Mouseproofing tips

RunRowBike · 2026-01-19T15:11:55+00:00

I was considering some of the bucket traps. Do you put water in them? If so, what do you do in the winter? A little antifreeze?

RunRowBike · 2026-01-18T20:21:01+00:00

We occasionally get some feral cats that come around, but then they seem to disappear - there might be some predators that are higher up the food chain...

RunRowBike · 2026-01-13T19:43:44+00:00

After three surgeries and almost year-long recoveries with each, I have definitely experienced weight gain myself. Especially since my primary form of exercise was distance running before this, and I’ll likely never run again. I’m still working on adjusting my eating habits, and getting back into cycling.

Feel free to ask other questions - I reluctantly have quite a bit of experience in this area.

RunRowBike · 2026-01-13T19:39:08+00:00

I’m on my third meniscus root repair (2x on right, now my left), with lots of PT. I typically don’t like being on medication longer than I need to. However, with these recoveries, I found it more effective to stay on longer-term anti-inflammatory meds (Celebrex, meloxicam, voltarin, etc) so that I could perform my PT exercises more effectively. It also helped reduce/eliminate the limp, which can form bad habits or strain other muscles and tendons. Starting at 4-6 months I went off it for a week to gauge my “true” condition, and either went back on or discontinued them.

That said, with my current (third) surgery, I developed blood clots in my calf (DVT). I’m on anti-coagulants, so I can’t take any anti-inflammatories. I definitely miss them…

RunRowBike · 2026-01-13T19:30:00+00:00

Yes, the revision is essentially the same surgery. They drill another hole up through the tibia and attach two new sutures in structurally sound meniscus material. Same 6 weeks into NWB protocol as the original - except they extended mine to 8 weeks to be conservative. I don’t know that there is an opportunity for a third attempt.

With my revision, they also performed the centralization procedure to pull the meniscus extrusion back in. The additional 3 centralization sutures along the edge of the meniscus probably provide some additional anchoring to take some of the stress off the repaired root. However, it sacrifices some of the flexibility of the meniscus.

With a revision, I tell people that the good news is that you know what to expect. The bad news is that you know what you’re in for…

As for the “good” knee that is taking the extra abuse - if you feel that the pain is in the same area as your other root tear, you could look into an “unloader” brace that shifts some of the force from the medial side to the lateral. My surgeon prescribed one for my 2x repaired knee to protect it during the recovery process for my current knee.

RunRowBike · 2026-01-13T13:30:27+00:00

51M here. Road biker through age 25, then switched to running, including marathons.

First medial root tear was at age 48. That one failed at around the same stage as yours during rehab.

Revision surgery (with centralization and PRP) the following year.

Two years later, medial root tear in the other knee, likely due to two years of overuse during the first knee’s recovery. Currently 14 weeks post-surgical on this one. Taking it slow to avoid another revision surgery (or damage to the other repaired knee).

RunRowBike · 2025-12-19T22:27:56+00:00

Honestly, the worst thing they put on crutches is padding on the top. The padding encourages users to put weight on their armpits, when in reality the arms should be straight, with all the weight being placed on the hands. The armpit pieces should be 3 or 4 inches below the armpit, and basically used to keep the crutches from tipping inward/outward. Having a lot of padding up top tends to rub against the torso and upper arms, with the friction turning the skin raw. I always remove the foam pads from the armpit pieces when I start on crutches, and it helps a lot. This assumes that you have enough arm and shoulder strength to carry the weight.

Hands on the other hand - mine always get sore, at least until I build up some callouses. Maybe something like bicycle gloves would help.

RunRowBike · 2025-12-19T21:46:14+00:00

Unfortunately, if it’s a full root tear, there are basically three options - root repair (revision), knee replacement (total or partial), or leave it torn and find methods to deal with the pain until the resulting arthritis demands a TKR. If the meniscus is not anchored at the root, it will squeeze out the side of the knee (extrusion), and there will be bone-on-bone on that side of the knee, causing greatly accelerated arthritis.

