Case Summary  |  Dancer with Knee Pain

A year and a half ago I was suffering from intermittent stabbing knee pain. After a couple months my dance partner encouraged me to go to the doctor. I was diagnosed with bursitis and told to stay off it. I could return to dance after 2 days of no swelling no pain. After 3 weeks I tried it again and didn't make it through the warm up.

This started a long series of doctors and tests (xray and MRI), sports medicine and orthopedics. It took 2 1/2 months to get a diagnosis of a torn meniscus. 4 months after my first doctor's visit I had my surgery. Despite my doctor swearing that I'd be back to my pre-injury workout schedule in 3 months, it was nearly a year before I could train as before, and I still have swelling and occasional pain.

My knee is much better now than pre-surgery (I couldn't walk). If I were a couch potato I would be at 100%. For a dancer, I'm at about 70%.