I've made contact with Dr. LaPrade and he will be reviewing my MRI on Jan 2 and hopefully arrange for a consult and surgery. I can walk fairly comfortably, no swelling, almost no pain, but I know it's not right. I only feel any discomfort at all with the leg fully extended and weight bearing. I can do any type of resistance including weighted single leg squats as long as my knee is bent. But, I'm avoiding ALL types of exercise involving my legs to give the repair the maximum chance of success.
The old school MO for complex meniscus tears is debride and inject.... sometimes removing most of the meniscus... which really is the fast track to a failed joint and knee replacement. New technology, particularly with the invention of new tools (like the Novostich Pro) and techniques make complex meniscus repair a reality. LaPrade is even doing meniscus transplants.
I see masters colleagues with knee problems continue to run, even with obvious pathology like swelling, and just think they're going to self cure by 'getting the knee stronger'. Bad idea! Not smart.
I got the call from the local Dr's office on his response to the MRI. This is the guy who did my ACL after a skiing accident 34 yrs ago, definitely old school. Sorry to say it was absolute nonsense. He suggested injections and maybe a shoe orthotic. Ridiculous.
The key to a successful repair is that the meniscus damaged is not too macerated by degeneration over time. A traumatic type injury is better than degenerative.
So, now a week after my last workout, I'm still very light, 139.5 even after eating party food last night, but had a big carb meal tonight, paella, our last meal in Sewanee before Roya and I part to go to our families tomorrow.
I did a sets of pullups, ab wheel, pushups, and bicycle crunches w/ ankle weights today. But pretty sedentary otherwise. All that hard work on V02 max will soon be lost.
I have MRI disc and will send it to LaPrade tomorrow before my flight.
The new repair methods sound promising. I know you said joint space was good but what about the condoyls and patella, any wear and tear there?
ReplyDeleteYes.. "chondral fissuring and chondral thinning of the medial and central
Deletetrochlea are present with moderate subchondral cystic change. Fissuring of the inferior medial patellar facet and the superiorlateral
patellar facet are present."
Much more detailed than my MRI 2023. “ ARTICULAR STRUCTURES: Patellofemoral compartment: There is mild cartilage thinning of the lateral patellar facet. Medial compartment: Normal. Lateral compartment: Normal. ” “ 3. Mild patellofemoral compartment osteoarthritis.”
DeleteMy kneecaps are very symptomatic. If I could find someone who has a lot of experience doing uni compartmental patella resurfacing I’d probably do it. They want to wait until you are about crippled. Shouldn’t run with those implants but I don’t run so that’s ok. Uni compartmental preserves all the ligaments.
Doesn't sound really that bad
DeleteThe tendon attachments to the knee cap are like a lever and as you extend it presses the patella into the troclear groove so if there are lesions or thin articular cartilage they can be very symptomatic. Especially a problem if you are trying to be athletic. The condyles are weight bearing and generally are less symptomatic for mild or moderate arthritis (compared to patella). I have to deal with a lot of soreness, like a toothache in the kneecaps. Typically the day after a hard ski or bike. Sometimes two days. Sometimes affects sleep. Doesn’t cause issues while skiing can cause issues while biking. Sometimes I feel like I’m riding with one and one half legs (left knee is worse).
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