Should I get surgery?

[Bree]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

I know professional football players get injured like this all the time and they have surgery and go back to compete. Jerry Rice is one of them, but I've also heard that once you get cut open you're never the same and that scares me. I might never be the same but should I atleast try? It breaks my heart when I cant go out and do what I use to could do.

Jerry Rice did a creditable job on Dancing With The Stars. So... Git 'Er Done!

[Dave Starr]

Get it now, even if it means the end of football. The longer you wait, the bigger the chance they may not be able to fix everything. Plus, as you get older, the recovery time is a lot longer & tougher.

[prostate05]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

When you say fix the meniscus you mean just cleaning up the damaged meniscus right? As far as I know once that is gone its gone, no fixing it.

right, thats what I mean. Cleaning it up is what they will do, trim off the torn pieces.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by prostate05

right, thats what I mean. Cleaning it up is what they will do, trim off the torn pieces.

Yea thats what I thought.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Bree

Jerry Rice did a creditable job on Dancing With The Stars. So... Git 'Er Done!

3 months or less after he torn his ACL he was playing football again. He reinjured himself but I mean 3 months afterwards to even be playing is pretty good.

[Bree]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

3 months or less after he torn his ACL he was playing football again. He reinjured himself but I mean 3 months afterwards to even be playing is pretty good.

It won't heal itself. You have only one chance to get fully healthy again and that is surgery. There is risk but there is the possibility of reward too. You do what you have to do. So as I said, Git Er Done!

[bigun]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

Football has been my sport for a while now and some friends and I kinda put together a league and were playing every Saturday, flag. Well on September 29th 2007 I dislocated my patella playing. A visit to the Ortho and MRIs revealed a torn MCL, PCL and yes ACL, an unhappy triad they call it. Along with that I torn my lateral menicus (cartiledge), had a slight fracture of my femur and a Baker's cyst developed in behind my knee. I was told I'd need surgery by one doctor and another one said to go conservative with some PT first and see what happens. Well I did some PT and about 4-6 weeks afterwards I was back out on the field playing the line.

I havent been back to the doctor sense but I've playing football and basketball but not on the level of competition I'm used to. I also sometimes get pain on the left side of my knee but it might be due to the torn cartiledge. Now when I was laid up and on crutches I lost alot of muscle and developed a limp which I got rid of for the most part but I cant run full speed. I dont know if its because I'm afraid to or because of the pain. Pain I can take but I'm afraid I might reinjure myself.

Now heres the thing, I have insurance, good insurance, so I can get the surgery and the associated PT but I'm concerned that even after surgery will I be any better. I know professional football players get injured like this all the time and they have surgery and go back to compete. Jerry Rice is one of them, but I've also heard that once you get cut open you're never the same and that scares me. I might never be the same but should I atleast try? It breaks my heart when I cant go out and do what I use to could do.

Btw, I had an appointment with the Ortho last week but I was feeling good and cancelled it but I'm going to reschedule.

I dislocated my knee in 1988 same kind of damage without the break. I'm suprised that you have any stability in your knee at all. They just did orthoscopic surgery on mine, just to clean up the tears.I have dislocated it twice since and just reinjured it a month ago. Basicly I'm due for a total rebuild. If you can put off the surgery untill a later date you will be better off in the long run most of the time once the surgery is done the scar tissue will cause problems. Also know that even though you arent limping you will subconsiously favor the injured knee which will lead to problems down the road with the other knee.

[prostate05]

Originally Posted by bigun

I dislocated my knee in 1988 same kind of damage without the break. I'm suprised that you have any stability in your knee at all. They just did orthoscopic surgery on mine, just to clean up the tears.I have dislocated it twice since and just reinjured it a month ago. Basicly I'm due for a total rebuild. If you can put off the surgery untill a later date you will be better off in the long run most of the time once the surgery is done the scar tissue will cause problems. Also know that even though you arent limping you will subconsiously favor the injured knee which will lead to problems down the road with the other knee.

Not trying to discredit you, but that is not necessarily true. I don't limp at all and I had knee surgery. The way the medical field deals with surgeries now is a little different than it was in 88. Also, if you were having problems dislocating it after the surgery something still must have been wrong. Holding off on a total knee replacement would be a good idea for as long as possible. But a total knee replacement is very different that what he is looking at.

[Lazarus]

Originally Posted by Bree

It won't heal itself.

I know due to the little to no blood supply it recieves.

[bigun]

Originally Posted by prostate05

Not trying to discredit you, but that is not necessarily true. I don't limp at all and I had knee surgery. The way the medical field deals with surgeries now is a little different than it was in 88. Also, if you were having problems dislocating it after the surgery something still must have been wrong. Holding off on a total knee replacement would be a good idea for as long as possible. But a total knee replacement is very different that what he is looking at.

Ah but did you have the extensive damage that Laz has, also how long ago did you have the surgery, Arthritis has a way of creeping into injured joints and it just seems that after surgery it shows up sooner than later. My problem was that I grew too fast and it left my joints vulnerable to injury, I've dislocated my right shoulder, fingers and my right knee, ok the right knee had a lot of help after being kicked but the shoulder was not operated on and it feels 100% better with no traces of arthritis. I realise that the shoulder doesnt support weight like the knee but it really is a night and day differance. I also realise that orthopedic surgery has come a long way since the 80's so it all comes down to personal choice. The fact that he isnt feeling alot of instability in the joint probably means that the damage to the ligaments wasnt as severe as mine was or he has better muscle tone around the knee than I did which will help compensate for the damage.