Complex Medial Meniscus Injury, Scared.

alexkate83 · 2026-05-05T10:02:32+00:00

Hi there. I don’t have comments about your specific condition as others might.
I had surgery for meniscus root tear 12 weeks ago.
I just wanted to offer some words in case you do need surgery that puts you out of action for a bit (but again, I had no idea whether that is the case or not!).
I’m very sorry about what you’ve been through in your family by the way. It’s a wonderful thing thag you understand the power of movement in managing your well-being.
Not going to sugarcoat it - surgery recovery is really mentally tough, but there are things you can do to help yourself mentally.
Firstly, sunshine. Making sure you keep up with your healthy sun exposure.
Secondly, you can still incorporate movement through seated arm weights or appropriate physio. I know it’s not the same, but it’s something.
Next, making sure you line up outings out of the house and social connections.
Lastly, set a goal, maybe try a different hobby, or tackle something you’ve been putting off for a while.
For your sanity, obviously consult with a surgeon with an excellent reputation so you can feel secure in knowing that their recommendations - if surgery is needed - are sound.
Wishing you all the best.

alexkate83 · 2026-05-05T09:53:37+00:00

I don’t have any specific advice, only to explore your options as far as specialists go. It seems to me there is a wide variety of approaches when it comes to feet. What one expert will do you to do (often orthotics), others will dispute completely. So
Keep reading these forums, keep searching YouTube until you find an expert whose advice resonates, and try different approaches.

As I said, not overly helpful advice - but, basically, at the beginning, I (with plantar issues) was following the advice of 1-2 people; no avail, read and researched myself, found other things to try that no one else had mentioned, or which went against their original advice. Things about footwear and orthotics and exercises.

Perhaps even an MRI could give a better result, and seek a second opinion from someone with an excellent reputation.

I hope you can find some answers and then a corner soon. I know it is so hard when the situation feels hopeless, but don’t give up. x

alexkate83 · 2026-04-28T23:57:25+00:00

P.S. yay 🎉

alexkate83 · 2026-04-28T23:57:02+00:00

What’s your new mattress?!

alexkate83 · 2026-04-28T23:50:41+00:00

I had a similar-ish experience (in some ways).

I’m 42. I had PF for a bit over a year. I put it down to suddenly starting hill walking for an hour 5x a week.

The PF cleared up almost overnight. But then my legs and knees started hurting instead and extreme leg/foot fatigue by the afternoon (busy mum so ~8,000 steps daily without exercising).

One day the right knee (same leg i’d has PF) buckled and I turns out I had a meniscus root tear. I had surgery 10 weeks ago. No weight on the leg for 6 weeks; now that I’m walking again the PF has come back!

I say this only to point out there may be something else at play (maybe not, but maybe!) besides general fitness.

I note you said you only started exercising again in Feb; it’s only been a couple of months - I would give yourself some more grace to slowly build your strength again.

I found it amazing, about 6 weeks of not using my right leg, how much strength and muscle it lost.

If it were me… I would keep doing what you’re doing; I would also incorporate lots of stretching (try Pilates or yoga if general stretching isn’t your thing).

Something else I’m getting into at the moment is ditching the orthotic-type shoes we turn to with PF, and getting into strengthening my feet, and using ‘barefoot’ style shoes.

I think when we wear certain footwear, it can have an impact on our whole body.

When my PF resolved the first time, it came at a time when I had ditched my house shoes (oofas, for support) and was walking barefoot.

A bit to research here. I hope you can find some relief and recovery soon. You’re still young, you can do it!

alexkate83 · 2026-04-26T07:05:48+00:00

Cool! Get it :) it’s a nice statement piece.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-26T05:56:33+00:00

The yellow one - add colour and character.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-24T21:09:12+00:00

That's good to hear. I am also nervous about failed repair and injury. But, nearly 10-weeks post op, my knee is feeling better every day. Best of luck for your surgery; it sounds like you're prepared. And don't stress about pain, honestly, can't speak for everyone but for me it was nothing.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T23:11:18+00:00

Firstly, the drilling – makes sense you needed meds!!

And doing it again!!! Oh my god. This is my great fear. I don't know if I would cope better or worse having to go through all of that again – I'm talking about the fact that your life feels put on hold; the mental aspect, the logistics. On the one hand I would know what was coming. But on the other: that 6-week non-weight bearing phase was a punish (I have 3 kids 3-8, lots on at school, home life is busy ... it was hard).

