Usually, for minor tears, all you need is muscle strengthening and supervised physical therapy. Your knee will function normally after the inflammation diminishes. This could take about 4 — 8 weeks.
However, the time depends on the severity and position of the tear. During this period, you should do strength training to strengthen your core and glute muscles. This enables you to have better control of your femur while you run. Remember to consult your doctor before you resume full athletic activities. You should also have another imaging test to help confirm that your meniscus has been fully restored. Depending on the type of tear you have, we can provide non-surgical treatment.
A torn meniscus can often be diagnosed by a physical exam of the knee. The doctor will look for swelling, tenderness on the joint line, loss of motion, and pain with special twisting maneuvers. See Figure 4. An MRI can be used to confirm the diagnosis of a torn meniscus.
See Figure 5. Orthopedic Surgeons and Sports Medicine trained primary care doctors are specially trained in the diagnosis of torn meniscus. Doctors specializing in torn meniscus can be located through university medical schools, county medical societies, or state orthopedic societies. Arthroscopic surgery to remove or repair torn menisci is the definitive treatment for meniscal tears. See Figures 6 and 7. Torn menisci that do not cause the knee to catch or lock are less likely to cause damage to the rest of the knee and pain and swelling symptoms can be treated non-operatively with over the counter pain medications.
Initial treatment for non-locking torn menisci usually involves management of the pain and swelling symptoms with over the counter pain medications. When a torn meniscus is diagnosed, but the knee is not locked and the patient cannot identify a specific incident associated with the onset of pain, the pain can be treated initially with over the counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
The patient should avoid pivoting and squatting and should work on keeping the quadriceps muscles strong. If the swelling and pain have not resolved in 6 weeks, they usually won't without surgical intervention.
Avoiding twisting activities may decrease the symptoms from a torn meniscus. Additionally, one should do quadriceps setting exercises with the knee straight or mini-squats, bending only to 15 degrees, to prevent giving way and keep the quadriceps muscle from atrophying.
Most meniscal tears cannot heal because of their limited blood supply. Nevertheless, Quadriceps muscle strengthening exercises can help prevent some of the secondary effects of a torn meniscus such as kneecap pain or the sense of buckling. Medications such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen may relieve some of the pain, but will not actually treat the underlying meniscal tear. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen may also decrease the associated swelling. Removal of excess joint fluid can temporarily bring some relief from pain, but the meniscus will not heal and the fluid will usually reaccumulate.
Until the tear can be treated arthroscopically , patients with a torn meniscus can use non-narcotic pain relievers, and should try to do quadriceps muscle contractions to prevent atrophy that is associated with knee pain and swelling. One may also need to modify activities to avoid those that twist the knee.
Surgery is the definitive treatment for torn meniscus. The surgery is done arthroscopically and will include either removal or repair of the torn part of meniscus.
Repair can be done only when the tear lies in or just adjacent to the vascular zone of the meniscus. A traumatically torn meniscus usually requires arthroscopic surgical treatment.
This minimally invasive surgical treatment involves either removing or repairing the torn segment of meniscus using an arthroscope. Tears in the non-vascular region are unlikely to heal and therefore are removed. In the case of a degenerative meniscal tear associated with osteoarthritis , the expected outcome after surgery is different. Although arthroscopically treating the torn meniscus and simultaneously trimming away any shaggy articular cartilage caused by the arthritis may eliminate mechanical symptoms such as catching or locking, the non-mechanical symptoms of osteoarthritis stiffness, achiness, weather-related pain may persist.
Therefore, in the setting of a degenerative meniscal tear with osteoarthritis, the patient and doctor also need to discuss treatment alternatives for the arthritis such as injections into the knee or partial or total knee replacement. More information about torn meniscus may be found at the web site of the American Society for Sports Medicine.
Current research on the treatment of torn meniscus centers around the best method for repair of a torn meniscus and placement of a substitute meniscus when a total meniscal removal has been done previously.
You are here Home Torn Meniscus. Torn Meniscus - torn knee cartilage not limited to athletes or sports In this article Basics of torn meniscus - torn knee cartilage Surgical Animation Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Research Summary of torn meniscus - torn knee cartilage Basics of torn meniscus-torn knee cartilage A torn meniscus is a tear in the cartilage of the knee. Immediate medical attention A torn meniscus needs immediate attention when it "locks" the knee.
Facts and myths Some people think that only athletes can tear a meniscus. Surgical Animation Learn more about torn meniscus and view a surgical animation below. Symptoms Initial Symptoms Initial symptoms of a torn meniscus include well-localized pain and swelling in the knee. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Topic Overview Surgery to repair a torn meniscus involves rehabilitation, although it varies depending on the injury, the type of surgery, and your orthopedist's preference. Time needed to return to activities Activity Uncomplicated meniscectomy Meniscus repair surgery Bear weight put weight on your knee while standing or walking Right away, as tolerated Right away, but only with a brace Walk without crutches 2 to 7 days 4 to 6 weeks Drive, if the affected leg is to be used for gas and brake or for clutch 1 to 2 weeks, if: You have regained motion with minimal pain.
You are not taking opioids. Return to heavy work or sports 4 to 6 weeks, if You have regained motion and strength. Your knee is not swollen or painful.
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