Riding with Meniscus Tear Or Sprain or Arthritis?

[timacn]

Back in late June somebody ran into me on a bike path. I came off the bike on the left hand side; I didn't hit the ground, but I twisted my leg quite a bit trying to avoid that. Not hurt badly, left knee a little sore, the bike disk was damaged, but I thought everything was OK. In subsequent weeks and months, my knee has become progressively more sore and a little swollen. X-rays last week revealed no arthritis, some fluid was drained and it looked OK, a shot of cortisone was given, and I was rescheduled for an appointment with a doctor in December with an MRI. The nurse specialist who examined me said he thought the meniscus might be torn or there might be calcium crystals in the knee causing problems. I am almost 71 and I enjoy biking a great deal. Can you bike with a torn meniscus? The "bicycling motion" seems OK, but the "side to side" movement of the knee hurts, if I am describing it properly. I figured that surely somebody here has goine through somehting like this and I would appreciate any insights you could give to me. Thanks.

 

[Snoop]

Back in late June somebody ran into me on a bike path. I came off the bike on the left hand side; I didn't hit the ground, but I twisted my leg quite a bit trying to avoid that. Not hurt badly, left knee a little sore, the bike disk was damaged, but I thought everything was OK. In subsequent weeks and months, my knee has become progressively more sore and a little swollen. X-rays last week revealed no arthritis, some fluid was drained and it looked OK, a shot of cortisone was given, and I was rescheduled for an appointment with a doctor in December with an MRI. The nurse specialist who examined me said he thought the meniscus might be torn or there might be calcium crystals in the knee causing problems. I am almost 71 and I enjoy biking a great deal. Can you bike with a torn meniscus? The "bicycling motion" seems OK, but the "side to side" movement of the knee hurts, if I am describing it properly. I figured that surely somebody here has goine through somehting like this and I would appreciate any insights you could give to me. Thanks.

That‘s a bummer, ticacn! I hope your knee starts to get better soon.

If you had twisted your knee in a torque like fashion, there is a likelihood you may have torn a meniscus. You may have something else entirely going on as well (ligament sprain, etc). If there has been progressive worsening and swelling over the months, that can be a little ominous.

Biking can actually be good therapy for some injuries, but in your case it might be good to actually identify the cause of your pain first. Once your orthopedist sees you in December and figures it out, you’ll probably be linked with a physical therapist and they’ll determine when/if you can resume biking. Probably best to rest it until then.

 

[ronniebellie]

So sorry to hear about your leg timacn. I agree with Snoop that it's probably best to rest it until it's clear what's going on. It might be a torn meniscus, or it might be something else.

 

[Tappandan1944]

That‘s a bummer, ticacn! I hope your knee starts to get better soon.

If you had twisted your knee in a torque like fashion, there is a likelihood you may have torn a meniscus. You may have something else entirely going on as well (ligament sprain, etc). If there has been progressive worsening and swelling over the months, that can be a little ominous.

Biking can actually be good therapy for some injuries, but in your case it might be good to actually identify the cause of your pain first. Once your orthopedist sees you in December and figures it out, you’ll probably be linked with a physical therapist and they’ll determine when/if you can resume biking. Probably best to rest it until then.

Welcome to the senior society ! Biking was one of my passions I was jogging one. Day when I was57 , on an adrenaline high I tried to hit my butt with my heel as I ran ( I know just plain stupld,,) I felt a SMALL pop..next morning swelling and pain. Torn meniscus. Long story short . Had cortazone shots,than meniscus operation still hurt. Won't heal on its own .couple years later knee replacement surgery. Am 77 now and other knee unusable and waiting for replacement surgery on other knee it.Arthritis.wish I had it done years ago.. hope meniscus operation works for you ,it might.getting old and rippe sucks. Hope after other knee replacement I can ride my recumbent again

 

[JerryB]

For what it's worth.....I have a new right knee and a new right hip.....I will be 70 in a few months.....I ride almost daily if it's not raining.....4.5 to 7.5 miles each ride......great exercise for the joints.....I ride in PA 1 most of the time......I like to pedal. Good advice above.....see what the doctor says......hopefully you'll be riding soon.

 

[snipechief]

1982 I was run over and in intensive care for 70 days in Panama. Fractured left pelvic, paralyzed right lung diaphragm.
And a bruise from the top of my head all the way down my right side (impact area).
2010 total left knee after 4 surgeries. 2013 fused left ankle(no weight bearing 9 months)
2016 total right knee replacement.
2021 fractured L1 & L2, and 2 broken ribs.
2022 Oct bought an ebike, and I ride like there's no tomorrow.
If it wasn't for bicycle rehab I probably wouldn't be doing so good at 65 year's old. I still ride and look forward to it. I know for a fact bicycling kept me from going insane even when I couldn't ride. I would read about it, and counted the days until I could ride again. Doctors said I wouldn't be able to walk by the time I was 40. Proved them wrong. ;-)>

 

[ronniebellie]

