Pain from a torn meniscus is felt at the front or sides of your knee.
You may be able to bear weight on the injured leg at first.
However, the knee will swell and become increasingly painful over the course of a few days.
Illustration by Alexandra Gordon, Verywell
Initial treatments for meniscal tears include rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E.
), pain-relieving medications, steroid injections, andphysical therapy.
In some cases, surgery may be needed.
This article discusses the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for meniscal tears.
What Is a Meniscus Tear?
While knee meniscus tears are common in athletes, older people are particularly at risk too.
However, within a day or two, the knee becomes uncomfortably swollen and stiff.
Everyday movements like getting up improperly from a chair can be enough to cause a meniscus tear.
The McMurray test is one classic test used to assess for meniscus damage.
Injury to the anterior cruciate, medial collateral, or lateral collateral ligaments are often suspected.
These can occur with a meniscus tear or independent of one.
Such injuries can often be distinguished with a good history.
An ACL tear may cause a “popping” sound or sensation and will often cause immediate swelling.
An MRI can confirm one or both diagnoses.
And similar to an ACL tear, they may occur in combination with a meniscus tear.
A detailed physical exam can help distinguish between knee ligament and meniscus injuries.
With meniscus tears, the pain is felt along the knee joint plane, either medially or laterally.
Moreover, with meniscus tears, the pain is usually significantly worsened by fully extending or bending the knee.
Most of the time, non-surgical therapies are all that is needed to heal the meniscus.
Non-Surgical Options
The initial treatment of a meniscus tear is theR.I.C.E.
Sometimes, asteroid (cortisone) injectioninto the knee joint is given to reduce inflammation and ease pain.
protocol and a proper diagnosis by your healthcare provider,physical therapyusually follows.
When the meniscus tear is only causing pain, the results of surgery may not be as reliable.
This is the most commonly done surgery for a meniscus injury.
The meniscectomy is done toremove the damaged portion of the meniscuswhile leaving as much healthy meniscus as possible.
This surgery usually has a quick recovery and allows for the rapid resumption of activities.
Meniscus Repair
Ameniscus repairis a surgical procedure done to repair the damaged meniscus.
However, meniscus repair is a more significant surgery with a longer recovery.
And because of limited blood supply to the meniscus, it is not always possible.
Some of these lifestyle preventive strategies include:
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