Nominate new thread category: Health and Fitness

[LopeHunter]

Have any of you had arthroscopy surgery on a knee? What was the recovery like in weeks? At what point would you have been able to navigate slightly uneven terrain such as a pronghorn hunt?

So, some background. About 4 weeks ago I woke up with a tender right knee. Assumed had gotten tender from walking through two airports and the flights to get home from a business trip the prior day. My right knee has gotten worse. Much worse. Unprecedented for me to have any lingering issues with knees, hips or ankles. Well, now my right knee is screwed up. Did not get better in a few days and finally my wife said was time to go to doctor.

Went to doctor last week and after a week of anti-inflammatories plus ice packs in the evening with no improvement it looks like will have MRI this week. Is not tendonitis. Is not the result of a tumble or accident that would have created a bone bruise. The knee joint is stable. The discomfort arises while standing, walking and pivoting. Most likely some grit migrated into the knee joint while I slept after flying home. Sounds odd but the pain arose so suddenly over just one night. The discomfort has only increased the past two weeks after being steady the first two weeks.

I read up on knee discomfort and looks like arthroscopy surgery will be done on the knee. I have 5 big game hunts that kick off in 3 weeks and wind down in mid-November. If the knee does not get any worse then think I could still solo on 3 if not 4 of the hunts. The moose hunt is the one where I will need to have someone along to deal with the 700 pounds of meat. Have never hunted moose so would jettison the other hunts if that allowed me to go on the moose hunt.

If the pain increases the next two weeks at the rate has the past two weeks then will not be able to delay the surgery and hope I can rehab the knee in time to still do the moose hunt. Great news is I can sleep at night, drive long distances and walk slowly on mostly even terrain so am staying optimistic can get out in the desert and woods this year. I am getting older and know getting in shape to navigate alpine hunts in the steep, nasty stuff will wind down if has not already. I expected I could still do the flatlander hunts for many more years. I have not missed hunting big game since moved out of SoCal in 1992 though have been so fortunate the past quarter century to gather a lot of great memories of hunting big game out West and time spent with family and friends in camp that the memories will tide me over if I have to stay home this year. I guess we all want one more hunt and then another and...

 

[bigdonniebrasco]

I'm all for a health and fitness category.

 

[Big Sky Dreamin]

I had a knee scoped at 23. I spent a day and a half on crutches and it was about 2 weeks before I was able to crouch down evenly on both legs. I had some of my meniscus removed and have never had a problem since. Depending on age I would think 2-3 weeks would be reasonable for uneven ground with lighter loads. Good luck, hope it heals soon.

 

[u1299]

Ain't no doc but have had meniscus surgery on both knees when I was in my early 40's, after just a day or two I was moving around real good and had very little pain. Then severe swelling in the knee, both times, due to over doing it a bit because the knees felt so good, had to go in and have fluid drained from both knees with a huge needle after which both knees were fine even though I was a bit more conservative in the rehab after that. I would say in 3-4 weeks and I was good as new. Between about 54 and 57 years old had a total Rt. knee, then a total Lt. hip replacement and seriously feel as good as I did when I was younger. Would never know they weren't the original equipment. I still hunt as much as I ever did and can pack meat just like the old days, well not quite like the old days, I'm 61, but it's the 61 and not the knees and hip that have slowed me down a bit. I think the medical profession has this procedure down so good rehab is pretty short and then it's off to the races.

 

[boutdoors]

Had my right knee scoped 25 years ago was off work for 1 week then worked a short work week (Thanksgiving weekend) and went back to work doing normal things. I was in construction so was pretty active. Knee was real sore for over six months, stairs especially going down was the worst

 

[Wyatt G]

ive had two meniscus surgeries. first one at 15, had half of it removed, it went great and 10 days later I could go up and down stairs, didn't feel good but I could do it. my second was six months later with a different doctor, it didn't go so great. ended up getting a nerve disease from either going back in too quickly or the doc made a mistake, but having something like that happening is extremely rare. just make sure to get a good doctor, follow the pt to the letter and you should be good.

