have a question about knee surgery

**Wendy Mack** · 07-28-2009, 06:42 PM

Well I just have a question if anyone has had knee surgery before... I fell in my back yard... carrying dry cloths from the clothsline.. and dang dog had dug a hole and I didn't see it and boom... hit the ground and twisted my knee bad... enough that i had bruising on both sides of my knee. Well I kept thinking oh it will get better and hobbled around thinking the more i walk the sooner it will get better...... WRONG! Well I guess I tore.. shredded my meniscus(spelling) and since i kept walking and thinking it would get better I have bone degeneration too .. I waited almost 6 weeks to go to the doctor thinking it would get better!

Sooooo long story short I get to visit a surgen about knee surgery now! I just want to cry! Ok my question... if you have had knee surgery how long were you off work .. or just laid up in general.

**frugalwarrior** · 07-28-2009, 06:58 PM

Ok. Don't know if this will help but. My DD was walking both 100# dogs and they drug her (twisting and turning ) on ashpalt road. When she got home it didn't look too serious other than road rash and only a little swelling. We waited way too long also because DD only fed me bits and pieces so i wasn't getting a clear picture of what happened. When she started cooking school w/ all the bending and twisting we discovered she had really hurt it.
We went to the ortho guy and he took xrays and said she would need an ultasound to get an accurate picture. The picture made him say it was prob. a torn meniscus. He said general anesthetic,going in at 4 point to "sand" the area. About a month on crutches. Up the next day,not too bad. Unfortunately, the ultra sound scan showed a chunk of cartiledge missing and a serrated knee cap. She wear a brace occasionally and still has pain. He said there isn't much he can do.
We will seek a new surgeon if it gets unbearable but right now she can deal w/ the pain. Please, also get an ultrasound scan before surgery. They can get a clearer picture. His diagnosis was completely wrong. Then he was rude like we did it.

**MaryCarney** · 07-28-2009, 07:04 PM

What kind of work do you do?? Generally, if it's something physical - 6 to 8 weeks. If you can do 'light duty' much less. You're generally getting around on crutches the next day (assuming it is a meniscus tear).
A really good idea is practice with crutches BEFORE (you may already be on crutches), and make ABSOLUTELY SURE your crutches are fitted correctly, makes life much nicer.
If it's your right leg, you can't drive for a while either. Good luck!!!
ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Wendy Mack** · 07-28-2009, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior

Ok. Don't know if this will help but. My DD was walking both 100# dogs and they drug her (twisting and turning ) on ashpalt road. When she got home it didn't look too serious other than road rash and only a little swelling. We waited way too long also because DD only fed me bits and pieces so i wasn't getting a clear picture of what happened. When she started cooking school w/ all the bending and twisting we discovered she had really hurt it.
We went to the ortho guy and he took xrays and said she would need an ultasound to get an accurate picture. The picture made him say it was prob. a torn meniscus. He said general anesthetic,going in at 4 point to "sand" the area. About a month on crutches. Up the next day,not too bad. Unfortunately, the ultra sound scan showed a chunk of cartiledge missing and a serrated knee cap. She wear a brace occasionally and still has pain. He said there isn't much he can do.
We will seek a new surgeon if it gets unbearable but right now she can deal w/ the pain. Please, also get an ultrasound scan before surgery. They can get a clearer picture. His diagnosis was completely wrong. Then he was rude like we did it.

Well they did x-rays and an MRI (ouch can't wait for those bills!) And yup its really torn and shredded and there is really bone damage.. sigh ... I honestly kept thinking it would get better and i just didn't want to spend the money to get it xrayed.. duh me!!!!

Oh and I work at a convience store usually overnight doing the cleaning and restocking and then the books and money early in the morning ... so i work from 10:30 at night to 6:30 in the morning. Its not too bad.. just some of the stuff i have to clean can be heavy if its full and there is lots of walking around the store. I hope i recover quickly and dont' have to take much time off or switch with someone so i can work the 3 to 11 cause on that shift you just mainly wait on people and keep the coffee and soda fountain area clean. Maybe spot mop or sweep up something ... but i can get a chair and sit down behind the counter I just hope I can get the boss to work around me cause i really can't take the time off i have health insurance that it taken out of my paycheck .. and right now hubby's work is really slim soooo i need all the hours i can get sigh .. couldn't have come at a worse time!

