Knee surgery in 2nd trimester?

[Anonymous]

I've had a torn meniscus but it's hard to give advice without knowing the extent of your tear. I would most certainly seek a second opinion. I'm active and my meniscus was treated non-surgically. It doesn't completely repair but I found that my lifestyle has not been really that disrupted. I don't run anymore, but I do swim, play golf, etc. I generally wear a brace when I get pain flares.

I certainly would NOT opt for surgery as a first course of action while pregnant. My torn meniscus was very painful at first and then with some physical therapy and temporary bracing I had major improvement. I'd certainly want to give it time - pregnant or not - before doing any surgery.

Frankly, I'm risk averse and wouldn't consider surgery during pregnancy unless it was really, really necessary. Being on crutches the entire pregnancy might be one thing - but just not being able to do yoga / bike / etc and have to limit but not eliminate some physical activity would not be sufficient reason for me to risk the surgery.

No judgment though - only you can balance your own risks.

[Anonymous]

I would trust my providers and do the surgery in the 2nd trimester. I would not want to be walking with clutches while pregnant and with a newborn.

[Anonymous]

Can't you just do physical therapy. I thought that was first line treatment for these things.

[Anonymous]

Does having surgery now (that is sooner and before walking around on the bum knee with a third trimester belly in tow) make a difference to your long term prospects for your knee?

[Anonymous]

If this is seriously affecting your mobility, I actually would not consider it elective. You need to be in good shape to deliver and care for your infant. Do your research and get a bunch of second opinions as to the safety of the meds, and do it as long as you feel comfortable. Maybe you can power through it with local only and then Tylenol.

[Anonymous]

10 weeks pregnant ..getting knee arthoscopy tomorrow but getting and epidural to undergo procedure.

[Anonymous]

For those suggesting cortisone, it is worthless for a torn meniscus. Absolutely not indicated. Physical therapy is also generally out for this sort of injury. It's a tear to the cartilage, which very rarely heals. It doesn't get better with rest, ice, and advil. OP now has a torn piece of cartilage; every time she bends her knee, it's rolling around, impinging the joint, potentially locking up (and probably making all sort of lovely popping and snapping sounds).

OP, if I were in your shoes, assuming this is a shave-down and they're not stitching it together (that recovery is a fate worse than hell), I'd go for it as soon as possible. It's a very easy recovery, back on your feet in a day or two, but I'd still want it out of the way before the baby is born.

[Anonymous]

My sister had to have surgery while pregnant. She did it in her 2nd trimester too. It was necessary. Baby was 100% FINE.

[Anonymous]

This thread may be an old one, but I was in the same situation! Tore both meniscus and partial ACL playing soccer in May, found out I was pregnant in June. Docs postponed surgery until 2nd trimester (August) and both OB and Ortho cleared me for surgery. I just finished the knee arthroscopy 2 days ago and am doing great! I got spinal anesthesia (awake during surgery), heard the baby's steong heartbeat before and after surgery, and all is okay. I haven't been in pain, just took acetaminophen when knee was pretty sore. I'm almost walking now, and I can say doing the surgery now vs 7 mo from now after baby is born was the best decisionI couldn't walk for much longer with the damage I had--surgery was necessary, but not emergent.

[Anonymous]

Good for you, PP, but did you revive an old thread just to tell your story? You know it doesn't help the OP now, a year later, right?

[Anonymous]

Some of us are stumbling across this with the same question, so the newer comments help us too. I'm 15 weeks pregnant with radial tears to both the lateral and medial meniscus. Both are radial tears and the lateral tear extends all the way through the full thickness from the front of the knee to the back. Injury happened in the first trimester but they would not do an MRI until the second trimester, so we just found out exactly what's wrong. I've been in PT for 2 months with little to no improvement - it'll be better and then worse and so forth because I keep getting bigger and my hormones are crazy. My mobility is terrible and I'm in a lot of pain. I am not allowed to take ibuprofen due to the pregnancy. I found this thread when searching out the safety of the surgery while pregnant, since I know they want to stitch it back together. It may not help the OP anymore, but it certainly is helpful to people like me!

[Anonymous]

For those trying to make it through pregnancy without surgery, try acupuncture for pain relief.