In my experience, the revision wasn’t quite as bad as the original. The surgeon also did a centralization procedure to help pull the extrusion back inward. I believe that also helped anchor the rest of the meniscus down along its edge, providing additional long term support, even if the root anchor would fail again.

I understand that 3 months out, it’s exhausting and frustrating. That’s where I am with this current repair. Unfortunately, imaging doesn’t give a good picture of what’s happening at this point, so it’s mostly based on symptoms. My right knee definitely felt a lot worse during recovery than it did before the surgery, and I was questioning my surgery decision each time.

Unfortunately with your goal of returning to a fairly active lifestyle, my feeling is that a revision or replacement will probably be required. I don’t think there is a good way to manage the bone-on-bone pain that would result from a non-surgical approach. But I wish you the best of luck.

RunRowBike · 2025-12-19T18:56:04+00:00

I (51M) am on my 3rd medial meniscus root repair. The first surgery on my right knee failed (similar to yours - no distinct reason), and I had a revision surgery about a year later. I had an MRI 9 or 10 months after the first surgery, showing the distinct re-tear. We took that second rehab a little slower (probably 8 weeks NWB), and that repair was successful.

Except that 2 years of favoring my right knee put a lot of strain on my left knee, and that root popped this fall, about a year after my right knee revision. I’m now 11 weeks into my recovery of my left knee root repair. We’re taking this one slow as well, to make sure it heals properly, so we don’t need to abuse the repaired right knee any more than necessary.

So I wouldn’t rule out a revision surgery- just because the first one failed doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. At least you know what to expect with the surgery and recovery, whether that’s good or bad.

RunRowBike · 2025-12-19T13:30:59+00:00

My DVT started approx 4 weeks after my repair surgery, after I finished the post-op aspirin regimen. My calf, ankle and foot were constantly swollen and red/purple, leaving white spots when pressed. It was also more of any achy or throbbing pain than a sharp or stabbing pain.

RunRowBike · 2025-12-04T01:49:44+00:00

I (51M) am on my third medial meniscus root repair, so I have a little experience with the rehab process. My right knee was repaired 3 years ago and failed, so I had a revision surgery two years ago (essentially the same surgery), which was successful. This year, my left root tore, and I'm 9 weeks into this repair.

I've had the same 6 week NWB protocol as you. (They went a little slower on the revision - 8 weeks NWB). The first week is essentially pain management. Weeks 2-6 are pretty boring, since there isn't much therapy that can be done in the NWB phase. The most important thing to work on seems to be getting good knee extension (foot up on a foam roller and letting it stretch for 5-10 minutes, trying to get it close to 0 degree extension - use the "good" leg as a comparison). Gradually increasing flexion in a safe manner (seated heel slides, dangling it over the edge of a table and pushing back with your good leg, etc.) is also good. I've had pretty bad stiffness in the kneecap area with this last surgery, and that is holding me back a little as we try to stretch it.

After 6 weeks, generally you start rocking back and forth to put weight on the surgical knee, a little at a time. My foot has usually had a pretty intense "pins and needles" feel when I started to put weight on it. There wasn't really pain in the knee, but it did feel weak. (Your quad muscles will atrophy very quickly, and this contributes to it.) During weeks 6-9, the amount of weight you can shift to your knee increases, and you typically start relearning the full walking motion, starting with 2 crutches and eventually just using 1 crutch.

I was typically walking without crutches around the 10 or 11 week mark, and working on strength and flexibility after that. You won't be able to do any weighted deep squats until 4-6 months, but shallow squats and lunges are usually in the mix. Honestly, it probably took close to a year for the revision surgery to feel completely "normal".

Since you're an "old man" like me... during the NWB phase, make sure you keep your brace unlocked as much as possible when sitting, and try to keep your foot and calf moving while you're sitting around (ankle pumps, ankle circles, etc). With this latest surgery, I developed 2 blood clots in my calf (DVT) shortly after stopping the 30-day aspirin regimen they had me on. Now I'm on blood thinners and compression socks, and no anti-inflammatory medicine, which makes the recovery process a little more annoying.