**frugalwarrior** · 07-28-2009, 07:58 PM

Don't beat your self up just file it away for next time. I think you may be able to get the ortoscopic and be up in 2-3 weeks. I doubt you can be cleaning up on your feet. Maybe the books. Tlk w/ him avbout it in as much detail and then please follow it.

**frugalfranny** · 07-29-2009, 02:38 AM

Oh no! Sorry to hear your bad news.

I am not much help......never had it. Maybe you can get the orthoscopic surgery as I do know that is better recovery time. You will probably have some sort of brace.......ask.........and they are pricey so maybe you can find one at a thrift store. ( we have one here that always has a TON of medical braces and such so I suggest looking)

**savvy_sniper** · 07-29-2009, 09:02 AM

When you do have the surgery, DO what the doctor tells you. DON'T be doing things he tells you not to. You need TIME to heal properly. If you don't follow doctor's orders, you could do further damage.

GOOD LUCK!

**nuisance26** · 07-29-2009, 10:10 AM

~My husband has had 3 knee surgeries. He was off work about 2 months each time.
Definitely practice with crutches! Dh got so good with them that he could drive a car with a manual transmission with one good leg and a crutch.
Don't be a hero about pain. Medicate yourself well so you can do your physical therapy.
Don't skimp on physical therapy. Voice all your concerns even if they seem silly. If you don't think your PT is doing a good job, SWITCH therapists! Dh had to do this. You only have a limited window of time in which to regain full use and mobility of your knee. My MIL had knee and wrist PT after a fall and because she followed the advice of a poor PT she now has less than 50% use of her knee and wrist.
Use your resting time to catch up with friends. Invite them over and ask them to bring dinner. Your friends will want to do this but you shouldn't wait for them to read your mind!
Hope everything goes well and you recover quickly!~

**fernykins** · 07-29-2009, 11:30 AM

My youngest son torn his meniscus and his achillies tendon wresling at school. He was a freshman at the naval acadamy. They repaired his meniscus and replaced his achillies tendon with one from a cadaver. He was on cruches for about 6 weeks. As he puts it .... it aways hurts, buthe runs his miles rock, climbs, skydives, swims. He does anything he wants to do. As long as you take care of youself and listens to the Dr you should be ok
Fern

**Nana2two** · 07-29-2009, 12:25 PM

I had knee surgery at age 15, triped over a bench and tore the tendon. Had surgery. Was at home about 1 week and on crutches at school for 3 weeks with a full leg brace. Since there is more damage with yours it might be a little longer. Lets us know what happens.

**Wendy Mack** · 08-02-2009, 12:26 PM

Thanks guys... I won't know much as to what surgery I will be having till i have my meeting with the knee doctor. I have that august 12th.. I just hope i heal well and fast .. where i work has new rules and I am just soo scared cause we have no emergency money at the moment because of some bad times .. which are still ongoing ... but my pay is 2 weeks behind so if i am off 2 weeks from work I will still be getting a paycheck... I only have 2 days of vacation time left.. and no sick leave .. ughh you have to be a general manager of the store to get any sick leave .. and more than a week paid vacation! but if worse comes to worse .. my husband says he can pay my work for the healthcare.. it comes directly out of my paycheck every two weeks. I am sure the boss will work something out with me .. even if its just working a few hours a week doing the books. Heck i work my butt off there .. yesterday i was there 11 hours.. and i was bushed knee was throbbing .. but hey had to do it!

**craftypam** · 08-02-2009, 01:46 PM

The guy who lives across the street from us just had knee surgery and was off work for quite a while. He had knee replacement. My brother also had knee surgery and he was off longer than expected. His was just having something repaired. I'm sure it depends on how fast you heal. I don't think you can compare a young person and an older person as the young person usually heals alot faster. I do agree to listen to the dr or you may have to start all over again. Good luck to you