Cartilage problems

[klimt]

I'm having an MRI scan in a couple of days following a diagnosis of suspected torn (knee) cartilage. Ive had mixed reports about the procedure itself and also the surgery which may or may not follow on if the diagnosis is confirmed. Anyone have any experience of this?

[Worcester Yellow]

If you have cartilage damage then an arthroscope would probably be the most likely course of action. The surgery itself is relatively easy and you will probably even be allowed a local anesthetic. Definately an in and out in a day type of surgery. expect then a few weeks partial weight bearing, perhaps with a crutch.

As for the scan, id expect you'll be in for about 40 minutes with three or four photos being taken. take a cd and by the time you get to the end it will all be over.

[klimt]

Thanks WY. Have you had the surgery?

[Winchesterox]

Be thankful you haven't ruptured your cruciate ligament. You would then be looking forward to an MRI scan, a weird graft operation followed by a couple of days in hospital, crutches for 2 weeks, plus 9 months rehab/physio. And even after all that, it may still be a bit weak.

[berliner]

Basically, if the cartilage is torn then it will be shaved off under general or local anaesthetic as cartilage cannot repair itself. You are looking at a couple of weeks discomfort max. The only problem will be long term, as your knee joint will then have no shock absorption at the point where the cartilage is removed. The bones will rub together and may lead long term to arthritis.

Now knee reconstruction (as I had the week after Wembley), that's a different story!

[Worcester Yellow]

Dec 1, 2010 13:15:58 GMT klimt said:

Thanks WY. Have you had the surgery?

Yeah had that surgery a few years ago, but then again i have had plenty on my knees despite my relatively few years. Most of it pretty painful and complex compared to cartilage damage.

also my mother's a theatre nurse at the nuffield orthopaedic centre who do these surgerys nearly every day, she says you've got nothing to fret about.

[klimt]

Tell your Mother 'thanks'. It was the NOC that organised the MRI. The really annoying this is that now the other knee is playing up!!

[malcolmnl]

Usual treatment is surely amputation just below the neck.

Sorry couldn't resist that. Hope it works out.

[klimt]

Thank you Malcolm, your concern is almost.......bearable

[malcolmnl]

Well I'm a bearable sort of person. Sometimes.

[doughnutforsakeme]

Had both my knees done (92 and 08) - So I will tell you about the 08 experience as it changed dramatically over that period of time. The mri scan only takes 10 mins as they only scan as the injured area, they just ask you not to move, the scanner only moves up to your knee and the rest of your body is never in the scanner ( so no claustrophobia problems) . If you have an arthroscopy, it is only day surgery (normally half a day), you get a pre-med (who cares after that) and an injection in the back of the hand when you get to the theatre to put you completely out. In the recovery ward you get a cup of tea and sandwiches, there is normally no reaction to the anesthetic and after a while you can go home and watch telly. I was signed off work for 2 weeks, but the most important thing I can tell you is - do the exercises that they give you. If they say ride a bike, do it, the movement lubricates the knee and helps with getting the full movement back in your knee.
good luck - but you won't need it, the staff at the Nuffield are brilliant
Alan

['Beav']

Dec 2, 2010 18:54:28 GMT doughnutforsakeme said:

Had both my knees done (92 and 08) - So I will tell you about the 08 experience as it changed dramatically over that period of time. The mri scan only takes 10 mins as they only scan as the injured area, they just ask you not to move, the scanner only moves up to your knee and the rest of your body is never in the scanner ( so no claustrophobia problems) . If you have an arthroscopy, it is only day surgery (normally half a day), you get a pre-med (who cares after that) and an injection in the back of the hand when you get to the theatre to put you completely out. In the recovery ward you get a cup of tea and sandwiches, there is normally no reaction to the anesthetic and after a while you can go home and watch telly. I was signed off work for 2 weeks, but the most important thing I can tell you is - do the exercises that they give you. If they say ride a bike, do it, the movement lubricates the knee and helps with getting the full movement back in your knee.
good luck - but you won't need it, the staff at the Nuffield are brilliant
Alan

They are brilliant. My knee surgery this summer -


I had prior MRI scans and those scans pregnant women have and x-rays. On the day I went in about 9am and I had a few checks then they briefed me on what was to go down.

I had to put on these gay pants that are made of tissue.

I woke up without any feeling in my left leg and they told me they put in a nerve block and I stayed over one night. I had to walk the next day, which was freaky as, but the care was great.