1982 I was run over and in intensive care for 70 days in Panama. Fractured left pelvic, paralyzed right lung diaphragm.
And a bruise from the top of my head all the way down my right side (impact area).
2010 total left knee after 4 surgeries. 2013 fused left ankle(no weight bearing 9 months)
2016 total right knee replacement.
2021 fractured L1 & L2, and 2 broken ribs.
2022 Oct bought an ebike, and I ride like there's no tomorrow.
If it wasn't for bicycle rehab I probably wouldn't be doing so good at 65 year's old. I still ride and look forward to it. I know for a fact bicycling kept me from going insane even when I couldn't ride. I would read about it, and counted the days until I could ride again. Doctors said I wouldn't be able to walk by the time I was 40. Proved them wrong. ;-)>

snipechief, I'm sorry to hear about your accident in Panama, but your story of recovery and how bicycle riding has provided positive rehab is encouraging. Thank you. I myself am 65 yrs old and have been experiencing for more than 5 years a strange condition with my feet that has baffled doctors. It prevents me from walking and jogging as exercise, something I have done a lot over the course of my life, but now can't. (I am able to walk around the house and in my work environment okay.) However, bike riding (and now ebike riding) has been a good kind of exercise (along with swimming) that I can still do well. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jbiker1]

Trying to get back to riding after a injury last yr.. Im 71, broke my fibula, 2 surgeries with added hardware,. It was very slow healing, I was laid up 8 plus months. Its been over a year, also had a death in the family.,lots going on. Trying to get back to riding. I have bought a couple of pair of light, high top hiking boots to protect my ankle to try riding in. Build up strength in bad leg especially. I had both hips replaced yrs ago , I had issues getting up from floor.,etc. After broken leg same problem. Bike helped tremendously before with this. I hope it will again. I also found riding to be good for depression.
Tha area I live in is dangerous riding with traffic, no bike lanes., no close bike paths.
I used to ride a motorcycle. I quit , getting older. I was worried about getting injured after 30 yrs. 3 months on a bike and broke my leg.
So my riding is on the street. I also have a ankle brace ,if needed. Any better suggestions for ankle protection,support while riding fat tire ebike on street.

 

[Greg47]

Had meniscus repair in both knees. One was a breeze, walked out after surgery and never even took an aspirin. Second one took a month to recover from. Had to sleep in recliner for 2 weeks. The tears looked identical.. but I was 15 years older. Now have arthritis in one, but just try to ignore it. A little heat helps. A sock full of rice heated in the microwave. I’m 75 now.
Hope your knee get better. Getting old is a pain.. but it has good points too.
Doesn’t cost as much to get a lifetime supply of anything

 

[snipechief]

Trying to get back to riding after a injury last yr.. Im 71, broke my fibula, 2 surgeries with added hardware,. It was very slow healing, I was laid up 8 plus months. Its been over a year, also had a death in the family.,lots going on. Trying to get back to riding. I have bought a couple of pair of light, high top hiking boots to protect my ankle to try riding in. Build up strength in bad leg especially. I had both hips replaced yrs ago , I had issues getting up from floor.,etc. After broken leg same problem. Bike helped tremendously before with this. I hope it will again. I also found riding to be good for depression.
Tha area I live in is dangerous riding with traffic, no bike lanes., no close bike paths.
I used to ride a motorcycle. I quit , getting older. I was worried about getting injured after 30 yrs. 3 months on a bike and broke my leg.
So my riding is on the street. I also have a ankle brace ,if needed. Any better suggestions for ankle protection,support while riding fat tire ebike on street.

Getting old ain't for sissies. I understand. Hang in there, and your right about the bicycle being therapy.

 

[FastEddieB]

A couple years ago at about 71 I had a meniscus tear in my left knee, described as a “parrot beak” tear*. It was incredibly painful and came on gradually, not from any injury or insult. Arthroscopic surgery was a miracle - I was immediately pain free and remain so to this day. No physical therapy was indicated and I was back on the bike within a week. The only weirdness was going down stairs - I was so accustomed to pain in the knee that lack of that pain made it feel like something was wrong and the knee might give out. Took maybe a week to get over that. Doctor said the MRI also showed arthritis in the joint, but “we kicked that can down the road”. So far so good, and good luck to you.


*About that “parrot beak tear”, my dad joke was and is: “I don’t see how a parrot could even get in there!”

 

[hsdrggr]

I’m 60, and ridden frequently since my teens. I’ve had 3 surgeries to remove torn/dead meniscus. 4th one needed again for my for right knee. I bike regularly. Riding with it torn creates a lot of inflammation. I Need to wear a compression knee sock, and ice afterwards. The compression works extremely well to keep fluid from building and making the joint tight. Also both my knees have arthritis. Along with my back, neck and hips. I’ve been ridden rough over the years . A lot of fractures from my crazy life. I had A-lift Lumbar fusion 2-years ago. Still have some lower back issues when trying to straighten after bending and carrying heavy stuff, but I can walk and feel my feet now. Flexing and stretching exercises help my back and SI Joint nerves a lot. But riding AFTER having meniscus pieces removed is like a normal knee when riding. Lateral movement is controlled by ligaments. I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older it’s easier to over stress the tendons and ligaments causing long term pain. Letting them heal for 4-6 weeks and then taking it easy while riding and working slowly up to speed seems to take care of that. Welcome to the golden years of cycling.