Arthritis in the Knee

As far as "trimming" the meniscus and arthritis, that depends on how much is cut.  If you can't run b/c of the meniscus, then that might answer your question.  Of course you have the complicating factor of the stress fracture. 

My own experience - I could run no more than 10 minutes without pain and felt I had to do something.  I was told I'd be running in 4 weeks ( I was marathon training), but NO....the meniscus had to be sutured and screwed into the tibia (dissolvable screws).  so I had crutches for a month and no running for 6 months.  All that after no findings on the MRI.  Sometimes it happens.

Where's our orthopod buddy? chime in if you have thoughts!

My husband just had knee surgery for a lateral bucket-handle meniscus tear.

If you can have the tear repaired, then do it.  But, your tear may not be in the section of the meniscus that has blood flow so repair may not be an option.  If not, then trimming is your only option.  Otherwise, as the dr. said, the torn portion will irritate the joint and cause arthritis.  If the doc trims the meniscus, it will increase your likelihood of getting arthritis (and the more that's trimmed, the higher your likelihood), but it's not definite.  As our doc explained, the meniscus doesn't really absorb shock as much as it spreads the force of the bones over a larger area.

I would be concerned about waiting to get it trimmed, because the tear can get worse over time, especially with doing a lot of running.  Also, you need to talk to your doc about your chances of running after the meniscus trim.  Maybe if enough is left, you'll be able to continue running, but my Hub was told not to run in the future since 80% of his meniscus had to be removed.  With less of the meniscus there to spread the force of the joints, running would be a sure fire way to give him arthritis.  So, if getting it done early will save more of your meniscus, it may allow you to keep running.

The surgery itself isn't too bad.  Hub is cleared for biking now a month after his surgery.  He was walking pretty well after a week and doesn't need any physical rehab.

I wish you luck ...

Your symptoms do not sound like those of a meniscus tear, though that doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't so.  When my hubby tore his meniscus, it felt somewhat swollen and very stiff.  It felt like it wanted to lock straight, somewhat unstable and made very loud, jarring popping noises when it was bent a certain way.  Of course, in his particular tear, the torn flap of his meniscus was caught in his knee joint (like sticking a pencil in a door hinge), thereby causing those problems.

My advice to you would be to get a 2nd opinion.

Where was the tumor that you had?  My mom has had knee pain and been unable to run.  She was diagnosed with having a benign tumor in her knee, but the doc tells her that it shouldn't cause pain.  Of course, the typical patient with this malady is no older than 10, not 52!

She has only catastrophic insurance ($5k deductible) so she is hesitant to go to another ortho only to be told the same thing.  Any insights you have would be appreciated.