I've been having mild knee achiness for maybe 2 years. Hasn't stopped me from doing my job(firefighter) or section hiking the AT(do a week every year, since 2006). Doctor Google had me thinking I had a medial meniscus tear. I finally got around to going and having it looked at today, and got some bad news. I do indeed have a medial meniscus tear, a big one, that's been there for at least 2 years. On top of that, severe arthritis in the knee. He said while my knee joint is not bone on bone, I will eventually need a total knee replacement.
I dont limp. I work out. I do all our hard fire dept training and have been in many fires over the last 2 years. I carry patients down stairs. I backpacked 40-50miles last year on the AT in Virginia, with no issues. I started at Springer in 2006 and have inch wormed my way to Atkins,VA annually, over the years. I had no qualms about doing Atkins to Bland this May. This isnt life altering or debilitating. I consider it nuisance pain, I take ibuprofin and live my life. I'm 47 yo, getting old sucks, wear and tear, whatever. But.....
And it's a big but. I CANNOT have a total knee replacement for another 8 years. You cant be a firefighter with a total knee, due to the prosthesis mfg not "signing off" on that kind of physical work. And I cant retire for another 8 years. THEN I can get one.
So. To those who have been in similar situations, what did you do, what do you wish you did or did not do? Should I keep hiking the AT? Would that "wear out" the knee faster? Priority one is my job and family. Thx