PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection?

I am currently doing PT for a torn meniscus. Have made progress but it's not linear and have had some setbacks. May i ask how long did you did PT to make a full recovery?

I believe it was about 6 weeks. I think gaining strength in my body helps keep the knee issue controlled. And, learning what aggravates it. Certain things aggravate it and I just don’t do them….like riding stationary bike. Tried it multiple times and it’s a problem. No more. And, walking too much on an outdoor track in a certain direction used to aggravate it, but that’s improved. I can do more of that now. Lastly, I haven’t been able to run, even on the treadmill. When I try, it acts up. I may give it another shot soon just to see. I love running. Sigh. But, I’m grateful I can do daily workouts most days pain free. I was told surgery would not guarantee me that. In fact, my brother who is 11 years younger than me had meniscus surgery and has more pain flares than I do. His surgery was last year.

This sounds consistent with my experience. I am hoping to run pain free at
some point but maybe that's something that is no longer possible.

I hope you do too! I found doing 30 pounds on the seated knee extension weight equipment helps a great deal. If I miss doing it, my knee flares. Will start squats soon.

When I say flares, I mean mild, intermittent discomfort. Nothing severe and nothing disabling.

I do squats and seated knee extensions and leg press which are generally pain free. I also do side and front step ups. I may have overextended myself and had a setback. I have had around 3 setbacks in 2 months of doing rehab during which the therapist has progressively adjusted the exercise program. Sometimes this happens when I stand up too quickly from a low bench at the gym. I recover with rest and sometimes some ibuprofen or Celebrex, especially if there is swelling.

A few people have reported using a leg extension machine. The machine isolates and works the quad muscles.

I suggest doing some research on using this machine. I believe there is a problem with the tracking of the patella-femoral joint.

Here is one article. There are many. FWIW I've had both knees replaced, I'm 70 years/o and in the gym every day. I don't use the leg extension machine any more on the advice of my surgeon. Again, here's an article. All I'm suggesting is that people look into it and make their own decisions.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/541597-are-leg-extensions-bad-for-the-knees/
Hope you are all well!

Joe

I was going to have PRP for 2 compete tendon tears in my proximal hamstring tendon but the more I read it appears that the older you are the quality of your own PRP diminishes- I'm 68 y/o.

That’s a good article. I avoided the machine for months, as the gym staff trainer had told me to. But, after a knee flare, my PC, who is very sharp on body training, suggested it. He said keep the weight low, which I have. I started at 20, which is super low. It helped pretty quickly and I consider it the most important part of my workout. I recently had a family situation that kept me from the gym for about a week and i could feel it in my knee. As soon as I resumed, it calmed down. So…….for me, it’s worth the risk. I’ll keep the weight low, though.

Oh! Another thing that helped my knee. I lost almost 100 pounds with diet and exercise since the injury. So, there’s less stress on it.

I am 74 years age ,active, no surgeries.
I have a slight tear in my meniscus knee and had both PRP and Hyaluronic Acid injections at the same time.
I wish I had started with just the HA injection so I could how much it could help before injecting the PRP. My knee has been pain free .
Some aches after running or too many squats but goes away by next morning.
I can’t use an electric shaking machine due to my pacemaker.

Congrats on losing 100 lbs. That is VERY hard to do, so I applaud you for your devotion to helping your body, your joints, your heart and yourself.

Using the leg machine at 20 lbs is wise, keep the weight low. I'm glad it works for you.

Great job!

Joe