Down by two, 8 seconds left.
You’re double-teamed.
Two teammates are wide open on the opposite wing.
You don’t care. You feel it.
They could be Lebron James AND Kevin Durant both wide-open on the left wing.
And you’d still keep the ball.
Others may call you a ball hog, but tonight, you’re Steph Curry.
(How about that Gold Medal finish btw?)
You cross right, (2…) fake left (1…), before dropping the largest step-back move of your life.
Then *Pop*.
That’s…not what you were hoping for.
A couple of hours in the ER, a few scans and pain pills later, and you’ve gotta let your team know, you have a meniscus tear and will be sitting out for the rest of the St. Pete Summer Basketball League.
Bummer.
The worst part, is you now have to let your boss know you might miss a bit of work.
You’d never know about this little c-shaped structure in your knee joint called the meniscus until it gets injured.
What is a Meniscus Tear?
Meniscal tear is the rupturing of both or one of the two menisci (singular meniscus) in the knee. A meniscus is a c-shaped piece of fibrocartilage between our femur (the thigh bone) and tibia (the shin bone). The menisci aid in shock absorption, and cushioning, and help stabilize the knee joint.
The injury is quite common and can occur because of aggressive rotation or twisting of the knee. It can result from both contact and non-contact sports.
Meniscus injury is the second most common injury among knee injuries affecting 12-14% of people in the USA. Once you hit your meniscus, you might feel a popping sensation, swelling, stiffness, pain, or difficulty in straightening your knee. Though the injury can affect anyone irrespective of age group or level of activity, athletes are at greater risk.
Recovery After Meniscus Tear
Your first question may be, “How long will it take to return to normal?”
However, the recovery period after a meniscal tear or injury depends upon various factors, such as the severity of the tear, the individual’s overall well-being, age, method of treatment, and other factors.
For minor tear injuries, doctors and physicians usually recommend conservative treatment (painkillers and icing) before recommending surgery and the healing time may be less.
In case of a severe tear or rupture, surgery is a requirement. However, don't worry, with proper treatment, many individuals return to their pre-injury quality of life.
How Long Does It Take Before You Can Get Back To Work?
Again, it depends on your injury severity.
For the most part, you should be able to return to work relatively soon as long as your job does not require manual labor or using your legs.
If your job does depend on using your legs, then for minor injuries, it takes 4 to 12 weeks to return to normal.
For Meniscus repair surgery, the post-rehab period will take a little more time, anywhere from 6 weeks to approximately 3 to 6 months. The worst-case scenario is that sometimes it takes longer than 6 months to get back to 100%.
Most people can bear some weight and walk with support or crutches following the surgery and during the recovery process.
Trying to rush your recovery may leave your healing incomplete which can be a potential risk of more injuries. Therefore, it’s best to give it proper time and rehab to get healed fully.
How Long Does It Take to Return to Sports
I get it. Ball is life.
But every meniscus injury or tear is different and has a different protocol of treatment and recovery.
Most of the athletes can get back to their sport in approximately 6 to 8 months following the surgical procedure.
However, the healing period is different for every individual and can vary depending on the patient's biology as well as the sport in question.
Patients may be able to return to less aggressive and low-impact sports like cycling at approximately 6 months.
More joint-loaded sports like basketball and volleyball may require a longer strengthening period to avoid repeat injury.
It is not recommended to get back to strenuous contact sports like football or rugby for at least one year.
What to Expect during the Recovery Period
When you start your recovery period, there are a few things you can expect:
Walking may become difficult and painful during the initial injury phase. You may need crutches or other assisted mobility devices to help you move without pain.
Don’t underestimate your outlook on the situation. It may sound cliche, but your willpower, enthusiasm, and positivity will help you pass through this tough time with less pain and stress.
We’ll go into a few more details and what to expect during your rehab phase.
What Symptoms are Normal in the Recovery Period
Pain and swelling are normal in the recovery period. The pain can be managed by pain reliever medicines. However, the use of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen and naproxen should be avoided if possible as they delay the healing process.
The immediate swelling and fluid retention can subside within two weeks while overall swelling can take 3 to 6 months to go away.
Moreover, the feeling of stiffness and clicking is considered completely normal in the recovery phase. You may also feel difficulty in bending or flexing your knee.
What Symptoms Should I be Worried about
It's crucial to monitor your post-operative recovery as certain symptoms can pinpoint potential complications.
If you experience excruciating pain, persistent swelling, constant numbness, or see fluid around the injury, then you should consult your doctor.
These things are manageable so don’t panic if you face such a situation.
During the recovery process, if you feel that your knee locking and excessive stiffness persists for more than 24 hours, then seek medical assistance as soon as possible.
How can Physical Therapy Help after Surgery
Physical therapy plays a key role in the recovery process. Whether you have a minor meniscal injury or major surgical repair, physical therapy assists in restoring your range of motion, reducing pain and stability, building strength, improving balance, and limiting stress.
Your physical therapist may suggest several exercises, including weight-bearing, range-of-motion, stretching, and strengthening exercises.
Your physical therapist will tailor your plan and guide you on how long and how frequently you must perform these exercises.
From our experience, Physical Therapy is the difference between getting back to 100% vs continuing to experience knee pain and issues in the long term.
Physical Therapy as Non-Surgical Treatment of Meniscus Tear
For minor tears, doctors may recommend physical therapy along with the RICE method for healing. It is a non-invasive way of enhancing your range of motion and improving strength and flexibility with no major side effects.
The target is to restore the original functionality and reduce pain and swelling of the joint.
Exercises like squats, straight leg raises, hamstring curls, heel slides, leg presses, and quadriceps strengthening assist in faster recovery.
The duration of therapy will depend upon the extent of the injury. Normally 4 to 8 weeks of therapy is advised. In case of complex surgery, the therapy may last for 10 weeks or longer.
Conclusion
So now you know. You’re not Steph Curry, and you shouldn’t be a ball hog.
In all seriousness, if you get a meniscal injury, now you know what to expect and how much time it will take to go back to work.
Whether the treatment protocol is surgical or non-surgical, physical therapy is key for having a successful recovery. Having the right team of physical therapists makes all the difference.
At Plyogenix, we specialize in helping athletes recover from pain and get back to 100% in their sport. If you have a meniscus injury or any pain for that matter, feel free to give us a call where you’ll speak to a Doctor of Physical Therapy, on the first call and for every session onwards.
We don’t have assistants in any crucial treatment processes, and the diagnosis counts as one of them. If you ever need any assistance with other injuries, feel free to reach out to us on our website.
References:
Adams, B. G. (2021, SEPTEMBER). The Epidemiology of Meniscus Injury. Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy Review, 29, E-24,E-33. 10.1097/JSA.0000000000000329
Lee, P. (2019, June 19). Recovery after meniscus repair: what to expect. Top Doctors. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-articles/recovery-after-meniscus-repair-what-to-expect
Meniscal Repair. (n.d.). Physiopedia. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://www.physio-pedia.com/Meniscal_Repair
Meniscus Surgery: Meniscus Repair & Meniscectomy. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21508-meniscus-surgery
Worth, T. (2024, July 14). Surgery for Meniscus Tear: What to expect & Recovery time. WebMD. Retrieved August 14, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/knee-pain/meniscus-tear-surgery