 

[Dave N]

Don't forget that you probably won't get right in for any surgery. They will do the MRI, look at the results and then schedule you for the surgery. You're not going to walk in there tomorrow, tell them what's going on, and get on the table to get things done. It will be pushing it to be done much before you go hunting. I tore my ACL back in 2012 I believe. Missed one day of work from the pain. Having no idea it was torn I kept working. Finally got an MRI a week before an elk hunt I had planned. Got the results the day before I left. Told the doc I was going hunting and would schedule surgery once I got back. Pushed it back until after deer season and then got fixed. Was off work for 4 months and it now feels great. Whatever you do, LISTEN TO THE THERAPY FOLKS! They know what they're talking about. Do what they say and don't slack off. Good luck.

 

[LopeHunter]

Thanks for the insight everyone! Knee is no better this morning though is encouraging to hear about each of your mostly positive outcomes. I do not want this to be the new normal for my knee. Good luck on your hunts and stay safe out there!

 

[sbhooper]

I will propose a toast to the new category.:hump:

 

[LopeHunter]

Quick update. Better news than expected though remains an odd situation.

Had MRI done on my right knee yesterday. I expected to hear my meniscus has a few small tears as is common in people over 50 though is possible tears would not be causing the current discomfort issue. Also, I might hear that I have some tendon or ligament tears from long ago. Sports, dirt bikes, etc were the activities of my youth.

MRI says "nope." I have a large and deep bone bruise in the femur where it makes contact with the tibia in the knee joint.

An odd injury. Usually a bone bruise arises as part of sudden trauma which also rips up tendons or ligaments and meniscus. Creates a mess. I only have the bone bruise.

There was no obvious incident back on June 30. Did not trip or run into anything. No ninja battles. Did not fall from a ladder or the curb. No muscle bruises showed up. I still suspect resting my right ankle on my left knee while sitting in the airport working on my laptop for hours due to the plane being delayed caused this situation though that is not how bone trauma works per my internist. Maybe aliens targeted me?

Next step is to meet with an orthopedic surgeon to review the MRI in more detail. Certainly, there are some nominal per-existing matters which arthroscopic surgery could clean up in the joint as I have "clicking" in both knees but unless the bleeding from the bone trauma created a pocket in the fibrous material outside the femur then doubt surgery is prudent. If there is a pocket then it can calcify and create issues of discomfort and accelerate deterioration of the femur which could lead to knee replacement surgery down the road. If surgery is needed for a pocket, I am confident I can delay until mid-November when will have finished up my hunts.

A bone bruise can take 3 - 18 months to heal and I am 1 month into this. I am now using a cane to try and keep the bruise from being agitated.

Will update once meet with surgeon.

Here is the timeline assuming no surgery needed or not needed right away:
Nevada pronghorn season opens in 19 days and I plan to be there looking for a non-typical buck. Oregon pronghorn in 21 days. Idaho Moose hunt stays on schedule as well with me arriving in 51 days. Wyoming pronghorn in 55 days. Washington turkey in 66 days and New Mexico mule deer in 94 days.

 

[Wyatt G]

since you're using a cane you may want to do some leg lifting exercises and stretching if it doesn't hurt too much so you dont lose muscle in that leg.

 

[LopeHunter]

since you're using a cane you may want to do some leg lifting exercises and stretching if it doesn't hurt too much so you dont lose muscle in that leg.

Good suggestion. I am able to do exercises as long as are not loadbearing on the knee. No discomfort when lay down so sleeping good, too, unlike when blew up my shoulder a few years back. The pronghorn and turkey hunts are not going to require significant hiking on uneven ground nor will the pack outs be that heavy. The moose hunt has potential for creating a pile of 700 pounds of so of meat so need to be careful on that hunt.

 

[Matt/VT]

A bone bruise sucks, but you'll be able to go. If you don't use trekking poles, definitely get some to lessen the load on the knee, even on those easy trips when you don't think you need to. I'd agree with trying to keep some strength going without producing pain, even a stationary bike as long as it doesn't hurt.

As a physical therapist and strength coach in my day job, the idea of category devoted to health and fitness sounds good to me!