Hey all! Yep. I've had a torn meniscus for years and it really affects how much excercise I can do.I LOVE my stationary bike-but can't do it long without major suffering and swelling afterwards! This past week I was doing 30 minutes a day (with a good brace on) but that proved too much. I really WANT to do my bike, but it looks like I have to find an alternate type of cardio that's not weight-bearing.. do have hand weights, and I could just work my upper body. I know just how important exercise is after the band. Any suggestions?

You should look into having it repaired. I had surgery a year ago to repair my torn meniscus and I am so glad I did...that, combined with weight loss, has made all the difference.

I have severe arthritis in one knee and cant do much walking at all. All physical therapists always recommend swimming if you have knee problems.

I actually have a spinal cord injury and it's hard for me to workout but I find the wii let's me get cardio even with my injury.... I'm like you trying to get everything in place before my band.......best of luck

I have 2 artificial knees, torn shoulder (ROTATOR CUFF), Hernia repair,Osteoarthritis, and the band placed in. You talk about limitations ! Whew.

I walk, thats nothing major, but it still is exercise.

I have found out that you can go to a Physical Rehab., and RENT their Gym out, you don't even have to be a patient where I'm going for this Winter.

It's cheaper then a GYM.

Call around, and inquire about it..

If you do have to go to rehab for the knee, then sign up once you have been a patient

I have a torn meniscus, severly sprained quad and arthritis. I tore my meniscus by walking downhill for exercise and thankfully I work for an awesome ortho company and named dropped to get an appointment with the top sports med doc in our area who prescribed physical therapy for the quad to help ease the pain but referred me for WLS because it would be poinless to repair my meniscus at my current weight. That said, you need to get in and see a doctor. There are several non-surgical things that can help, such as an ACP treatment where they take your blood and spin it to separate the red blood cells from the healing plasma. I've had it done for tennis elbow and it works. It's more expensive than cortizone shots but cortizone starts to calcify your bones and makes things worse. There are several laproscopic options that involve repairing it with anchors and sutures as well but depending on the severity of the tear, you could be looking at needing donor tissue which is costly and painful and a longer recovery. I suggest you see a doc sooner than later so that he can determine the severity and if it's best to drop more weight before any sort of treat or if you can wait for surgery or if you need surgery already. Go to www.orthoillustrated.com. Yes it's ran by my company but it's not our website per se and it doesn't even make mention of the company that I work for. It's an informational site geared towards patients, not a "let me sell you something site" because that site has tightly controlled acess. The site I referred you to can help you understand your injury and help you find some of the best surgeons in your area. Again, I am not advertising anything or trying to sell you anything, just offering up some advice and insight from a fellow patient.