Originally Posted by
Restoked
I had one done in December 2008 because I'm young, very active, and had 70% or more of my meniscus removed from 3 prior tears. I was symptomatic daily, and had trouble simply walking a golf course. I had the surgery done in December and rode a metric century on my road bike 6 months later. At 9 months I started playing cutting sports (basketball, etc. wearing a functional brace), and at 1 year I snowboarded. At two years I started skiing again, and I'm just about to order my season pass for next year. I'm not pain free, and I have occasional issues, but nothing like I had before. However, I'm a former professional athlete, in pretty good shape (rode over 5,000 miles on my road bike the past two years), and I was prepared physically and mentally for a very tough rehab. So for me, yes, it was great. Will I avoid a knee replacement? I have no idea, but I've already had two awesome years of sports I would not have had but for my surgery. If you have it done by the wrong surgeon, or aren't ready and able to go through a brutal first 4 months of rehab (pretty much like an ACL rehab but with NWB and the associated complications), then I can't imagine you'll be satisfied. Be careful, it's no new knee, and you better find the best guy or gal you can to do it. I've heard of some poor results out there to go along with my outstanding result (so far...knock on wood). Good luck.