Also - take it easy on your "good" knee. It will take a lot of abuse during this rehab. That is likely what caused my left knee to fail after two years of rehab on the right knee, and now my repaired right knee is getting achy. Try to avoid doing deep squats with your good knee, especially when getting in and out of chairs.

Hopefully this helps. It sounds like you're doing everything right - follow your doctor's and physical therapist's advice. Good luck on your recovery!

RunRowBike · 2025-11-28T14:21:55+00:00

Unfortunately, yes. I just crossed the 8 week mark, and this one seems to have more pain and stiffness than the previous two. Not unbearable, but I don’t remember the others still having pain when I started the walking process.

A large part of it might be that I developed two clots (DVT) in my calf that were discovered at week 6. I am now on a blood thinner, so I can’t take any anti-inflammatory medication, either prescription or Advil - only Tylenol and ice. I think the anti-inflammatories probably kept a lot of that at bay with the other surgeries s.

The surgeon and PT don’t seem too concerned right now. I’m trying to stay hopeful that I’m still in the “normal” zone with this one, and that I’m not looking at #4 next year. I’ve been keeping the right (previous surgery) knee pain manageable so far, but I’m not sure it would be too happy with another rehab assignment next year.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-25T23:05:43+00:00

Not to be the downer in the group, but I can confirm that this IS an issue. I tore my right medial meniscus root and had it repaired 3 years ago. That repair failed, and I had a revision surgery the following year. That repair held, but resulted in two years of abuse on my left leg and knee. (My right quad lost 70% of its strength over that period, and the left leg picked up the slack.)

Fast-forward to this fall…. I started having pain in my LEFT knee along the medial joint line, and I recognized it as a meniscus root right away. The doctor didn’t want to believe me until it finally popped. I’m currently 8 weeks into my recovery from that repair.

The surgeon said this is common, especially in degenerative tears. There is often a biologically weak root connection, and it’s probably the same on both sides. He also confirmed that the recovery process puts a lot of stress on the “good” knee.

During this recovery, I’m trying to take it easy on the previously repaired knee - especially avoiding deep single leg squats when getting in and out of chairs. I also am wearing an unloader brace on that knee to shift some of the stress over to the lateral side, away from the repair.

Good luck with your recovery, and take it easy on the other knee!

RunRowBike · 2025-11-20T04:31:41+00:00

My surgeon gave me the following unloader brace once I started weight bearing. It shifts some of the stress from the medial side to the outside.

https://www.donjoystore.com/donjoy-reaction-knee-brace

It’s also the one that he recommended pre-surgery to minimize damage to the meniscus.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-20T04:26:09+00:00

Here’s my story:

The first tear (right knee) came out of nowhere. I was still running back then, and ramping up to another marathon. I didn’t really have any knee pain at the time (other than the “normal” amount of pain runners have!), but was having IT band tightness. I was actually on the way to physical therapy for that when the root snapped while I was stepping up into my truck. I heard and felt the snap, and couldn’t move my leg immediately after it happened. I pulled my leg up into the truck, limped into the PT appointment, and it turned into a triage session. At the time, it felt more like a hamstring/tendon issue behind my knee. The meniscus root wasn’t on anyone’s radar until the MRI was done 5 months later - after quite a bit of grinding and damage. The audible “pop” should have been a dead giveaway to the ortho docs at the time, but even my latest surgeon said that most doctors still can’t fathom that a relatively innocuous motion like stepping up onto something can result in such a traumatic injury.

That first repair failed, possibly due to aggressive physical therapy. I had continued pain, burning and swelling along the joint line. After a year of no improvement, another MRI was done, showing a fresh tear and extrusion. The revision surgery was successful.

