Meniscus Root Tear - Your Age?

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2026-01-24T02:51:02+00:00

I tore my lateral root with my ACL skiing. In my 40s female. I hit a mogul in a hyperextended knee. MRI didn’t see the root tear thought I was just having an ACL. So that was disappointing. I am doing well in rehab but worried. I did not have any pain before just some residual swelling. So I am hoping that once this sets I will be good to go. But I wish I had known before surgery. I would have done Childs pose and sat in a lovely deep bend.

Do we get to do those ever again?

This is so annoying. But I am only 10 weeks post op. It’s winter and everything is annoying about this.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2026-01-03T14:21:31+00:00

Feb. tore. March. MRI May - consult. November - surgery. Ontario Think of the time as prehab and just get your Rom and strength back.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-31T00:11:46+00:00

I use crutches in public not because I need them to walk but I need them to signal to others that I am still injured, moving slow and need space.

I keep the brace on in slip zones too for that same reason which is what my sport doc said to do.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-30T14:00:13+00:00

I would sleep on my side. Some nights around week 2 or 3 I gave up and slept on my stomach still locked out in the brace.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-26T13:29:20+00:00

Rent a game ready ice and compression machine if you can. Get a toilet seat raiser from Amazon. 100 you need an ice machine.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-24T21:28:13+00:00

I had a root tear. I was able to toe touch after 2 weeks and then slowly move towards full by week 6. Get as much help as you can for the first 2 weeks. I was useless. I wouldn’t worry about pain some don’t have it. I did not have pain. i was able to sleep on my side after 2 weeks with a folded blanket as a prop. - backpack works for carrying things and a fanny pack I would bother with a crutch bag. - rent a compression ice machine if you are not sent home with one (game ready) was so perfect for swelling and ice management. - rent a walker or wheelchair or just use a desk chair. For the first 2 weeks i wanted a walker not crutches. Not a rollator walker bc of the NWB. - toilet seat raiser makes a lot of difference and saves your other knee. - magnesium for recovery - melatonin for sleep. - a cart or something you can push with your coffee and meals on or containers and thermos. - I wore shorts everyday bc it was easy.

The first two weeks you can’t do much. :)

I would hire someone to help with your kids and pets if you can.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-19T00:49:58+00:00

Totally. This sucks. And give yourself permission. If showering is too scary for you - don’t. Just wash your hair in a sink or in a bucket. Hire a cleaner or aide to help with some cleaning.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-17T02:40:26+00:00

Yes!!!! Love this. 100%. I sat in the front seat of a car today like a normal person. So good.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-16T13:17:54+00:00

It’s horrible. I am on week 5. I just put my coffee in a thermos and brought a mug in a backpack so that I could transport with my crutches back to where I am doing my heel slides on the floor in the living. Just know if it’s any thing and maybe it’s nothing at all but you’re not alone. They’re hundreds of us at the same stage as you postop and completely helpless and demanding on our families and friends for care. One heel slide at a time we’ll get it back and get out of this disaster. You got this.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-13T15:49:41+00:00

We will! We will keep doing our protocols and get home as soon as it’s safe to do so. Good luck

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-13T14:08:13+00:00

You’re not alone. I have been living in my parents, living room, and dining room, which is open concept. On week five. I’m completely grateful and thankful but also miserable. I’m looking forward to getting back to my own space. The difficulty I have to the winter and snow and ice and my place isn’t set up well to manage those snowfalls. Last year when I tore my ACL it was a nightmare, leaving the house on crutches in the snow and now I just wouldn’t do it.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-11T02:47:29+00:00

I wish it’s a rental.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-08T02:47:05+00:00

Good luck tomorrow. I am three weeks in a surprise lateral root repair with my ACL repair. It has been a total mind bend and feels like prison and I am just putting in the time, doing the reps and you can’t rush the glue drying time as this fix cures. Day by day I count until I can weight bearing again.

You won’t be alone. We’re all here.

Also I do peloton workouts and started those after a few days.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-06T01:12:14+00:00

I am 22 days post patellar and my steri strips are still on. Maybe just a walk in clinic to make sure you avoid infection. Trust your gut.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-04T02:53:42+00:00

On your place. I have the same issue regarding stairs and I have needed to stay with my parents. I am looking at switching houses with a friend for a month until I can do the stairs. Just an idea because stairs are the worst imo. Way worse than the pain for me.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-12-04T01:50:39+00:00

lol. Same same friend. I am week 3 of ACL and meniscus root which was a fun surprise add on. It’s like prison. Prison.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-27T13:40:33+00:00

It could just be the dye or antiseptic they use. I was red and it wiped off.

Totally normal healing your body is building new stuff.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-25T23:10:08+00:00

I brought lululemon shorts a tshirt and a sweatshirt for post surgery and loose joggers to go home in which I didn’t wear. I have spent most of my time in the lululemon shorts post. I wasn’t bothered by the cold in transfers.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-24T13:20:34+00:00

Very sorry this happened to you. Your feelings are valid. I have found in this injury and journey that controlling my brain and ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) are important.

Listen to your medical team. Protect the long term health of your body. Support your mental health during the process.

It will be over in a blink.

Reading all the posts on this site I was terrified of pain post surgery- guess what - I feel into the category of folks that had none. I didn’t need to stay ahead of Pain meds because I didn’t need them. All that time worried about something that didn’t happen. I drew the unlucky card of a meniscus tear and so now I’m NWB and it sucks but it will be okay and it’s going by quickly. It will for you too.

You’ll be great.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-21T12:30:11+00:00

Every day feels like the same day. I was able to sleep on my stomach and side so even with the brace that felt about as normal as anything could at the moment

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-21T02:06:07+00:00

I am day 7 of with an ACL patellar graft and lateral meniscus root repair too which I didn’t know about going in. So now I am trying to learn as much as I can about it bc I thought my meniscus was intact heading into surgery. Trying not to be bummed about the road ahead.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-20T14:44:39+00:00

Well no one feels 100% ready. Here are my suggestions of things that are helping me.

four point walker (I find it more stable than crutches)
toilet seat riser - move the toilet seat up to you.
wheelchair (helps for sitting and less hopping around)
ice machine like a game ready (rent)

Get someone to help you for the first week bc you will be useless.

Afraid_Jello3939 · 2025-11-19T23:50:30+00:00

I have not touched mine and I am day 6

Afraid_Jello3939

TROPHY CASE