3 times per week for therapy plus swim at home, 6 months of limping and locked knee prior to surgery

Get in a pool!!! My husband had his repaired on 6/7/11 and he is within 30 degrees of having the same flex/retract on both knees. The pool has been great for him. He goes to PT once a week and the pool has done 10x as much for him as PT does.

Just get in and walk. He goes for 30-45 minutes and there is no impact on the knee at all. He just walks up and down one side of the pool in the shallow end.

I had this done about 4 years ago and I feel for you. It took me about 6 - 12 months to be completely healed. Just getting around decently took about 3 months. Even today I still have problems. My knee knows it is going to rain before the weather person does.

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Make sure you get enough sleep, too. Your body does an enormous amount of repair work just on an everyday basis while you're sleeping. When you're recovering from an injury, you may need quite a bit more than you normally would. I'm a runner, and when I was dealing with a stress fracture in my ankle, I was sleeping a full extra hour every night.

I hope your spirits lift soon. *hugs* Keep up with your PT, and I agree with the suggestion to get in the pool. Your knee will bear less weight when you're in the water so you can work on range of motion and not have to worry as much about it holding you up at the same time.

Are you doing physical therapy? I had my right knee done for m repair 7 yrs ago. My doc said 6 months to heal and I promise you almost to the date of the surgery...6 mos later the pain was gone. It was the best thing I've done to date...no pain since. Be patient and if you were told to stay off of it for 12 weeks as I was, you really need to do that. I didn't and would have probably been pain free alot sooner had I been a better patient. Good luck.

I had surgery for a torn meniscus and bakers cyst aspiration in mid August last year. My knee still feels a bit weak and my leg swells sometimes around the ankle since then. I did not stay down very long though. I have been walking on the treadmill for the last month and doing OK but not walking as long as I used to. Hang in there, it will get better.

I had surgery on June 3 for a large tear on the inside and a smaller tear on the outside of the meniscus of my right knee. After a few days of normal post-op pain, I was in heaven! Thought this was the easiest surgery I've ever had. Then, 2 weeks after the surgery, something happened as I was going down stairs and almost fainted from the intense pain in my knee. The dr thinks it is mainly muscle weakness and inflammation, but I may have torn the meniscus again! I am now doing physical therapy for 4 weeks, then the dr will re-evaluate. I took myself off the RX anti-inflammatory drug because it was doing nothing for the pain (I couldn't even gently touch the inside of my knee) and started taking just Advil 3 days ago. Best three days in a long time.

I need to get this better soon because school starts back 3 weeks (4 until kids show up) and then I'm on my feet for 8 hrs a day!

I had this repair but the meniscus tore out two jelly bean pieces of bone when it snapped. I had physical therapy for quite awhile and that is what helped me. But three months later the other knee went out in sympathy. I was out of work six months altogether.
My knees still feel fragile.
Hope you feel better soon,

Quilter68

I've had five surgeries on my knees; three meniscus repairs and two knee replacements. A lot of the end result depends upon what condition your knee was in before. If you walk, do any type of exercise, it will take less time. If you did no exercise, it will take longer.

I had my last scope in August 2010, and by about a month, I was feeling pretty good. You're not quite at a month. I had my second knee replacement May 5, so I'm two months out as of today. I've noticed that even day to day, I can see changes.

Hang in there. Even if you hate exercising, walking will be very good for you, once it's healed, to keep your knees strong.

Hi, I had my left knee tear fixed 2 summers ago. I didn't have much pain at all but was diligent on going to physical therapy. That helped so much!
The surgery was out-patient and I remember just taking Ibuprofen for a few days and iced it a lot, keeping it elevated as much as possible.
I have cartilage loss in that knee but it's really fine now.
I'm doing Pilates and it doesn't bother it at all.
I realized that the reason that knee wore out faster than the other one is b/c I always bend on my left knee first. Until the tear I never realized it. My other knee is fine.
Good luck!! You'll be fine :)

I just re-read this. Is your doctor aware of this???

I would say at least 6 months.

Well..... I had my meniscus surgery on the 26th of April. Only used the crutch the first day. Could get it straight and a great bend right away. It was doing terrific until a week ago. I was walking about a mile every day at a good clip and riding on my recumbent bike for 25 minutes in the mornings. Last Tuesday I rode my bike for 25 minutes, I got off walked across the house and my knee got really tight and then popped when I took another step after standing still for a few. It is hurting all over again. I will have to call my ortho tomorrow and make an appointment to see what I did!

I hope you can get it working great here really soon. Seems that it's taking too long!

I had my right knee repaired on March 4, The "tear pain" went away fairly quickly. My Dr. cleaned out some arthrites at the knee cap, he says it could take up to a year before that pain goes away. It is a different kind of pain. But not to be normal I then had a 'small' stroke on 03/06 when has caused some weakness in that leg. Recovering well from the stroke

I had meniscus surgery on both knees...right one was 18 months ago and left last May. Only used the crutch the first couple of days. Could straighten the knees after a few days. Right knee if fabulous ...left swells on the inside if I kneel to garden or such for longer than I should. Walk lots and now trying to strengthen by riding my bike. Take care...trust it will heal completely...nothing worse than sore knees....

The secret is to get exercising ASAP. I have had bilateral meniscus repairs. The first one I babied the knee too long and it has never really recovered (3 years now). The other knee, I exercised it, even though it hurt, and now it is as good as new(well almost!).

My menicus is behind the knee and needs to be fixed.I had scheduled surgery but cancelled it because of the cost. Now I am waiting it out trying not to let it get worse but eventually it will have to be fixed.

