Last September I hurt my knee. Not unusual, I have bad knees. But this didn't go away like normal. And like a dummy, I continued to work(parks in Dakota County)which didn't help. I was a temp, so when my contract ended, I finally went to the doc. Turns out I tore my meniscus in two places. Got a cortisone shot, and a return visit in June. Now the question. Which ice packs will last for a five day trip. I have a feeling I will be needing a couple-2 half mile portages. Anybody have any good suggestions ? I put off surgery so I could go up this summer.

Would something like disposable ice paks work better than packing in reusable ice paks? I know Amazon sells 25 packs for $22. Possibly an obtion.

I'm gonna be a nag for a minute... Are you planning on getting your knee fixed eventually? Sooner rather than later? You're tough, no doubt. But you may do a whole lot more damage or find yourself in an emergency situation by embarking on a wilderness adventure with an already-busted-up knee.

Nearly identical situation for me back in 2009 or 2010. Injured my knee in May (trampoline injury). Initially, couldn't even walk on it. After a week or so - I was walking around ok'ish, another week or two and I was walking fine, resumed running and biking. Running and biking caused swelling. As a result of this, I went to the doctor - got the MRI - Meniscus Tear.

Interesting thing about Meniscus tears is they can heal themselves and more and more physicians are going that route as opposed to just going straight to surgery. Mine did not have a flap or anything that would catch and cause additional tearing, however was serious enough that the physician recommended surgery. I put it off until November, wanting to enjoy the summer. With my Doc's approval, got a cortisone shot and largely resumed normal activity - running, took a BW trip. I did not ice, just brought along enough ibuprofen and a healthy dose of whiskey. It hurt after portages and I had to kind of position my knee a little funny while in the canoe, but it was fine.

It all depends on the location and severity of your tear. Talk to your doc about the trip and see what he says.

I wonder if a stabilizing athletic type knee brace might help you. I’ve worn one on trips and it has helped prevent further injury and I think reduced pain somewhat. I’ve relied on ibuprofen for pain, and have never tried to ice on summer trips.

Speckled: "Nearly identical situation for me back in 2009 or 2010. Injured my knee in May (trampoline injury). Initially, couldn't even walk on it. After a week or so - I was walking around ok'ish, another week or two and I was walking fine, resumed running and biking. Running and biking caused swelling. As a result of this, I went to the doctor - got the MRI - Meniscus Tear.


Interesting thing about Meniscus tears is they can heal themselves and more and more physicians are going that route as opposed to just going straight to surgery. Mine did not have a flap or anything that would catch and cause additional tearing, however was serious enough that the physician recommended surgery. I put it off until November, wanting to enjoy the summer. With my Doc's approval, got a cortisone shot and largely resumed normal activity - running, took a BW trip. I did not ice, just brought along enough ibuprofen and a healthy dose of whiskey. It hurt after portages and I had to kind of position my knee a little funny while in the canoe, but it was fine.


It all depends on the location and severity of your tear. Talk to your doc about the trip and see what he says.


"

Definite +1, especially on the last two sentences. I made the severity of mine worse by going ahead with a BW trip.

I've had successful meniscus surgery on both knees. For the second one, the tear was diagnosed and I was resigned to needing surgery but was managing pain and inflammation pretty well. I went ahead with an 8-day trip fall BW trip. I figured the ski season was already toast but I could at least paddle. I wasn't as lucky as Speckled. I managed pain with ibuprofen (no ice) for the first days. It was fall and I used a wet bandana/evaporation and keeping the knee outside the sleeping bag in the cold night air for some relief.

Each day got worse and it turns out I tore it more on the trip. I extended the tear and chewed up the edges so the surgery required more trimming and tissue removal. Anything that is cut out and trimmed away is gone forever. Small tears can sometimes heal but meniscus tissue does not grow back. Post-surgery, the welcome pain relief comes at the cost of having less or no padding in the knee joint. Less meniscus padding means a faster slide to bone-on-bone and a knee replacement. I needed more tissue removed than if I had babied it, kept the inflammation down and done the surgery first instead of the trip.

