Anyone ever injure or tear their meniscus?

Frank Z

Yesterday my daughter was walking down the stairs and her left knee simply gave out (we didn't fully understand it at the time). She crumpled to the floor in agony. No real swelling was obvious so we chalked it up to a misplaced step on her part. Later in thet evening she again ended up on the floor screaming in pain because her knee just buckled under her weight as she attempte to get in bed. Her knee started to puff up on the inside (right side of left knee). We took her to the doc today and they took a bunch of x-rays and then told us that they would contact a Pediatric Orthopedic specialist to get us in ASAP. this was followed by a brace on her knee and instructions not to put any weight on it. He mentioned possible damage to the meniscus and that the Orthopedic surgeon is better equiped to diagnose the injury. Keep in mind that my daughter is only 9 and this type of injury seems strange for someone her age.

So anyone ever had this same or similiar problem? Deb and I are kinda freaked out by the whole thing.

On a side note we're scheduled to go on a school field trip tomorrow on the Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak. I promised her that no matter what, we were going on the trip. So I'll be carrying her for a good part of the day, oh lucky me!:eek:

fireshoes

I don't know anything about menuscuses, but I hope she gets better soon. Don't tear your meniscus carrying her tomorrow! lol

Frank Z

She's a whopping 54 lbs so I should be okay.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Hopefully it's not a torn ACL...doesn't sound like it...my mom had a torn meniscus and it was not all that bad, easy surgery and quick recovery for her...at least compared to what my brother is going through with his ACL right now...

On a lighter note...the trip up to the top is fun...good thing is it's all in the railcar, with maybe only one stop at about 10,000 if they decide to do a bathroom stop. Then there's the shop and stuff at the top...and they usually let you hang out up there for half an hour or so...so it shouldn't be too painful of an experience for her...hopefully you'll all be able to breathe easily at 14,000

You live up there don't you...guess I'm telling you stuff you already know...

fireshoes

Originally posted by Frank Z
She's a whopping 54 lbs so I should be okay.

54 lbs at 9 years sound light to me bro. You better start feeding her more Cheetos or something!

Frank Z

Fireshoes,
She was a preemie and entered the world 2 months early at a whopping 3.5lbs. She's actually starting to put some weight on finally. Whenever she wears shorts I ask her if she's riding a chicken.:D

PM,
Been to the top, but drove up. The summit is 14,110' above sea level. If the weather is clear, and it's supposed to be, you can see all the way to Kansas. I'll post up some pic's.

The doc ruled out an ACL/MCL injury, but of course that could all change Friday when we see the other doctor. From what I've read a meniscus is more traumatic and the recovery is a bear. Farther down the road, arthritis is almost a given, hence my concern.

omahakirschbaum

I ruptured my Patella Tendon and the following website/forum proved to be quite helpful.


http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/

McLoki

Originally posted by Frank Z So anyone ever had this same or similiar problem? Deb and I are kinda freaked out by the whole thing.

I am sure you have already been to This page but it has a pretty good explanation of what may be going on.

I tore all 4 ligaments in my left knee. (ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL) (the MCL and LCL grew back on their own. (knee in a brace at the time (months), I had the PCL replaced and am still missing the ACL.

I have had issues like your daughters, but not many. If my knee flexes beyond what is comfortable (slip on ice or something) it hurts like hell. At her age I am sure things will heal fairly quickly. Surgury was not overly painful and recovery was not bad (but was long).

If she is having issues due to an injury I am sure she will be fine. It does seem odd that she would have this at her age without a catastophic event. (mine was a 400' horizontal flight off a motorcycle)

Either way, I am sure it will get sorted out. Take some advil (keeps swelling down) and DO NOT remove the brace when she is vertical until the doctor says it is ok. (take baths for awhile, but do NOT get up without the brace on. Every time her knee gives out it could be doing more damage.) Keep that brace on until you get to a doctor and know what is going on.

Good luck,

Michael

aaharvel

i tore cartilage in my left knee - once when i was in highschool playing in a small tennis tournament and aggravated it again about four years ago doing squats.

you never fully get over it.

