After years of knee (right) problems the 1st of this year I woke up swelled and barely able to put weight on it. After 2 days my wife made me go the the ER. 5 doctor visits and 1 MRI later resulted in severe arthritis, torn something with a M and cysts behind the knee. Next step altrasound to figure if the cysts are something bad. If not surgery for the tear. Anyone else deal with this? Limp walking right now.

Torn meniscus? Ouch!!! Is it a full or partial tear?

Acute

I got my MRI results today. Partially torn ACL, left knee. this time. Had my right ACL reconstructed in 2020, full tear in that one.

Makes my result look minor.

Knee surgeries are bad ones. The rehab is always worse than say a hip. Good luck to you fellas.

Total right knee replacement 3 years ago after 3 meniscus surgeries. After 2 meniscus surgeries on the left knee I will be having the left knee replaced. I've been dealing with knee pain for 19 years. The right knee is pain free. Hopefully the left knee replacement works as good as the 1st.

I am lucky ( ??????? ) that I inherited some genes from my Mom's side.... including bad knees and a bad back.... and plenty of arthritis. I had lots of problems with my left knee over the years, just lived with it.. But after 10 or 15 years the swelling and fluid and pain and locked up posture kinda was getting to me......Got a new knee and barring some "Clicks" most of the time.... no..... practically all the time... it turned out to be a good deal. Let the doc's fix you up. It will only get worse as you get older. Surgery only hurts for awhile. I know..... 1 new knee with the other knee shot ! 1 New hip... other one shot too... Both shoulders patched and stiched up with mesh and screws.... lucked out and got heart stents only, no by pass...and am currently just a few days past my 2 back surgery. Rods , cages... screws forever part of me.

I think any procedure on the knee makes for a long, slow, and painful healing process. Fingers crossed they can treat it with PT, but ain’t going to bet on it.

I’ve had the swelling severe pain ended up being gout, I’ve also had the cysts mine were baker cyst and not serious the weirdest part is when they break there’s no pain but it feels like warm water running down your leg, the good part is the lack of lymph nodes in that part of the body so the risk of cancer is low, use ice as much as you can stand to help with the swelling.

I had an MRI on my right knee which showed I have a torn meniscus and arthritis in the joint. I've had several cortisone shots which help with the pain for a couple months. Then the pain comes back. I finally went to the VA, as every trip to the orthopedic place was costing me $40 each time. The VA doctor told me that cortisone shots will eat away at the cartilage in the knee. They instead gave me a different shot that is supposed to be more of a lubricant. I got one shot a week for 3 weeks. That was 4 months ago. It was like a miracle for the pain. I don't remember what the shot was called. They said if it worked, I could come back in 6 months from the time I got the first shot and get another series.

I asked the orthopedic place if they could fix the meniscus tear and was told with the arthritis I have in the joint fixing the tear would cause the arthritis to flare up and spread. So, I might just as well have the knee replacement. I've heard horror stories about recovery time for some with a total knee replacement.

I have no cartlidge left in my left knee.
Everyone saying cortizone will eat the cartlidge is correct.
I have had 2 Durolane shots - 6 months apart - its a lubricate. VA orthopedic did the shots. Can have 1 every 6 months. Pretty sure that is what Trapper7 had also.
Really helped me.
I also use this compression brace quite a bit - its lightweight, not cluncky and really helps also.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PDX2SVM?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Try doing squats - no weight - 5-10 at a time. no more than 5 sets in a day starting out. Helps build strength.
Also, stationary bike 15-20 minutes a day at low resistance.
Good luck.
PM me if you want some dietary tips to help with the inflammation.

Cortizone shot?

Don't worry about recovery time with a knee replacement, it'll be faster than extensive surgery for ligament tears.

If going for a replacement, find the best surgeon that's down a LOT!, do the pre-op exercises a LOT....follow the surgeons orders and after do the PT, as much as you can without hurting yourself....you should be back to whatever work you do in 6-8 weeks..... I had both mine down at the same time, bone on bone with extensive arthritis,,,,back to work in 7 weeks.
Yes, it can go wrong, like any surgery, that's why you get the best Dr. you can find.Not going to lie, the first 10 days is rough, but it gets better fast...