Question

Do I need surgery for a miniscus tear?

An Unresolved Meniscus Tear

Recently I was diagnosed with a complex tear of the medial meniscus (right knee), as well as degenerative signs of my left meniscus. I am 47 years old, 6’, 235 pounds, and have been running consistently for the last 16 years, averaging 20 to 25 miles a week. I’ve completed six marathons.

This injury seems to have occurred when I rolled over my knee from a squatting position while fixing my house last fall. The pain affected the way I ran thereafter, and I heard a clicking noise each time I went up the stairs. After a month of NordicTrack and mini-trampoline I started back running slowly, careful not to make any sudden cutting motions. I no longer have the clicking sound, and am able to run 2 to 5 miles a few times a week—I ice the knees and take a day off in between runs. Is surgery necessary to repair this condition? Should I stop running altogether? What weight training might help?

William Spinelli
Cornwall, NY