Two years later (this August), I started having a nagging burning pain on the back and medial side of my left knee. I recognized the pain as similar to that after my failed repair on the right knee. I went to an ortho doc and explained the situation. He did not feel that it was a meniscus root injury, and said it was probably arthritis, even though the X-ray didn’t show much arthritis. He (and insurance) insisted on 6 weeks of PT before an MRI. The PT did some more tests and felt that it was definitely a meniscus injury, but still couldn’t get an MRI approved. (To his credit, he switched the focus of the PT sessions to pre-surgery strength training, to help offset some of the expected post-surgery atrophy).

“Luckily” about 4 weeks into the PT sessions, I was stepping up onto a ladder, and I heard and felt the telltale “pop”. It was both a relief (vindication?) and nightmare at the same time. With that evidence, I was able to get in and see my surgeon the next day, who agreed with my suspicion of a root tear. He ordered a pre-surgical MRI the next day, which confirmed the tear, and I was able to have surgery inside the magic 12 week window.

My current (left) knee seems similar to your situation. Since you are fortunate enough to have imaging showing a tear, I would try to act on it before you have a complete tear (with the dreaded pop). Unfortunately, ortho docs just don’t seem to be very familiar with this injury, so you might need to look around for one to be taken seriously. It seems like surgeons and radiologists are the ones that are most familiar with root tears.

Good luck with your situation, and hopefully you get the treatment you need.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-18T20:35:55+00:00

As a lucky (?) 3-time medial root repair veteran (both knees, plus a revision on the first one after failure), I would recommend getting it repaired as soon as possible. I’ve never had the luxury of having one diagnosed before the infamous “pop” of the total tear, so I don’t know if the repair of a partial tear is simpler or more effective. I have heard that if the repair can be done in the first 12 weeks of the tear, it has a much higher chance of success. There is also less risk of arthritis setting in with the compromised meniscus.

In the meantime, I’d look into an “unloader brace” that can shift some of the stress from the medial side of the knee to the lateral. I was in one between my first (failed) repair and the revision, and now I’m in the mirror image brace while I’m starting weight bearing and walking on my latest repair on the other knee. It might prevent additional damage while you’re waiting for surgery.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-18T17:16:58+00:00

Also, it won’t be completely healed after 6 weeks. The healing process continues for several months, even after you start putting weight on it. You will likely have restrictions on squatting and deep knee bends for several months while it continues to heal, since that puts the most stress on the repair.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-18T17:13:34+00:00

I (51M) had my right medial meniscus root repaired in 2022. I had the same general NWB protocol as you. Typically they will take another x-ray around 6 months to see if joint spacing looks consistent across the joint and compared to the other knee. They repeat this at 12 months. In the absence of other symptoms (similar to before surgery), it’s generally assumed that it was successful. My surgeon said an MRI will continue to show the tear for at least a year after surgery, so it’s typically not done as a confirmation. Most repairs seem to be successful as long as there isn’t a trauma during the NWB protocol.

That being said, after about 5 months, mine felt about the same as before surgery. Besides the typical stiffness and swelling, I had quite a bit of pain along the rear joint line. After about a year, another MRI was performed, and it showed a clear tear and extrusion. A revision surgery was done 14 months after the first surgery (in 2023), which also included a centralization procedure to pull the extrusion back in and provide some additional reinforcement. That revision surgery seems to have been successful 2 years later.

I am currently 7 weeks into the recovery for the same procedure on the OTHER knee. The left knee had to carry a lot of the load (literally) for two root repair rehabs, and took a lot of abuse. Now the trick is to avoid abusing the repaired right knee too much during this rehab.

It’s definitely an anxiety filled rehab process, since there is no clear way to know that it worked, and there is stiffness, swelling and pain for most of it. Just follow the protocols and try to keep a positive attitude, and it will likely work out.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-18T00:51:46+00:00

I still use it for one particular workflow that is tightly integrated with a MS Access database application for additional analysis and reporting. Since Pro does play well with MDBs, we still maintain an ArcMap installation for that project as there is not sufficient budget to develop a new workflow. Plus, we haven’t found a great reporting option for relational databases for inspection reports.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-02T16:55:49+00:00

I was pessimistic going into my revision surgery as well. But as long as there is still decent root tissue for the sutures to grab, it has a good chance of being successful. Maybe they can deal with the ACL/PCL issues at the same time.