Everyone is different as Speckled points out. Individual conditions and results vary, as they say. I'm just as good now (pain and mobility-wise) as I would have been having the surgery earlier, skipping the trip and not extending the tear. However, I almost certainly moved up the date of needing a new knee by making the tear worse.

Good luck to you as you work through this and all good wishes for quick and complete healing.

Outdoorsfan69: "Would something like disposable ice paks work better than packing in reusable ice paks? I know Amazon sells 25 packs for $22. Possibly an obtion.
"

Yeah that is what I am looking at. I found a couple of stores in my area that sell them, but thanks for the tip.

MidwestMan: "I'm gonna be a nag for a minute... Are you planning on getting your knee fixed eventually? Sooner rather than later? You're tough, no doubt. But you may do a whole lot more damage or find yourself in an emergency situation by embarking on a wilderness adventure with an already-busted-up knee."

Oh yeah, it's gonna have to done, more than likely this fall. My trip is in August, so after that if I get the o.k. from the doc to go. My next appointment is in June, so just a waiting game for now. As for tough, I don't know about that. Stupid(for not getting it checked right away)and stubborn may come closer. I do have a history of ignoring things like this and trying to power through it. And I really did like that job. For a guy like me who spent 33 years working indoors at the same job, and keeping the parks and trails clean and safe, well, it was a great. Called my boss, and told him what was up, and I asked if I had to retake the physical. He said yes it was county policy, and I probably wouldn't pass. Dang, I liked that job. Maybe next year before I go on SS(I'm 65 now) I will try it again.

Did I mention I really liked that job?

Speckled: "Nearly identical situation for me back in 2009 or 2010. Injured my knee in May (trampoline injury). Initially, couldn't even walk on it. After a week or so - I was walking around ok'ish, another week or two and I was walking fine, resumed running and biking. Running and biking caused swelling. As a result of this, I went to the doctor - got the MRI - Meniscus Tear.


Interesting thing about Meniscus tears is they can heal themselves and more and more physicians are going that route as opposed to just going straight to surgery. Mine did not have a flap or anything that would catch and cause additional tearing, however was serious enough that the physician recommended surgery. I put it off until November, wanting to enjoy the summer. With my Doc's approval, got a cortisone shot and largely resumed normal activity - running, took a BW trip. I did not ice, just brought along enough ibuprofen and a healthy dose of whiskey. It hurt after portages and I had to kind of position my knee a little funny while in the canoe, but it was fine.


It all depends on the location and severity of your tear. Talk to your doc about the trip and see what he says.

Yup, that is the plan, to try to get it to heal on its own. If it doesn't, well plan B is to ask if I will make it worse by going. I will get another cortisone shot, because I don't want to be laid up all summer. I only have two long portages-1/2 mile or so and two shorter ones so I should be okay. I want the ice packs for the swelling I know that I will get, and good dose of scotch whiskey will help with any pain.


"

EmmaMorgan: "I wonder if a stabilizing athletic type knee brace might help you. I’ve worn one on trips and it has helped prevent further injury and I think reduced pain somewhat. I’ve relied on ibuprofen for pain, and have never tried to ice on summer trips. "

Yup, I bought another last fall, since the one I had from my ballplaying days was old and not very good anymore. I will be wearing that for sure.

KawnipiKid: "

Speckled: "Nearly identical situation for me back in 2009 or 2010. Injured my knee in May (trampoline injury). Initially, couldn't even walk on it. After a week or so - I was walking around ok'ish, another week or two and I was walking fine, resumed running and biking. Running and biking caused swelling. As a result of this, I went to the doctor - got the MRI - Meniscus Tear.



Interesting thing about Meniscus tears is they can heal themselves and more and more physicians are going that route as opposed to just going straight to surgery. Mine did not have a flap or anything that would catch and cause additional tearing, however was serious enough that the physician recommended surgery. I put it off until November, wanting to enjoy the summer. With my Doc's approval, got a cortisone shot and largely resumed normal activity - running, took a BW trip. I did not ice, just brought along enough ibuprofen and a healthy dose of whiskey. It hurt after portages and I had to kind of position my knee a little funny while in the canoe, but it was fine.



