Knee Injuries - PTs, DRs and prior experience pls

[TheReverend]

Okay, so a really good friend of mine got the MRI results on her knees. There werent any ligaments tears and her miniscus appears to be fine too, but the doctor told her it's "shredded" (whatever that means?) and recommended getting it scoped. The alternative was physical therapy with an emphasis on ultrasound and e-stim.

The issue is, she's a small business owner and would have pay heavily out of pocket for either option.

Anyone have prior experience, more specific information or alternative physical therapy options she could do at home?

[bowtown]

[obligatory unhelpful Tussin image]

[vancejohnson82]

thats a strange diagnosis...."shredded?"

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by vancejohnson82

thats a strange diagnosis...."shredded?"

I felt the same. I assume he's talking about the cartilage...?

[DomCasual]

I don't understand what could be "shredded," if she doesn't have a torn meniscus or torn ligaments. Maybe a tendon?

I've torn my meniscus once, and my ACL twice. On all three occasions, I can't imagine living long-term without surgery. Specifically with my ACL injuries, they just wouldn't get better - one of them, I put off for a couple years, and played softball during that time. It wasn't excruciating at all - but it was unpleasant.

[DomCasual]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I felt the same. I assume he's talking about the cartilage...?

Technically, I'm pretty sure the meniscus is cartilage. If I am not mistaken, when someone says they've "torn cartilage in their knee," they're usually talking about the meniscus.

[driver]

Pretty non-specific I'd try to pin him down and find out, getting some answers shouldn't be too pricey. Get a second opinion from a sports medicine specialist.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

I'd get a second opinion.

[ghwk]

Second opinion. I had my knee scoped 2 years ago and the guy never once talked about alternate therapies. Surgeons just love to cut.

[Vegas_Bronco]

Get copies of the mri images...women have really diverse knee problems from loose miniscus to platellar ruptures..they are built differently from men. If she works out a lot then she would notice the pain im sure. She can rehab on her own also by doing stim, stretching, and strength routines. If pain persists after taking care to exercise it, I would get it scoped. I've had 2 scopes in one knee and they were fairly inexpensive and do not require heavy cutting....usually done arthroscopically and while your watching.

If she's a friend and you want it to be more...workout with her and get some hot towels before you work out and place them on her knee (loosens it up) and then in the end wrap that thing in ice. Move the platellar tendon up and down to loosen the knee up...feels great too. Doing this kind of stuff for her will earn you some major ninja pimp bandit points.

[UberBroncoMan]

My brain mixed the PT and DR to form DT for Demaryius Thomas.

[cmhargrove]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Okay, so a really good friend of mine got the MRI results on her knees. There werent any ligaments tears and her miniscus appears to be fine too, but the doctor told her it's "shredded" (whatever that means?) and recommended getting it scoped. The alternative was physical therapy with an emphasis on ultrasound and e-stim.

The issue is, she's a small business owner and would have pay heavily out of pocket for either option.

Anyone have prior experience, more specific information or alternative physical therapy options she could do at home?

I agree on the second opinion. Was her appointment with her general practitioner, or and Orthopedic doc?

[kappys]

If the MRI really found normal meniscus and ligaments definetely a second opinion

[Beantown Bronco]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Anyone have prior experience, more specific information or alternative physical therapy options she could do at home?

I can think of several ways she can work out the knees at home, but she'd have to be more than just a friend.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Okay, so a really good friend of mine got the MRI results on her knees. There werent any ligaments tears and her miniscus appears to be fine too, but the doctor told her it's "shredded" (whatever that means?) and recommended getting it scoped. The alternative was physical therapy with an emphasis on ultrasound and e-stim.

The issue is, she's a small business owner and would have pay heavily out of pocket for either option.

Anyone have prior experience, more specific information or alternative physical therapy options she could do at home?

