Richard Haynes PTA/CPT - 8/11/2009

Question
Hi, I am 19 years old and I have had 2 partial meniscectomies on my right lateral meniscus, one at age 15 and one at age 18.  I am very athletic, and I play collegiate volleyball.  After my last surgery, I have 10% of my meniscus left, and of that percentage, 2% of it is functioning.  After rehabilitation, I had virtually no pain until I began practicing volleyball every day.  I also has early signs of osterarthritis.  I wear a varus unloader knee brace, but it doesn't help much.  I seem to have pain during daily activities more often.  The fall season is coming up and I am beginning to think that I should not play.  I know you cannot give a definite answer, but I have chronic swelling, and ice does not help.  I get shooting pains throughout my leg when landing from a jump, and sometimes my knee cracks painfull in the back.  What are the consequences should I continue to play competitive collegiate athletics that involve rigorous practices involving bending at the knees and jumping? Thank you so much.

Answer
Hi Taylor,

Well as you know you have a situation that will not get any better the meniscus will not regenerate on its own. To answer your question it will all depend whether you can play through the pain after each practice session or game and, can you still be effective and play at the level you desire?
Can you still be competitive enough to play? I would suspect wherever you play they must have a sportsmedicine clinic and/or trainers that can keep you going during the season and may have seen you in action and can give you some insight as well.

If you are having in fact the problems that you describe I do not know how you make it through a season.

I think only you have the answer. if you can still play and be an asset then I would play. if you find you are hobbling around  the court and not the same player then I would shut it down.

Any which way you go you sound like you will be a prime candiate for further knee surgery down the road that will be a bit more invasive then what you have had, like a partial knee replacement for instance. That is a call however between you and the orthopedic surgeon down the road. There may be other alternatives out there by then as well.

By playing and being active the only thing you will do is speed up the decision down the road as what to do next in regards to repairing the knee. By not playing you buy yourself some more time.

Your only 19 once and your sporting days in school will not last forever if you can play then play.

Good Luck
Richard Haynes PTA/CPT
Punta Gorda, Florida.
http://www.richardhaynes.com
http://www.rhaynes.blogspot.com