I was majorly disappointed in the end though.







They put me opposite a Swindon fan.

[klimt]

Dec 2, 2010 18:54:28 GMT doughnutforsakeme said:

Had both my knees done (92 and 08) - So I will tell you about the 08 experience as it changed dramatically over that period of time. The mri scan only takes 10 mins as they only scan as the injured area, they just ask you not to move, the scanner only moves up to your knee and the rest of your body is never in the scanner ( so no claustrophobia problems) . If you have an arthroscopy, it is only day surgery (normally half a day), you get a pre-med (who cares after that) and an injection in the back of the hand when you get to the theatre to put you completely out. In the recovery ward you get a cup of tea and sandwiches, there is normally no reaction to the anesthetic and after a while you can go home and watch telly. I was signed off work for 2 weeks, but the most important thing I can tell you is - do the exercises that they give you. If they say ride a bike, do it, the movement lubricates the knee and helps with getting the full movement back in your knee.
good luck - but you won't need it, the staff at the Nuffield are brilliant
Alan

Thats really helpful thanks. I'll report back

[klimt]

MRI results revealed a large cleavage tear in the centre of the medial meniscus!! Imagine the shock, a, firstly to discover that I have a cleavage, and b,that its torn!!
Have received a letter to say that I have a consultation with the consultant and should allow up to two hours for TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS, what are they talking about? can anyone who has had an arthroscopy enlighten me as to what tests and examinations are conducted ?

[stokeu]

Dec 2, 2010 23:06:53 GMT 'Beav' said:

They are brilliant. My knee surgery this summer -


I had prior MRI scans and those scans pregnant women have and x-rays. On the day I went in about 9am and I had a few checks then they briefed me on what was to go down.

I had to put on these gay pants that are made of tissue.

I woke up without any feeling in my left leg and they told me they put in a nerve block and I stayed over one night. I had to walk the next day, which was freaky as, but the care was great.

I was majorly disappointed in the end though.

They put me opposite a Swindon fan.

Guess the gay pants and tissues came in handy then...

[oxonian]

Dec 1, 2010 13:57:43 GMT Winchesterox said:

Be thankful you haven't ruptured your cruciate ligament. You would then be looking forward to an MRI scan, a weird graft operation followed by a couple of days in hospital, crutches for 2 weeks, plus 9 months rehab/physio. And even after all that, it may still be a bit weak.

I have ruptured the cruciate for the second time and am waiting for a date to go in and have it done. This time as well as reconstruction they are taking the screws out from the original op and shaving bone from my hip to fill in the holes where the screws were. The consultant said don't worry the knee wont hurt but your hip will.

[Winchesterox]

Dec 31, 2010 10:48:02 GMT oxonian said:

Dec 1, 2010 13:57:43 GMT Winchesterox said:

Be thankful you haven't ruptured your cruciate ligament. You would then be looking forward to an MRI scan, a weird graft operation followed by a couple of days in hospital, crutches for 2 weeks, plus 9 months rehab/physio. And even after all that, it may still be a bit weak.

I have ruptured the cruciate for the second time and am waiting for a date to go in and have it done. This time as well as reconstruction they are taking the screws out from the original op and shaving bone from my hip to fill in the holes where the screws were. The consultant said don't worry the knee wont hurt but your hip will.

Second time!! That's just reckless!

Might be a silly question, but if you are having recon, why don't they use the bone holes again for the new graft? Or does screw removal make the bone holes unusable?

[Worcester Yellow]

Dec 31, 2010 9:15:19 GMT klimt said:

MRI results revealed a large cleavage tear in the centre of the medial meniscus!! Imagine the shock, a, firstly to discover that I have a cleavage, and b,that its torn!!
Have received a letter to say that I have a consultation with the consultant and should allow up to two hours for TESTS AND EXAMINATIONS, what are they talking about? can anyone who has had an arthroscopy enlighten me as to what tests and examinations are conducted ?

The tests and examinations should just be your pre-admissions for the op. Normally its just a standard medical history/final x-ray (if needed)/have the op explained. nothing to worry about, and all goin well shouldn't take you two hours. I'd imagine you'll also spend a bit of time with the physiotherapist.

It's more a case of just crossing the t's and dotting the I's before you have your surgery.


again, thats coming from my mother the theatre nurse at the NOC

[klimt]

Thanks WY, and once again thanks to your Mother.