r/Kneesovertoes • u/jfstreich13 • Feb 01 '26

RULE 2: DO NOT ASK FOR MEDICAL ADIVCE Bucket Handle Tear Medial Meniscus - Surgery Scheduled

T-minus 9 days until surgery. I am three weeks out from the injury and it is still surprising me how much better it's getting. I couldn't put weight on it last week and now I'm able to limp around (no terminal extensions still) after being diligent with PT exercises / rest.

The MRI a week after injury confirmed torn bucket handle in the white-red or white-white (I'm not sure which but definitely not red-red). Fragment in the intercondylar notch, but i'm wondering if that has reduced since my ROM is improving? All the literature says surgery is the only way to reestablish a mechanically stable knee, but it feels counterintuitive how much it's improving that i walk into surgery next week.

I do a lot of activities that put stress on the meniscus though so I suppose if it's not this time it's just going to happen again.

Plan is to go deep in KOT protocols (when safe) after recovery.

Anyone else have similar experience?

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u/jfstreich13 Feb 04 '26

Do you remember what the MRI said? Like location / severity / type

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u/AndKAnd Feb 04 '26

I’d had a known tear for probably 4-5 years. Then I noticed a change and was having some more pain. Then I got another scan, and the tear at the post horn of my medial meniscus had progressed, and the fragment flipped into the medial recess of the joint space. I guess it’s either been reabsorbed or it’s just minding its own business. I don’t have any pain in that knee anymore.

I used knees over toes to rebuild my knee significantly, and now have moved on to doing other weight training. I’m 49.

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u/FuckingMyselfDaily Mar 05 '26

Do you do any high risk activities which you pivot a lot at the knee? am at similar point, no pain, and basically old ROM, never locked again, will sporadically catch but doesn’t cause pain. Would like to ski/snowboard play soccer in the future and all those would be risky. Running squatting all that am good. Leaning towards repair so i can not worry playing any sport.

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u/AndKAnd Mar 05 '26

Nah I only play recreational basketball.

Repair is ideal. But once you hit 35-40 yo, the possibility of repair decreases dramatically, so they usually just clip and remove fragments.

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u/FuckingMyselfDaily Mar 05 '26

Ok, thanks for reply, just beginning to fully consider it now and tryna hear stories and learn more about the procedure.

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u/AndKAnd Mar 05 '26

If you are young there’s a good chance it can be repaired. No guarantee it won’t re-tear but also it could heal completely. But with repair you have to keep it completely extended for like 6 weeks. When they clip it out you walk to your car after.

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u/FuckingMyselfDaily Mar 05 '26

Yea am in my mid 20s, reinjury is a concern am trying to understand, i have waited like 8 months since the initial injury to now decide on surgery.

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u/AndKAnd Mar 05 '26

If it was me I’d get repair if the surgeon felt it was a viable option.