I have been on this site for a long time and never posted. I have gained a ton of knowledge from this group and this one is close to home for me. I tore my meniscus on the swim of all things during my last oly. I had surgery on the 26th of Aug. I was able to start pedaling slowly on my trainer by the fourth day after surgery. After a week I started using an eliptical to simulate running. Again very slowly. 3 weeks after I did a 60 mile ride with The Wounded Warrior Project and I have started running and swimming again with my focus on IM Cda in 2012. If Her fitness level and focus are good
She should be back in no time. The key is take things slow. Make sure you stretch and flex the knee.
Ice and rest and follow Doctors rehab instructions.

I have had my meniscus removed from both my knees (old skateboarding accidents) and I have done 2 HIM 3 OLY and a Sprint Triathlon. I did a Half Marathon early this year and I am getting ready for my first marathon this weekend.

I have had zero pain or discomfort from my lack of meniscus and I think that a lot of that results back to the strength I have built up in my legs.

I visit my Ortho Doc once a year to do x-rays to check the spacing between my knee and leg to make sure it is not decreasing.

1 bit of advice is swear the Fish oil that I take daily i swear it has helped my knees. I used to have my knees ache daily and ever since I started fish oil it is gone.

http://tridigest.com/torn-meniscus-training-through-pain

ALL removed? partially removed or just repaired?

I had mine partially removed, i think about one third when i was 21 years old on my right knee, a complete acl replacement on left knee at 22. Both of these injuries were a result of competative fluke soccer injuries.

I'm now 43 and have completed 4 ironmans, 6 olympics, 8 sprints and countless run races of all distances. I still play soccer but have that winding down as any twists and sprains in last 20 years are also result of soccer.

Ironically with all my hard triathlon training over last 9 years it doesn't seem to have any effect on my knees. I remember the surgeon saying always keeping the legs strong so they are better able to support the knee.
I work in a hospital and a friend who is a surgeon swears by glucosamine which i take 3 times per day in pill form.

I don't think there is a definite answer to the question as we all have our different chemistry.
I always feel blessed that my knees have held up given some serious surgeries at a fairly young age and i certainly hope she has the same success.

There is common literature that removed menisus will greatly increase the chance of osteoarthritis. When i tweeked my knee 2 years ago (yes from soccer) i had an MRI. It showed "some" osteoarthritis but as the radiologist reported with a smile "it looks like a 40 year old athletes knee who plays soccer and trains lots."
He wasn't overly concerned and suggested i think of minimizing or quitting soccer but keep going with the triathlons.

Both meniscus partially removed.
Both knees have ACL reconstruction (screws). Both old snowboarding injuries.
Surgery's were over 10 years ago. I notice some knee pain
after some runs, but I can't link this to the meniscus or ACL.
It's just normal pain for me now.