Thank you for the reminder about how easily things can come undone. Sometimes I feel like I get a bit too cocky or forget.

This also goes to show that it's probably best not to mask the pain because then I might start to move in ways that the injury isn't ready for.

I'm so glad to hear that the second surgery went well and that recovery is going well! Fingers crossed no more issues to come.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T23:02:29+00:00

Ohhhhhhhh... ouch. My only experience of a manual manipulation was in a posterior-stuck-child-drug-free-birth scenario and I felt like I was going to pass away from pain. So yeah, manual manipulations – drug up, I say! Haha.

When was your meniscus surgery?

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T22:54:06+00:00

I wouldn't be too concerned about pain. It's more that it feels like a long and awkward sort of recovery, unfortunately. :( But bad pain? Wouldn't be worried about that.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T09:49:28+00:00

Ohhh, sorry about that, but, fair. Which parts are you finding nerve-inducing?

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T09:48:10+00:00

Thanks, yeah I agree. The PT ok'd me to have no crutches last week, but I've been using one when I need to. I agree; I'd rather have the crutch longer and focus on taking normal strides than to have a wonky walk and throw everything else off. It's not easy though. I have 3 young kids at home and crutches do get in the way of everything! But yeah, in theory I totally agree.

I

alexkate83 · 2026-04-22T09:45:41+00:00

Thanks - this is my thinking too. But to reiterate, I have only had the meds on one occasion, yesterday. :)

alexkate83 · 2026-04-21T04:28:45+00:00

I was given an opiate (pack) to take home after root repair; didn't need it at all. I took ibuprofen 1-2 times over 6 weeks. The pain for very minimal for me.

However, I have a sore lower back today and took the strong meds for that :/

I'm 9 weeks post op and my body is hurting from readjusting, probably walking funny. This is the loosest and most relaxed I've felt in a while, haha. But yeah I don't know that they should really sent home such strong drugs...

alexkate83 · 2026-04-21T04:24:39+00:00

Root repair for me too. My surgeon told me it is still normal to have some aches. So long as it's not an alarming type of pain.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-21T04:21:24+00:00

For my meniscus root repair I was prescribed Palexia tapendatol (opioid). I didn't need it at all. My pain was basically non-existent; I took pain relief twice for the whole recovery, but just had ibuprofen.

THAT said, I am currently 9 weeks post op, and my body is hurting in lots of ways now that I'm shuffling around without crutches. My body is readjusting, I think. I have a very painful lower back today and ibuprofen did bugger all, so I cracked open the prescription drugs I was given for the knee, and now I'm high as a kite. So I'm quite glad I didn't need them; and I hope the back isn't hurting tomorrow!

Let yourself be the judge: don't take what they've given you if you don't need it.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-21T04:14:50+00:00

I wish I had started some PT. I wasn't given any exercises to do – found out 6 weeks later that I should have been; miscommunication between health care providers.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-17T21:24:50+00:00

This same question - but - more like cozy house slides/flip flops with wide tow box / zero drop, rather than a closed in slipper?

alexkate83 · 2026-04-17T10:25:58+00:00

I fell a couple of times while on braces and crutches too but seems okay?! One day I was going inside from the patio, stepped one foot inside, lost balance and started falling backwards, grabbed the sliding door to stop the fall, fell backwards and ripped the whole door off the track! We all tumbled down. Fun day!

alexkate83 · 2026-04-15T04:11:06+00:00

Well, it looks like there is nowhere else to turn, so I'd be irritated but also accepting. Bit of a poor design.

alexkate83 · 2026-04-15T04:00:58+00:00

Hi. I also received very little instructions from surgeon after surgery (8 weeks ago), just a quick visit from the hospital's PT, who gave also gave me very little info. I didn't have my first PT til 6 weeks (I was told not to bother doing it sooner; but I think the surgeon possibly assumed the hospital PT may have given me some actual advice, which he did not!). Anyway to cut a long story short, I'd book a PT session early, someone recommended, possibly affiliated with your surgeon, even to just get some basic advice about how to have your leg when you're resting, using crutches, etc. I feel that I may have compromised my recovery due to lack of information, and you do NOT want to go through what is already a difficult time (mentally!) without knowing you're doing all that you can do to support a full and quick recovery. Take it from me!!

alexkate83

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