I was practicing TaeKwonDo a few days ago and heard and felt a pop in my knee -- which was soon followed a stream of profanity that would have made a pirate blush.

I can walk, but the knee doesn't move freely and it hurts a bit.

An MRI of my knee indicates a torn meniscus and internal swelling.  My regular doctor has referred me to a surgeon and I am meeting with them on Tuesday.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Did you have to have surgery?

How long did it take to recover?

I am in the same boat as you.  My orthopedic doctor believes that I have a tear in my meniscus.  I had my MRI done this past Friday but I won't have my follow up appointment until this Tuesday.  He will decide on a course of treatment then.  I hope it will be rehab and not surgery for me.  Good luck!  

The GF tore her miniscus, and has had two surgeries to repair it. It seems to be ok a year after the second surgery, but the doc told her not to go crazy on it if she did not like to pay him a visit every so often.

Update - I saw the surgeon today and it looks like the tear is small and in a part of the meniscus that heals well.  He wants me to try 4 weeks of physical therapy and see if there is any improvement before operating on my knee.  

This is good news -- especially considering my last experience with physical therapy.  The therapist was HOT!  Unfortunately, the physical therapist that I am supposed to see now is a guy named "Mic".  

I hope the physical therapy works out for you.  It would be great if you didn't need surgery.  Good Luck!


I saw my specialist today.  I will be having a surgical procedure done later this month.  He is going to drill two small holes in my knee.  One hole for the fiber optic camera, the other for the tool that will smooth down the piece of meniscus that is hurting me.  Local anesthesia will be used and I will be awake for it.  He said that I will spend about forty minutes in the surgical room for pre-op set up, the procedure itself, and post-op.  Becasue of the physical nature of my job, I will need a recovery period of two weeks.  During that time, I will be doing my own physical therapy at home (doing prescribed exercises).  Until then, I can return to work.  People who work desk jobs need just four days to recover.  I hope everything works out for me.