So, I’ve broken my femur and had it reset with pins. Then a year later had the pins removed. Those were surgeries one and two. If you haven’t yet and you’re interested, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 first. I’m not completely certain when I tore my lateral meniscus the first time, but I believe it fell sometime after I had my second operation to have the pins removed. The meniscus tear was surgery #3.
My family lives in Indiana (Bloomington/Evansville area). My dad, sister, and I went to visit them. While we were there we decided to go to McCormick’s Creek State Park. We went there every time we visited, in fact.
As the name implies, there is a creek that runs through the park. That summer we decided to walk in the creek for what seemed like miles. Of course, creek beds are not flat; there are stones, rocks, fallen tree branches, small water falls, big water falls, etc. With the uneven ground and constant pivoting of my feet on the assorted rocks, it caused a lateral meniscus tear on my right knee.
My knee didn’t feel right after that and I knew something wasn’t right. It hurt when I walked and there was some swelling.
When we got home to Florida my dad took me in to my orthopedic surgeon. I think I saw this doctor more than I did my family practice doctor by this point. He confirmed it was a lateral meniscus tear and would require arthroscopic surgery. Oh, joy.
Fortunately, I was young enough and the tear was in the “right place” for him to be able to repair it rather than have to remove it.
Three operations down. Little did I know that three more awaited me – two to come in the very near future.
Have any of you tore a meniscus before? Were they able to repair it or did it have to be removed?
Tags: knee operation, Knee surgery, torn meniscus
