Re: To susan trom meniscus

[Guest guest]

Hi Rick

Doc hasn't referred me out as of yet due to changes in my insurance right now.

My company is in the middle of open enrollment and we are changing providers so

Im in limbo until after the holidays (12/31/06).

Im not sure if it is the meniscus or the " bakers cyst in the knee " that is

causing the limp. He wanted me to see how I did this month and go from there.

I appreciate your suggestions and will definitely follow up with the doc,

Thanks again!

[Guest guest]

I had a torn meniscus over the summer in my knee. My doc and my ortho

doc had me go to a wheel chair for a month and then to a walker, as I

felt up to it and then to a cane and then to walking. In reality

within two weeks I was basically walking with a walker putting limited

weight on my knee. Within a month I was walking on it , not long

distance like in a Walmart but I was walking.

They also put me in a brace which felt like heaven. They did talk

about surgery but they both felt that surgery was just a way for most

docs to make money and normally is not an option but it is best to let

the body heal itself and will normally do so if given the time.

I am now 5 months later and have no problems that I did not have

before. This is the second time for this problem only on different

knees. Both times no surgery. It was extremely painful and I deal

with pain 24 hours a day for 13 years so I know pain! I was on

percocet every 2 hours instead of every 4 and I take 10 mg anyway.

It was painful but I got through it and the brace was very helpful!

Gwen

[Guest guest]

Gwen wrote:

I had a torn meniscus over the summer in my knee.

Hi Gwen, I cant belive they havnt done surgery on such a painfill

injury. My son had torn his and after they did a MRI within 3 wks he

was in surgery. They gave him vicodin before the surgery and 6 wks

after and that was it, along with a cast which we filled with water

and he said it helped tremendously.

I do remember the doctor saying usually on older people they dont do

anything because the surgery helps with pain but in reality it will

always hurt at some degree especially as we age arthritis sits up

really bad in the damaged knee. My son is only 26 so they were going

to try and repair his but when they went in it was litterally torn to

pieces.

His recovery was 6 weeks and he was back to work but now it still

hurts him and he takes advil as they wont give him anything for it.

I was in shock when the doctor said the statement about old people! I

would find a doctor that would do surgery is ridiculous for you to

suffer. Fran

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much everyone for the suggestions. The weird thing is that not only

is my knee swollen but so is the entire right leg from the hip down. I assume

this is because of the sacroiliac issue on the right side, and now I am having

problems even standing. My leg just gives out. I am really getting nervous.

I'm calling the doc tomorrow but knowing how this stuff works in Vegas, (I think

they send the docs with the lowest GPA here) I wont be able to get in until

after the holidays. That's OK though. They have me on roxicodone and fentanyl

but it makes me sleepy. Well at least it helps with the pain. I cant imagine

dealing with this without any help. Again, thank you so much all! If I don't

say so later I wish all a great Holiday!

[Guest guest]

,

That sounds really unusual. I have sacroiliac issues as well, have

had them for quite a while now (over 4 years), and the inflammation

above your knee doesn't sound like it's linked to your SI at all.

Your SI's are in a ways from your leg--it's the ball socket of your

hip attached to the leg, then your hip bone, then the sacroiliac

joint attached to that, then they are attached to the pubic bone at

the sacral level, or the sacrum. (My sister is a nurse, and my SIL

is studying to be one).

It sounds to me that the problem may lie more in your hip or in your

upper leg, or with the muscles, tendons, or nerves that lie in that

area, particularly the sciatic nerve. Given this new problem, I

would definitely call the doctor and ask to be evaluated right away--

waiting until after the holidays could potentially cause more

damage, which you should point out to his staff. If need be, or if

things get more severe before you are able to get in, go to a

clinic, stat care, or if need be, the emergency room. It sounds as

if things have escalated since the last time you posted about your

leg, and that is concerning.

If the swelling were below your knee, I would most likely assume

that your Baker's cyst had burst, but since it's swelling ABOVE your

knee, that's more unusual and more concerning. Please get it

checked out as soon as possible, and let us know what you find out!

And as for doctors with the lowest GPA's, I think the ones in my

town can rival yours for that!

My best to you,

Jen 1

[Guest guest]

Pope wrote:

> Thanks so much everyone for the suggestions. The weird thing is that not only

is my knee swollen but so is the entire right leg from the hip down.

Hi

Whenever a leg swells up like that, it's essential to get it checked right away.

Blood clots need to be ruled out.

--

Lyndi