Definitely get a second opinion. I have also had both knees done and had a small meniscus tear. This sounds like a surgeon fishing for a surgery to me. There is a point when they say they can only be sure once they are in the knee with the scope, but it looks really dicey to me as a "diagnosis".

[Kaylore]

I was listening to the radio and they're doing one of those free medical trials in Colorado looking for people with knee and cartilage damage.

[Mediator12]

Hey Rev, just bring her up to Indy this weekend, every quack team Doc is here to do medicals at Methodist and we could see just how awfully diverse their "opinions' Are! Plus, I could show you around the future 2012 Superbowl site for the shortened season!

[TheReverend]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm pressing for some more details. I mean... he had to give a specific diagnosis and not JUST "shredded", right? The doctor that reviewed her MRIs is a sports medicine orthopedist. He's out of office till Friday, so I'll bump this thread when I have more information to share.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by Mediator12

Hey Rev, just bring her up to Indy this weekend, every quack team Doc is here to do medicals at Methodist and we could see just how awfully diverse their "opinions' Are! Plus, I could show you around the future 2012 Superbowl site for the shortened season!

I'm actually very tempted to. Naturally if I came we'd be wearing opposing colors I'll probably just watch it here with my daughter Taylor so she can't be obnoxious to anyone in person.

[bendog]

Listen to Dr. Bronconstein. Also, even if she has to wait, find out what orthopods treat the top tier guys in your area. My wife and daughter have had knee and ankle treatments at the orthopedic group that takes care of ole miss and miss. st. That group also treats HS kids from the top state programs. Forget the money. She doesn't want some hack screwing with her knee.

http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/p...a/findadoc.htm

[jebures]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

Okay, so a really good friend of mine got the MRI results on her knees. There werent any ligaments tears and her miniscus appears to be fine too, but the doctor told her it's "shredded" (whatever that means?) and recommended getting it scoped. The alternative was physical therapy with an emphasis on ultrasound and e-stim.

The issue is, she's a small business owner and would have pay heavily out of pocket for either option.

Anyone have prior experience, more specific information or alternative physical therapy options she could do at home?

I am just finishing up my doctorate for PT and this diagnosis is confusing to me. If ligaments are intact and meniscus is ok, I do not know what would be shredded. How old is the patient? Some possible osteoarthrtis in it is all I can think of. Ultrasound and E-stim is not a cure all, we basically just use them as a temporary pain reliever. E-stim can be used as a pain reliever or in some cases it can be used for acute swelling, otherwise it does nothing. We basically just US as an opening modality during treatment to either warm up the tissue we are working on and then proceed to stretching and strengthening. I would say if she goes to therapy she would get some of those two modalities but emphasis would be on strengthening the muscles around the knee and assessing her gait and pelvic alignment. You would be amazed how having your pelvis be just a little off can cause problems all the way down the chain.

I would not just go to PT for US and E-Stim, if they are doing that you are wasting your money.

[BroncoBrett]

Get the actual mri report. That will tell you exactly what they found. Any ortho dr that says your knee is just shredded is not who u want doing the surgery. Sounds like he is a professional snowboarder. If its a mmt you'll have no choice but to have it repaired. Pt won't do anything. Shredded is hopefully not the words he used that is terrible bedside!

Brett
OPA

[footstepsfrom#27]

Originally Posted by ghwk

Second opinion. I had my knee scoped 2 years ago and the guy never once talked about alternate therapies. Surgeons just love to cut.

I've had a half dozen or so of these things and on one of them I went to see the Broncos team Doc at the time...this was back in about '76...I went to him and he wanted to cut on it immediately plus he was very rough with the knee. I went to get a 2nd opinion from another doc and he put me on a strict regimen of home-based physical therapy, stuff that took months to do but it worked and I didn't have to do the surgery. I think if you can find a way to avoid cutting it's usually wise to do so.

[strafen]

Paddier knee pads is what I'd recommend

[orinjkrush]

when i hear stuff like this i think maybe some docs aren't a whole lot more evolved than barbers and alchemists.