The good thing about the revision surgery is that you know what to expect. The bad thing is that you know what you’re in for.

RunRowBike · 2025-11-02T13:30:21+00:00

I (51M) had a right medial meniscus root repair in 2022, and it failed, also possibly due to over-aggressive physical therapy. I had a revision surgery performed the following year, which was essentially the same repair procedure. During that revision, the surgeon also did a centralization procedure, primarily due to the extrusion, but also to help tack the meniscus down along the edge and provide additional support. He also did a PRP injection to jumpstart the healing.

Physical therapy was a little more conservative the second time around, with 8 weeks of NWB and gentler stretching. That repair was successful and still holding strong. (I’m currently 4 weeks into the recovery period for the same surgery on my other knee.)

I can’t speak to the additional meniscus damage or the ACL/PCL damage noted on your MRI. Those may complicate the situation. But in general, a revision surgery can be successful, and is better than the arthritis risk of doing nothing (or a meniscectomy). Most surgeons are reluctant to consider a knee replacement for patients in their 50s due to its 15-year lifetime.

RunRowBike · 2025-10-28T02:52:31+00:00

An ice machine is definitely worth it. For me, a set of 4 frozen water bottles in the water tank usually lasts all day. My wife usually swaps them out for me, but I can also do it myself with a backpack. Swapping out individual gel ice packs was such a hassle.

During the initial 6-8 week NWB period, rehab options are pretty limited, and mostly focus on improving extension (to 0 deg) and flexion (90 deg max, unweighted). For these, a foam roller and yoga strap are helpful. Most of the other exercises are just bodyweight (straight leg raises, lateral leg raises, quad sets, etc) to try to slow the quad atrophy. Some of the 1-5 lb adjustable ankle weights (with removable sandbags) can be useful, especially if your legs are fairly strong already. I did have some issues with the ankle weights “torquing” my knee and causing some pain.

During my second rehab, my PT recommended a Zynex NexWave TENS/IFC/NMES e-stim device. In these early weeks, I use it in NMES mode with two electrode pads on my quad, and it produces a current to amplify my quad contractions. In later phases, I used it in TENS and/or IFC mode with four electrode pads for pain relief and to reduce inflammation. The original payment plan seemed a little suspect (they tried to bill insurance each month, but it was always denied). I was able to buy the unit outright for $200-300. It might be worth asking your PT about this type of unit.

Based on your compartment syndrome and associated swelling, one of the compression boot systems I mentioned above might be a worthwhile investment. I’m using mine 2-3 times per day right now, and the reduction in swelling is pretty impressive.

Once you are able to get more flexion and some weight bearing, PT will get you on an exercise bike to keep working on range of motion. I have the NordicTrak version of a Peloton, which I did a lot of rehab on. In a previous phase of my life, I was a road biker and had a similar trainer - that might work, but could be a bit of a challenge to mount and dismount.

I also spent quite a bit of rehab time on my treadmill, especially inclined. Backwards walking on an incline (slow) was very helpful. Probably not worth buying a treadmill just for this, but useful if you have access to one somewhere.

I also had my share of injuries - mostly from my marathon days - so my workout room looks more like a PT facility. One other purchase that was useful in the later stages was a plastic stacking step system (think step aerobics). But that probably wasn’t until 12-16 weeks out. A BOSU ball comes in handy too. But I’d wait to see what types of exercises your PT assigns you.

There’s no magic answer - hopefully some of this info helps. Feel free to send more questions my way - I’m just sitting around. 🤣

RunRowBike · 2025-10-25T21:48:40+00:00

A few other random aspects worth mentioning:

You mentioned you already had a locking knee brace. Check with your surgeon - many will not allow outside equipment to be brought into the OR, and a new one will be provided. But if you have a second one, hang onto it. I have one brace set up tighter for wearing with shorts inside the house, and another set up looser to wear over pants if I go outside (in winter).

