Just learned that I have a torn meniscus - now what?

[eckilson]

I have had a sore knee since December that has made it impossible to kneel in my canoes. Doctors initially told me it was arthritis and recommended physical therapy and NSAIDS. Physical therapy has gotten me to the point that I no longer take the NSAIDS and has pretty much eliminated the pain for anything other than kneeling in the canoe. I just had a MRI, and it turns out that I have a torn meniscus in addition to arthritis. Not necessarily looking for medical advice, just wondering if anyone else here has had torn meniscus and how it effected their paddling.

I missed this year's entire whitewater season - I haven't been in my WW solo boats with pedestals since November. I can kneel for short periods, but I pretty quickly need to sit again, or at least extend my sore knee. If I can't knee again it won't be the end of the world. There are plenty of trips that I can do while sitting (including my sea kayak), but I really would like to get back into my whitewater boats.

Anyone else dealing with this issue?

 

[M Clemens]

I had a torn meniscus a few years ago that was 'trimmed off' and prevented conventional kneeling. A friend of Dave Yost who had been in a bad wreck shared a technique for kneeling that involves crossing one's ankles, which places the pressure on a different place on the knee. It felt awkward at first, but I can now stay in the kneeling position for nearly an hour before switching to a seated position.

 

[eckilson]

Thanks - I'll give that a try.

 

[bartcanoed]

Everybody is different, but I tore my meniscus (football) way back in the 80's. After partial removal, I returned to normal activities including kneeling in a canoe. It did contribute to osteoarthritis, but what ended my kneeling was a torn ACL and reconstruction in the 90's. Not only because of the discomfort of pressure on the knee, but a loss of some of my range of motion prevented comfortable kneeling. To continue to enjoy whitewater I started paddling a kayak. Never really enjoyed it like the canoe primarily because it was limited to day paddling and was often on crowded rivers taking away much of what I enjoy about paddling. Almost two years ago, I had a total knee replacement, alas despite it being a great decision for hiking, biking and other activities I still can't kneel comfortably for any length of time. I guess I need a raft.

Sorry, that probably wasn't the most encouraging just sharing my experience.

 

[snapper]

Had my first knee reconstruction at 16, way back in 1969. I had meniscus damage and a torn ACL, PCL and MCL; lots of damage. After that surgery I could only kneel on one knee. As time, and other surgeries caught up with me, I couldn't kneel at all. For many years now I've been a "sitter" and not a kneeler.
Hopefully your situation will turn out better than mine.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[ABT]

I had a torn meniscus repaired about 2.5-3 years ago. Kneeling is still uncomfortable with that knee but I am able to do it for 30 minutes or so, sometimes up to an hour. In whitewater I just have to take breaks in eddies and loosen my thigh straps and stretch it out or take the pressure off of it. I installed a traditional seat in my Caption (set up solo) with thigh straps and knee pads with the thought I could switch to sitting in an eddy for a couple of minutes if needed, and still be strapped in kneeling for the rapids like I see the Canadian or UK trad boaters doing (like Evan Levebre or Ken Hughes on YouTube in a Prospecteur Sport, etc). Haven’t had a chance to really try it out yet as I’ve been pretty good with scooting up onto the high part of the back of the pedestal in my Outrage. While I can’t put my leg out in front of me, it still takes enough pressure off of that knee that I’m able to recover in just few minutes and keep going. Usually don’t even slow the group down, I just peel out last if I need the extra time.