It all depends on the location and severity of your tear. Talk to your doc about the trip and see what he says.



"

Definite +1, especially on the last two sentences. I made the severity of mine worse by going ahead with a BW trip.


I've had successful meniscus surgery on both knees. For the second one, the tear was diagnosed and I was resigned to needing surgery but was managing pain and inflammation pretty well. I went ahead with an 8-day trip fall BW trip. I figured the ski season was already toast but I could at least paddle. I wasn't as lucky as Speckled. I managed pain with ibuprofen (no ice) for the first days. It was fall and I used a wet bandana/evaporation and keeping the knee outside the sleeping bag in the cold night air for some relief.


Each day got worse and it turns out I tore it more on the trip. I extended the tear and chewed up the edges so the surgery required more trimming and tissue removal. Anything that is cut out and trimmed away is gone forever. Small tears can sometimes heal but meniscus tissue does not grow back. Post-surgery, the welcome pain relief comes at the cost of having less or no padding in the knee joint. Less meniscus padding means a faster slide to bone-on-bone and a knee replacement. I needed more tissue removed than if I had babied it, kept the inflammation down and done the surgery first instead of the trip.


Everyone is different as Speckled points out. Individual conditions and results vary, as they say. I'm just as good now (pain and mobility-wise) as I would have been having the surgery earlier, skipping the trip and not extending the tear. However, I almost certainly moved up the date of needing a new knee by making the tear worse.


Good luck to you as you work through this and all good wishes for quick and complete healing."

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, everyone is different, and they heal at different levels. I don't want to make it worse, so it is a waiting game until the next visit to the doc. Which is driving me nuts. I want to start to get in shape for the trip, since at my age you have to start early. No more just heading up and out on the water. And I am still in the process of removing a dead tree in backyard, which will resume when the compost place re-opens in the spring. I probably even shouldn't do that, but that is a must do. I'm a stubborn old cuss, so I am having difficulty with not doing things like that for now. It is surprising just how much you depend on your knees to do normal stuff like yard work or hiking.

When is your trip scheduled? If you can I'd get it done before you leave, healing time after meniscus surgery is pretty short.

I've had both my knees done, one of them twice. I had 40% of my left meniscus taken out last May because it was too frayed to repair, and literally 4 weeks later, and after about 5-6 rehab appointments, I was as close to 100% as I'm ever going to get. My range of motion in that knee is above average for my age, (just turned 65 and about 6'2, 260 lbs.), and although I can tell there is less cushion in my knee, normal walking, even while carrying heavier objects similar to portaging, isn't a problem. I have no need for Tylenol or any other pain killer, though if tripping I would suggest taking a knee brace.

I'd suggest if you can get your knee done 8 weeks before you're trip, you'd be good to go.

Bearpath9: "

EmmaMorgan: "I wonder if a stabilizing athletic type knee brace might help you. I’ve worn one on trips and it has helped prevent further injury and I think reduced pain somewhat. I’ve relied on ibuprofen for pain, and have never tried to ice on summer trips. "

Yup, I bought another last fall, since the one I had from my ballplaying days was old and not very good anymore. I will be wearing that for sure."

+1 on that
I damaged my meniscus when I shattered the top of my Tibia. Actually multiple cracks as opposed to shattered. But I hammered the soft tissue.
Went from skis to a snowboard because it was easier on that knee.
I wear a store bought knee brace on all travel days. It works well

I had a lower back injury last summer just a short time before a planned trip. It was being treated and was healing nicely. But I brought along some of the single use chemical ice packs that can be activated when you are ready to use it. They worked well.

As the previous poster mentioned the chem packs are good, no need to haul a cooler and ice.

Disposable ice pack

Are they doing a meniscus repair? That surgery is a long haul—you are partial or non weightbearing for 4-6 weeks…but if you have pain putting that off is usually not helpful. If they are going to clean it up and remove pieces, if you had the surgery now you should be good to go well before canoe season. Hopefully they have you on a rehab program now as well. Over strengthening the calves, hips and quads helps the current pain and the recovery post surgery is faster too.

Sorry for the unsolicited advice. I am sure you know your situation but never hurts to type info out…feel free to ignore :)

T