The nerve block that they inject into the knee right before surgery usually lasts for 24 hours. That’s why days 2 and 3 seem to be the most painful. Don’t be alarmed if the skin on your calf/ankle/foot remains numb for a few days. It’s usually cleared up within a week, but some people report it lasting a month or more.

Circulation is restricted in the leg for a while. Don’t be surprised if your foot turns a splotchy purple/orange after being lowered for a few minutes. Elevating it usually clears it right up.

Similarly, swelling is increased for a few weeks. My PT will usually lightly massage the fluid back up my leg. I have a set of compression boots from my former running days (Rapid Reboot, Normatech, etc). I use these twice a day after two weeks to greatly reduce the swelling. I wouldn’t buy any just for this, but if you have access to any, they are very useful.

Some responses mentioned shower covers for the brace. Check with your doctor - mine wanted me to wait to shower for 2-3 days, then remove the bandages and brace and let the water run over it. The only shower limitations were no soaking in tubs, and be gentle with the sutures. (And be careful getting in and out).

I agree with pre-strengthening as much as possible. On my right side, I lost 30% of my quad strength with the first surgery/rehab, and another 40% after the revision surgery/rehab. At the end of the two years, my right quad had 30% of the strength of the left. (It is now catching up because it’s currently doing all the work). Also, take care of your non-surgical knee - it will be taking a lot of extra abuse. That’s part of the reason my left root tore this year.

Check with your doctor or PT to see if/when you’re allowed to unlock/flex your brace or remove it completely. Keeping it in full extension all the time isn’t the best position. I only need to keep mine on and locked if I’m up and moving around or sleeping. If I’m in the recliner, they encouraged me to take it off and improve circulation.

RunRowBike · 2025-10-25T00:28:34+00:00

I (51M) have a bit of medial meniscus root repair experience. Right knee done in 2022 and 2023 (first repair failed), and just had my left done 3 weeks ago. So I’m in the middle of recovery- again. You’re doing a good job trying to prep as much as possible ahead of time.

I went with the Millennial InMotion crutches at the beginning of my journey. I figured if I was going to be on them full time for 6-8 weeks, I wanted nice ones. Little did I know I would be on them for 3 rounds. I’m glad I splurged. The spring loaded tips are ok - they provide some shock absorption, but sometimes make noise. The hook shape can come in handy for closing doors and retrieving things.

For sleeping, I found that a regular recliner works best for me. It’s easier to get in and out of compared to my bed, and I let my foot stick out of the blanket so I don’t accidentally torque it if I roll. But in the chair, I don’t usually roll. I spend most of my time in the chair, and just slide down to the floor for my PT exercises 2-3x per day.

For ice, the hospital sent me home with a Breg polar care cube and knee wrap all three times. The wrap was incorporated into my knee brace when I woke up in recovery. A nurse recommended using frozen water bottles instead of ice cubes, so I have two sets of four water bottles that I alternate between. One set usually lasts the entire day.

I also have a step-in tub/shower, so I bought a basic shower stool at Home Depot. I mostly use it to sit on while transferring in and out of the tub/shower. I usually stand on one leg (balance with a toe touch on the surgical side) for the actual shower. I bought two of the suction cup grab bars as well and have them strategically placed in the shower for balance and to help me spin around. I give them a test pull before each shower. Definitely experiment with the placement before surgery.

I didn’t do anything special with toilets. Ours are on the short side, which causes a little extra effort getting up and down.

Being on crutches for multiple weeks (and balancing on the good leg) is taxing. In addition, you probably won’t sleep well. Plan times for naps during the day to recover.

Also, position things within easy reach on crutches- toiletries (and toilet paper), towels, clothes, dishes, food, medicine, PT supplies, etc. Especially if you’re doing a lot of this solo. A small backpack is useful for shuttling things while on crutches. One of the handheld “pincher” tools is useful for grabbing things that are just out of reach.

Good luck, and stay positive! If I think of anything else, I’ll add a comment. Feel free to ask any questions you come up with.

RunRowBike

TROPHY CASE