I had a meniscus repair -left knee several years ago. The surgery was done on a Thursday, stitches removed and the crutches tossed on Monday. I'm a firm believer in ice and used it faithfully for a week. No therapy (insurance wouldn't cover it) but the surgeon gave me exercises to do. There was little pain from the surgery and within a month it was forgotten. The only thing I'm not able to do now is kneel on that knee. My daughter's experience last winter was almost identical. Quilter1 is so right. Work that leg like it's your only job.

It will take a few months to get completely back to normal and then you will be so glad you went through with the surgery. It is normal to feel down and out sometimes because of the pain and the limitations you have in what you can do. You might keep a short log of how you feel each day and what improvement you see. That way you can know that you really are getting better. Good luck.

My dh had his meniscus done 6-15 (wednesday-our anniversary), and by Friday, the dr had him him phsyio.

The pt told him he was lucky because the dr who did his surgery believes in scheduling pt asap. He is presently at 120* range of motion and the dr is quite happy with that. He did tell dh to lay off the golf till Sept and he should have no problems. BTW, dh has not been the most active since last fall when his knee went.

I hope your knee heals out soon. Be sure to do your excercies at home. Good luck!

I had meniscus repair in 10/10. Six weeks later I went on a week long bus trip and got a deep vein thrombosis. After months of blood thinners I am finally back to normal. I was beginning to think my knee would never feel good again. Hang in there. I am not sure how you will stand for 8 hours a day. Good luck.

I fell and tore mine back in 09 and didn't know it. I just blamed RA which I blame for all my aches. I was suppose to have surgery in Jan. I didn't and still suffer with it. From reading these responses I'm glad I didn't. I'll probably wait until it becomes REAL necessary.

Our neighbor had her maniscus fixed about two years ago. Being only 37, I thought being on crutches for 6 weeks was a long time. She did therapy, etc. Even today, you can tell when she's been on it too long, she develops a limp and she also says she is now a weather forcaster. She walks every evening that she can.

Another friend, 53 had her's done two years ago, last year she had to have a complete knee replacement. Some work, some don't, all did the therapy, etc. The knee replacement is also giving her severe pain at times still and restless leg syndrome is now occuring in that leg. So she's not a happy camper either.

Others have had knee surgeries of some kind in our realm of friends. Just watch the pain killers, you can become addicted. Advil seems to be the pill of choice for most people we know. So a month is not nearly long enough to be recovered from this surgery and if your surgeon told you that, I believe he/she misspoke. So try to stay optimistic and and keep active as you can. It is NOT an instant repair and takes some time to completely heal. Wishing you all the best in that happening quickly.

I had this surgery on my right knee about a year and half ago-the crutches just had to go--i could function better without them--went thru the therapy which helped a lot-i also did the same things we did at therapy at home which help me to move along faster--i still have some problems with it-but Dr. said i would and in a few years maybe replacement--but i can live it...Just do not overdo it!

From my experience with patients and the factors you listed, I would think it would take 6 months to a year to get back to relative function. But you are the determinant in all that as it is up to you how much you want to push yourself. In this situation as in all surgeries, no pain, no gain. You have to keep it up to see results and push yourself as much as you can tolerate as instructed by your physical therapist. Follow their instructions to the letter and you will have greater success. Best of luck in your rehab!

Take smaller walking steps also, so you don'tput as much prssure on your leg.(Can't type either) Mine now is in good shape, takes a little while but keep up the physical therapy. - Joan

I had the same surgery as you. I did not go to PT. My doctor told me if I had an exercise bike I could do it at home my self. I didn't have a bike. I went out to the rehab supply store and bought one of those set on the floor cycle type gizmos that you peddle sitting in a chair. After the third day I started using that peddle machine three times a day starting out with a minute each time and increasing the time each day. If you are still in a lot of pain, talk to the doctor. Your body won't heal as well if you are in pain. It takes all it's strength to fight the pain. Ask for some pain medication to help you. You can stop using it when the pain goes away. Eat extra protein. Your body uses protein to build and repair. Be sure to get enough rest, your body heals then as well. When you sit down, prop that leg up and use ice for about 20 min. I hope you have been propping that leg up at night as well. It speeds up the healing and improves the circulation. I have had both knees done and the right one done twice. If you have another one done, please eat extra protein for two weeks prior to your surgery. It helps prepare you body and shortens the healing time. It was on the NBC nightly news segment several years ago. I was 54 when I had the first knee done. Good luck to you. Oh, since you're this far along, start peddling out 5 min three times a day. When in the pool, march, bring those knees up and then straight down. I had no pain after two weeks. Still continued the exercises for 4 more weeks. Elevate those legs and use ice to keep down the swelling, even if you don't see any.

I had the meniscus repaired. Then I had injections. Last year the knee was replaced. I am still having knee trouble. I wish you the best of luck.

OH NO!!! I'm having this surgery on 7/12 and plan on flying from Pa to Co. on the 20th. My doctor has no problems with this. I must read the rest of the posts and am hoping that others have had less trouble than you.

Very good advice from everyone. Set some goals with you phyical therapist and track your progress as you go through therapy. You may feel like you aren't making any progress but baby steps are important and will help you reach your goals. Good Luck!!!

Like all the others said, it depends on your surgery on your knee. Everyone is different. PT is important and so is the exercises at home. Ice/heat what ever the Dr. recommends and what helps. How often do you go to the Dr. for follow up? Maybe you need to go back and talk to them again. Meds are important. If you use NSAIDs they reduce inflammation and that is important. If you need to elevate the leg--do so to keep fluid from collecting in the knee. A lot of little things affect the healing. Use pain meds before PT to be able to do the extent of what you can with out pain. You will do better if you are not afraid it will hurt.
Stay positive. Eat right, take your vitamins and it will probably be 6 months before you hit the right strides again. Good Luck. Stay in touch.