Anyone had knee scope surgery??

[Jerry Olexa]

You guys know about my nagging knee condition which is hanging around and seems to be getting worse. Saw the Ortho Surgeon this Am, took XRays and we are considering arthoscopic knee surgery. He requested a more detailed MRI tommorrow AM. He indicates if tears, the surgery will be beneficial. If Cartiledge, then not so helpful. My condition is chrondomalacia with a few tears. We'll see. Any of you had you knee scoped and what were the results. Thanks guys, gimpy

[Dick Heifner]

Hi Jerry
I had my knee scoped a year and half ago, all it did was to clean up what was left of the Cartiledge. The surgery wasn't to bad, I was laid up for about a week.I was bone on bone so I bit the bullet and had my knee replaced last Feb 1. I just finished the therapy 2 weeks ago, It's good
now no more pain. I can still do most of the things want except kneeling on that knee.
Well good luck.
Dick

[Tyler Howell]

Been there done that.
Quick recovery
Still a little pain when the weather changes.
Haven't tested it on skis yet hopefully this winter.

[Mark Pruitt]

Jerry, did you discuss knee replacement? Heck, I'm sure you did if you talked to an ortho surgeon. I'm just wondering if that might be more effective. Total Knee Replacements are a routine surgery with very few complications. Just a thought.

Whatever you do, best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Greg Tatum]

Hi Jerry...I had it done about 7yrs ago for a meniscus tear....3 small incisions in the knee...1 for a camera, 1 for the surgical tool and 1 used to fill the area with saline solution....I did the surgery with a spinal block instead of general anethsesia because I wanted to watch and had a unexspected benefit...I was without my usual nagging back pain for almost a yr after the surgery....maybe due to a complete relaxation the muscles....anyhow, I recieved a local anesthetic, marcaine I think, that lasted at least 2 days after the surgery that really facillited pain management....with liberal use of ice and anti-inflamatory meds I was on my feet in days....much of the stiffness was due to the swelling from the procedure as well as some residual fluid used during the procedure but it didn't hurt....the surgery was fine but loosing half my meniscus has caused some bone on bone issues now....a bit of arthiritis I guess.

Good luck to ya

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Given the choice (and a good surgeon) I'd go with the scope every time.

[Stan Mijal]

You guys know about my nagging knee condition which is hanging around and seems to be getting worse. Saw the Ortho Surgeon this Am, took XRays and we are considering arthoscopic knee surgery. He requested a more detailed MRI tommorrow AM. He indicates if tears, the surgery will be beneficial. If Cartiledge, then not so helpful. My condition is chrondomalacia with a few tears. We'll see. Any of you had you knee scoped and what were the results. Thanks guys, gimpy

Jerry,

Just had srthroscopic surgery yesterday. Knee had been acting up for about 4 years, latley had become swollen with too frequent regularity. (Putting in 1500sq ft of hardwood flooring didnt help it much in the last year either!) Did not have an MRI since the orthopedic surgeon felt they really weren't that usefull at catching many soft tissue problems of the knee. Anyway, x rays showed much cartilage loss in both knees, so he assumed it was lack of cartilage/arthritis casuing the flare ups resulting in cortisone injections and fluid draining.
I finally insisted on having the proceedure done, so that we could eliminate any other factors as the cause of the present symptomology. After the surgery he (surgeon) was suprised that the miniscus was torn ("shredded" was the term used to tell my wife) and the surface of the bone in the joint was rough and needed smoothing. As a result,I should be OK for a few more years when the loss of cartilage takes its turn and finally leads to joint replacement.

MY personal recommendation---get it done, just to rule out minor things that can be corrected amd give you better quality of life with the knee.

I walked out of the hospital yesterday and the knee has less pain in it after surgery than I had before. I expect this to be an improvement--time will tell.

Stan

[Jim Dunn]

Jerry I waited all summer 2 years ago to have mine scoped. Big mistake, as the neurosurgeon that operated on my back said the knee bothering me probably caused my back to go out. Git-er-done!

[Jerry Olexa]

Tommorrow 955AM is my MRI. Thanks guys. Good info already. Most of you are in favor of scoping the knee:confused: :)
I'll let u know ...

[Jim Hinze]

Tommorrow 955AM is my MRI. Thanks guys. Good info already. Most of you are in favor of scoping the knee:confused: :)
I'll let u know ...


Jerry,

I've had my knee scoped 3 times and opened up and rebuilt once... due to college football.

Recovery time on a scoped knee is very short these days and it's amazing what they can repair through those little holes. In most cases, it is VERY benefitial to those with nagging problems... I would not hesitate to have it done again.

[Jerry Olexa]

Took MRI's this AM for 55 minutes and my knee doesn't feel any better! :D :) Am I missing something?

