Ouch. Sounds painful. I had some of my meniscus removed when I had
ACL replacement. I looked at the diagrams and I'd say it was only
about 20% of one disk. Thank God for that, sounds like any more and
I'd have been in for it.

I've heard those transplants can slow the onset of arthiritis and the
need for a total knee replacement (ouch). I would think they'd give
you some more cushion. I think they pull the cartiledge off a
cadaver, so there's a chance your body will have a hard time
accepting it. Then there's all the rehab after the surgery, but if
it will get rid of your pain, I'd say go for it.

How is your Quadriceps muscle? I have some pain when I bend at the
knee and try to sustain my body weight. For me, it's due to a weak
quad. Do you stretch it out a lot? I reach back there and stretch
my quad about 5 times a day; it gets rid of pain from walking up
stairs and sqautting, etc.
If stretching your quad helps do a lot of lunges, and half squats,
and weighted leg lifts. I think if you built those muscles up it
might lessen your pain. That's the way it works for me. The stronger
I get, the more the pain goes away.

Go see your doc about the transplant.

Good luck>
Chris



--- In kneesurgeryforum@yahoogroups.com, "pabrams777
<pabrams777@y...>" <pabrams777@y...> wrote:
> Hi everyone! Here's my story: I am 26 years old right now. About 1
> year ago, I tore my meniscus (I'm not sure if it was medial or
> lateral... how do I tell?), and my doctor removed some of it using
> arthoscopic surgery (approximately 50%). The recovery is still in
> process; definetly not 100% (I can bend the knee, but I cannot
> sustain weight on it while it is bended... in other words, I cannot
> squat down on my knees or bend down with my knees to pick things
up).
> Today, while surfing on the net, I found some information about
> meniscus transplants. This got me excited, since I had been
suffering
> for so long with this injury; but I'm cautious as to how well it
> works. If it really does cure this condition, then why hasn't
> everyone else been through this; and why haven't I heard of this
from
> my doctors? Is there anyone out there that has gone through this,
and
> can give me your opinion on this treatment? Has this worked for
you?
> If so, I want to hear about it. Has this been the worst thing that
> you've done? Please, let me know. I have constant regret about
having
> torn my meniscus; and many times I wish I had left the whole
meniscus
> in and opted instead to try to fix it; because walking around with
> half of your meniscus is like walking on glass. Please help!