Frank Z

This is one of those rare moments when being a parent really bites. I hate having to wait, but it's worse on Rebecca. She's been in the brace since we left the doctors office and she despises it already. She's really gonna be pissed when she has to wear it to bed too. We've already established the "No Shower" rule and will enforce it like a couple of **** heathens!! Needless to say we are not the most popular adults in the house at this time.

I can't imagine anything worse than not being able to help your child when they're in pain, it just rips me apart and I feel pretty damn useless.

msjohns

I hope everything tuns out fine for your daughter. Its tough on a parent to see a child hurt or suffer in any way. I bet this train ride will be one that is remembered and talked about for years to come. Best wishes.
Mike

RuSsMaN

No, but I've ordered parts from them before.

http://www.meniscusaudio.com/

Hope everything turns out ok for the yungun' Frank. One good thing, kids are resiliant - she'll make it through.

Cheers,
Russ

McLoki

Originally posted by Frank Z
She's really gonna be pissed when she has to wear it to bed too.

I got to sleep in mine for a few months. (had to keep it on 24hours / day - sponge bath around it) That may have been one of the worst parts.

She will hate it, but keep after her and it will turn out ok.

Michael

shack

Yep. Unfortunately I have. About a year and a half ago I took a bad step off a ladder, lost my balance and landed on my leg with it bent under me (all 260 lbs of me) I thought for sure it was a torn ACL/MCL. Hurt like hell. The knee even collapsed once (the swelling expanded the joint and allowed it to pop out of socket). I learned at the Ortho Doc that it was a torn "outer" meniscus...which given the alternative, was a good thing. It seems that the outer meniscus has a good deal of blood flow and will heal itself with proper therapy. After a couple of months of therapy and lots of excercise I have no problems whatsoever with a full range of motion and no pain.

The "inner" meniscus does not have that same blood flow and usually requires surgery to repair. My wife has some inner meniscus damage from years of playing tennis and was able to avoid surgery by keeping the various muscles (quads,ect) stong by exercise. The tear hasn't been repaired but she has been able to control the pain and discomfort and has pretty good range of function of the knee. There is cerainly worse damage that can happen to the knee than the meniscus. Hopefully therapy will do the trick. Good luck to your daughter.

Airplay355

She will be fine, don't worry. Did they MRI it yet? They usually get an MRI when it involves soft tissue as its much more detailed then an x-ray. The brace is just to keep her knee from bending.

If it is completely torn, then they probably have to do a very minor and highly uninvassive surgery. Usually it's two small incisions on the knee, probably about the width of a penny. For a 9 yr old it will still be very traumatic but don't be worried as a parent. I think the best way to make yourself feel better is to learn as much as you can about the knee and common knee injuries. And her injury is common, i don't know about in 9 yr olds, but it is a common sports injury, especially in football. next time you watch a football game look at the offensive linemans knees. Most have 2 braces, 1 on each knee that prevent tearing of the ligaments. Some wear them even tho they have never had any prior knee trauma.


DO NOT GIVE HER TYLENOL. IT IS ONLY A PAIN KILLER AND NOT AN ANTIINFLAMMATORY.

Ibuprofen based medicines is what you want, things like advil, motrin and the generic ibuprofen obviously.

Frank Z

Thanks for all the bloody images you B*st*rds!!;)

Seriously, thanks for the kind words, get well wishes and info about your own experiences. Deb's had her knees scoped before and a screw in one of them as well so she's probably handling all this crap better than I am.


And now a message from Rebecca, her words to me....

Dad, please make sure you tell all those people THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

So here ya go...THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

audiobliss

Hate to hear that, Frank Z; y'all will be in my prayers. Sounds like it's not too bad, so hopefully whatever actions the doctor deems necessary and the ensuing recovery will be smooth enough.

McLoki - @_@ Some motorcycle ride!!

A friend of mine that I play badminton with plays very competitively, and she recently (last year some time) tore her ACL in a tournament. She hasn't played any badminton since then and has had to wear a brace for most of the time, but she's getting better and has started doing normal activities without the brace. In a month or so she should be ok to start badminton again.

F1nut

I ripped up the inner meniscus in my right knee a few years back. You know it when it goes, makes a loud POP. Anyway, I never had the problem that Rebecca has with the knee just giving out. That might have something to with her being a child and not having the developed muscles of a adult, but I'm not sure. If it is a torn meniscus, the operation is rather minor and with a lot of PT she'll be fine. I haven't had any adverse affects at all.

dorokusai

I think almost everything ligament related has been stressed and rocked at some point due to the military, it sucks. I never had hard failure like your daughter, but have seen MANY more as bad, and much worse.