[Lopaka Garcia]

I had my knee scoped about 6 months ago and it helped a lot. The doc said right off the bat not to expect 100% recovery because that rarely happens. I had an excellant surgeon. My knee still gets tight and isn't as strong as it used to be but it doesn't lock on me anymore either. The surgery wasn't really an option in my case. As soon as he saw the MRI, he had the nurse set up the surgery. I think you'll be glad you got it scoped. Minimally invasive surgery compared to the old days. You'll be in and out of the hospital outpatient care in a few hours and back at home. Good luck

[Gary Herrmann]

Similar story to Jim's. I've had my right scoped twice. My left once. Mine were because of basketball (I guess it caught up to me after college). I stopped playing last year because the doc said I'd need a total if he saw me again.

When I was in my late 20s, I was playing full court within 4 weeks. Last one was when I was 35 or so. Rehab took a little longer. That was when the doc told me I had the knees of a 75 year old. Hardly any cartiledge left at all.

My advice to you is to do the rehab. Do all the stretching. Do all the weight bearing exercise you can without causing yourself a bunch of pain. You'll be amazed at how fast you can come back.

[Tom Sherman]

Jerry I am currently in a similar boat as you. Had an MRI done last week and it hurt like heck, went to my doc on Wednsday expecting to hear him say let's scope it. Did not happen that way turns out I have what they call bone edema (Swollen bone). This took me for quite a start I wasn't aware a bone could swell, anyway he prescribed for me to stay off my feet as much as humanly possible for the next six weeks and take two differently meds to ease the swelling (hopefully). If things don't improve by then he is planning to do a bone biopsy and refer me to cancer specialists not because he suspects cancer but because those guys see all sorts of bone maladies. So we wait and see what happens.:(

[Dave Richards]

Jerry, you're kidding about the MRI not making your knee feel better, right? You do know MRIs are diagnostic and not therapeutic?

If you don't mind the knocking, it's usually a good time to take a nap. Hopefully your ortho person will get you set up after they get to read the MRIs. If not, come on up this way. If our ortho docs can't get you straightened out, nobody can. ;)

[Jerry Olexa]

Jerry I am currently in a similar boat as you. Had an MRI done last week and it hurt like heck, went to my doc on Wednsday expecting to hear him say let's scope it. Did not happen that way turns out I have what they call bone edema (Swollen bone). This took me for quite a start I wasn't aware a bone could swell, anyway he prescribed for me to stay off my feet as much as humanly possible for the next six weeks and take two differently meds to ease the swelling (hopefully). If things don't improve by then he is planning to do a bone biopsy and refer me to cancer specialists not because he suspects cancer but because those guys see all sorts of bone maladies. So we wait and see what happens.:(

Tom I had similar results this week. My Dr said MRI shows no tears (surprised me) but a fair amount of arthritis so he suggested no scope surgery. Physical Theraphy for a month w a F/Up visit. Possible shot then. In my case, have a sciatic nerve issue that could be compounding the knee condition. Basically good news. 2 hours in the WW shop today. LMK how you're doing. Thanks, Tom.

[Jerry Olexa]

Jerry, you're kidding about the MRI not making your knee feel better, right? You do know MRIs are diagnostic and not therapeutic?

If you don't mind the knocking, it's usually a good time to take a nap. Hopefully your ortho person will get you set up after they get to read the MRIs. If not, come on up this way. If our ortho docs can't get you straightened out, nobody can. ;)

Yes, Dave I was joking. See the smilies. This is my 4th set of MRI's. First time I had them in Ohio, they used to puy you in the tube before the now "open" MRI's. If it gets worse I might come your way. I Feel optimistic with latest prognosis. Thanks Dave..

[Fred Dorn]

I just had my left knee scoped for the second time on the 23rd. I had a torn meniscus and they removed some arthritis. I'm glad I had it done. It hurts less now, one week after surgery, then it did before surgery.

[Ed Frie]

Jerry, I have never had a knee scope, but I have done the anesthesia for hundreds of them. Greg talked about a spinal for the procedure instead of a general anesthetic. If your anesthesia team thinks it is an option, please consider it. You avoid any use of a breathing tube (intubation) and ventilator, much less chance of nausea, etc. The spinal is not uncomfortable while they put it in. The needle is thin enough that you can tie a knot in it. A little sedation and you are good to go.
You can bet when ever an anesthesiologist has a knee scope it is under spinal not general. Again, you and your anesthesia team have to decide if it is an option, given your health status, and other considerations.;)

[Jerry Olexa]

[quote=Ed Frie]Jerry, I have never had a knee scope, but I have done the anesthesia for hundreds of them. Greg talked about a spinal for the procedure instead of a general anesthetic. If your anesthesia team thinks it is an option, please consider it. You avoid any use of a breathing tube (intubation) and ventilator, much less chance of nausea, etc. The spinal is not uncomfortable while they put it in. The needle is thin enough that you can tie a knot in it. A little sedation and you are good to go.
You can bet when ever an anesthesiologist has a knee scope it is under spinal not general. Again, you and your anesthesia team have to decide if it is an option, given your health status, and other considerations.;)[/quo

Looks like surgery won't be done now but I will ask for spinal when and if .. Thanks Ed:)