That sounds like one fast-tracked rehab.

First questions that come to mind are:
Did your surgeon or PT approve of this?
When did you resume running (or did you get home from hospital via a tempo run)?

You continued to run for miles despite the knee killing you!

You need to get this checked out with your surgeon or a PT/sports physician.
I?m no Dr but at best you?ve aggravated and inflamed tissues that are still healing. See if it settles down with Rest, Ice Compression, Elevation and anti-inflammatories.

There would have to be a possibility that you?ve torn more meniscus, damaged the articular surface or torn or damaged other connective tissue.

By was of comparison I had a chunk of medial meniscus removed 12 weeks ago. I?ve been happy with the way it feels post-op but only started very light running 4 weeks ago and I?ve just done my longest post-op run of 4 miles yesterday. Everything has been on soft surface.

Take care! And good luck.

Good Lord!

Usually normal recovery for a Meniscus surgery is 8 weeks. if you were still having any kind of swelling ? you should not have even attempted to do much Running let alone a 1/2 Marathon!
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I would have questioned the Surgeon on that quote: " My surgeon never recommended PT. He said I could do it myself. He said wait two weeks to run and if it starts to hurt back up a little" unquote.
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And you were very nieve in going ahead and running that soon! Even if it was just a small tear? He shouldn't have let you return to running. My suggestions is to get back in to that Doctor and tell him what happened!

Sorry to be so harsh, But I just had Meniscus Surgery in/on December 6th. It was no picnic! I had alot of pain and swelling and was not alowed to try any kind of running at all! I was told to wait and see how things went on the healing process.

I was only cleared for walking and going to Physical Therapy. starting 2 weeks after the surgery. Then On my 1 month Post Op visit last Tuesday, I still had swelling so the Sport's Orthopedic Surgeon who did my surgery, gave me a non steroid shot to reduce the swelling and and wanted to continue with PT to regain flexablity. Finally he also said I can start back into running slowy in 3 weeks only after he sees the knee to make sure the swelling as gone down?

Yes, even though the shot as reduced the pain and almost all the swellling and my Knee is feeling about 90% wonderfull, it doesn't mean that I can go out and start running tomorrow? I want to Run too. But I decided to take a more cautions approach. and slowly easy back with a easy Run/walk plan and then hopefully by mid March I will be able to do at least a 5k.

Forestina

http://This message has been edited by Forestina Gump (edited Jan-13-2007).

True, it may have been minor small tear, it was probably a bit agressive to start out too soon Running. I short two week program of walking and taking more walk breaks in your Running and during the 1/2 marathon would have helped? It's always best when coming back from a injury whether surgery minor or not, take it slow. Take walk breaks before you feel the need for them.

I would say that by just doing the Elliptical was not enough to strengthen the knee. Because it was only working the quads and Hamstrings. If you peddled both foward for 5 or 10 minutes and then reversed and did 5 or 10 minutes for a total of 30 minute work out.

You can also get those elastic bands and attach them to a heavy chair or place one end in a closed door and loop around your ankle to do side stretches. These will help strengthen the outer tendons and inner tendons on each side of the knee. Or lay on the floor with some ankle weights starting with 5 or 10lbs and do leg raises.

If needed you may want to see if your doctor can give you some suggestions on Knee exercies (they always have those sheets printed off for patients that don't go to PT but want to do it on their own?)

y meniscus tear was alittle more major than yours I two tears on both sides of the knee so its taking the normal 8 week recovery. I had alot of lingering Swelling so I had to have a shot in it. But so far so good it's been feeling Great! And should be able ease back with a Run/walk program starting Jan 31st.

Good luck to you, Be Careful and take Care.

Forestina