I personally healed, while braced and called "broke dick", popping 800mg Motrin like M&M's(The US Army's Fix-It-All) but still ache and pop my caps when I drop low too fast.

Do what was suggested, which I'm sure you will, and they will find out what's happening. It might be odd, but I doubt it's uncommon, as an injury probably occurred without her realizing it. The Ortho crews deal with this all the time from my experience and I would hope that the "real world" doctors are even better.

McLoki

Originally posted by audiobliss
McLoki - @_@ Some motorcycle ride!!

Dislocated left knee (tearing all 4 ligaments), broken right wrist, dislocated right shoulder, bruised right lung, bruised aorta - other than that, not a scratch...

Frank - I know you are in a state right now (I know I would be), but don't worry. In the grand scheme of things, this is fairly routine. Follow the docs orders (and her physical therapists) and she wont have any problems. Don't expect to get better overnight. Healing from these things takes time but it will happen.

Your family is in my prayers.

Michael

cfrizz

Frank, sorry for your daughters injury. As all have suggested, follow dr's orders to the letter, and things will turn out ok.

However, be advised if you give her ibuprofen, or aleve, make sure you give it to her WITH meals. You don't need to risk tearing up her stomach on top of everything else.

If you think she is unhappy now, just wait until she starts PT. It might be a good idea to borrow some of the other guys on here who are in the military flak jackets! She is going to be one sore & miserable camper!

Frank Z

Thanks again to one and all! We're pretty uptight when it comes to following doctors orders and giving medication. If you're gonna do it, do it right I suppose.

Gonna hit the road shortly for our field trip, actually looking forward to it. If it takes her mind off the knee for a few hours, well she's worth the effort.

Looks like a good day to be on top of the peak at least...
http://www.pikespeakcam.com/livecam.htm

unc2701

I've had two friends do that- both horseback riders. One was in 7th grade, the other was about 24. They're both fine now- it'll take awhile and involve more icepacks than you've probably come across in your entire life, but she'll be fine. Best of luck and keep us updated.

dorokusai

I've been in PT for a couple weeks due to a recent back injury. Endless stretching, and "strength" exercises, plus a massage from more than one pretty girl...to bad the massage feels like she's trying to kill me.

PT sucks.

BlueMDPicker

Best wishes to your daughter, Frank. She has the advantage of youth. I tore the inner left meniscus just walking down the sidewalk near my office in DC a few years back. As F1 stated, it sounds like you blew a tire at high speed. Did the brace for several months and finally had the surgery. In my case, the "back to normal in a couple of weeks" turned into nearly a year of pain and regular drainings of the knee. It's okay now -- unless I'm down on the knee too long (a real pain in the butt when you're a car rebuilding nut), then it's back for the big needle and a drain.

Enjoy your field trip and tell her patience, combined with the doc's recommendations, will have her feeling great in no time.

BTW Mark - sorry to hear about the back injury. Hope you're feeling better very soon as well.

Mike

cfrizz

Poor baby! Takes all the fun out of it doesn't it Mark?:D Maybe she will let you give her a hug when it's all over when you realize you feel as good as new.

Until then I do sympathize for you.

Originally posted by dorokusai
I've been in PT for a couple weeks due to a recent back injury. Endless stretching, and "strength" exercises, plus a massage from more than one pretty girl...to bad the massage feels like she's trying to kill me.

PT sucks.

steveinaz

I bruised my pancreas once.

Tour2ma

Frank,
Sorry to reads of the injury, but reading the medical links it appears that full recovery without surgery is a good possibility.

I'll say one for that outcome...

Frank Z

Great trip up the mountain! She was so happy to see her friends again and really had a blast. You can see the straps for her brace in the pic.

Frank Z

one more

McLoki

Just happed to think of it - If she has on a range of motion brace and is wearing it full time, the pads wear out pretty quickly. I have an extra set (if I can find them) that I would be glad to give to you. I purchased them and then never unpackaged them as I moved to a different brace.

If you need or want them, let me know

Michael