what is the best treatment for a meniscal tear

Medication

What are the treatment options for a degenerative meniscus tear?

• Significance of a degenerative meniscus tear. First of all, it is true that meniscus tears generally do not heal by themselves. ...
• Significance of arthritis. ...
• Determining the true cause of the knee pain. ...
• Surgery for a degenerative meniscus tear. ...

Procedures

Treatment usually starts with the RICE method:

• Rest. Try to rest your knee for a few days and keep pressure off it.
• Ice. Putting ice on your knee for 10 to 15 minutes at a time can help reduce any swelling.
• Compression. You can also reduce swelling by wrapping your knee with an elastic bandage or wearing a knee brace.
• Elevation. ...

Therapy

Overall health status. If the tear is located on the outer part of the meniscus, there is a chance that it may heal well on its own. However, if the tear is on the inner two-thirds – where blood supply is limited – it will most likely require surgery.

Self-care

• Meniscus – It acts like a shock absorber for your knees and it’s located just between the tibia and femur. ...
• Ligaments – All the bones in our body are joined with ligaments. ...
• Tendons – Your muscles are connected with bones by tendons. ...
• Collateral ligaments – Collateral ligaments are found at the side of your knees. ...

More items...

Nutrition

What is the best treatment for a meniscus tear?

What is the recovery time for a meniscus tear?

Can a meniscus tear heal itself without surgery?

What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?

What is the most common treatment for a torn meniscus?

Conservative treatment — such as rest, ice and medication — is sometimes enough to relieve the pain of a torn meniscus and give the injury time to heal on its own. In other cases, however, a torn meniscus requires surgery.

How long does it take to heal a torn meniscus without surgery?

Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery. If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear.

How do you fix a torn meniscus without surgery?

Nonsurgical Treatment for a Meniscus TearRest. Some meniscus tears improve over time with rest, activity restriction, and keeping the knee and leg elevated when possible. ... Ice. Using a cold compress or ice pack can help to reduce swelling and pain in the knee. ... Medication. ... PRP Therapy (Injection Therapy)

Can a meniscal tear heal on its own?

In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears — and some tears won't heal without treatment. If your tear is on the outer one-third of the meniscus, it may heal on its own or be repaired surgically.

Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?

Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days. Plus, suffering a torn meniscus may also increase your risk of complications, like developing osteoarthritis in that knee.

Does a knee brace help a torn meniscus?

Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus? Yes. Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.

Can a cortisone shot help a torn meniscus?

A cortisone injection can effectively reduce pain and inflammation in your knee, as in the case of a torn meniscus. It's only a temporary solution to your pain, though. It can't heal your meniscus and may even delay your healing. It also can't prevent you from injuring it again in the future.

What percentage of meniscus tears require surgery?

Differing treatment It's important to know the differences between the tears because usually only acute traumatic tears are surgically repairable. Less than 10 percent of meniscal tears occurring in patients age 40 or older can be repaired.

What exercises not to do with a torn meniscus?

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.

Is heat or cold better for torn meniscus?

Too much cold will keep your injury in the same state - slowing down the healing process. This can sometimes make chronic injuries linger even longer. Heat (Circulation Boost) should be used when you suffer from a chronic, tight or stiff meniscus injury and after you reduce swelling, pain and inflammation with cold.

What are 3 signs of a meniscus tear in the knee?

What are the symptoms of a meniscus tear?Pain in the knee joint: usually on the inside (medial), outside (lateral) or back of the knee.Swelling.Catching or locking of the knee joint.Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint.Limping.

Can a meniscus tear lead to knee replacement?

Conclusions: In patients with knee osteoarthritis arthroscopic knee surgery with meniscectomy is associated with a three fold increase in the risk for future knee replacement surgery.

What Is A Meniscus and What Does It do?

To understand how the meniscus tear treatment without surgery works, you need to know what a meniscus is and what his function in the knee is.The m...

What Are The Causes of A Meniscus Tear?

There are 3 common meniscus tear causes that we’ll explain now.Usually it happens when playing sports where you have to turn or twist quickly. When...

What Are Torn Meniscus Symptoms?

The torn meniscus symptoms depend on the location and the size of the tear. We can divide a torn meniscus into 3 different types, each with their o...

How Can I Perform A Meniscus Tear Test myself?

The following movement can be used as a meniscus tear test:• Bend your knee into a 90 degrees angle. • Now rotate your lower leg inside and outside...

What Is The Difference Between A Torn Meniscus and The Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome?

A torn meniscus is often confused with the patellofemoral pain syndrome and vice versa. Fortunately you can tell the difference quit easily.The pai...

What Can and Can’T I Do With A Meniscus Tear?

When you suspect to have a meniscus tear there are several things that you shouldn’t do during your recovery period.The things that your shouldn’t...

How Do I Know If My Meniscus Tear Can Recover Without Surgery?

If meniscus tear treatment without surgery is possible for you depends on the location and severeness of the meniscus tear. Of the 3 kinds of menis...

What Does A Meniscus Tear Treatment Without Surgery Looks like?

The first thing you can do to relieve your pain is to massage the back and the side of your knee. What happens when you feel pain in your knee due...

How Is A Meniscus Tear Surgery Performed?

Unfortunately, sometimes a meniscus tear doesn’t heal without surgery. As we stated before this is often caused by the severity and location of the...

How Do I Recover from Meniscus Tear Surgery and How Long Does It take?

The recovery time after meniscus tear surgery depends on a number of things. 1. Age 2. Physical condition 3. Stitch or cutting of the meniscus 4. S...

What is the most common surgery for a meniscus tear?

Partial Meniscectomy. The most common type of surgery for a meniscus tear is a partial meniscectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon will trim off the torn part of the meniscus, leaving behind as much of the intact meniscus tissue as possible.

What is a meniscus tear?

Meniscus Tear Treatment. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped disc of cartilage found between the bones of the knee ( the femur and tibia). Each knee has two menisci that cushion the joint. Depending on the severity of the tear, symptoms of a torn meniscus may include pain, swelling, stiffness, clicking or locking of the knee.

How long does it take for a meniscus tear to heal?

Because the meniscus tissue needs to heal back together, recovery time is longer for this procedure than a partial meniscectomy. It is common for patients to be on crutches for about two weeks and in a brace for up to six weeks after surgery. It may be six months or more before it is safe to return to sports activities.

Can a meniscus tear cause another knee injury?

We will help you choose the best treatment plan to meet your needs. Having torn your meniscus once could make you more likely to experience another knee injury.

How to recover from a meniscus tear?

The inner portion of your meniscus lacks this blood flow. That part of your meniscus gets its nutrients from the synovial fluid within your knee capsule. Moving your knee will produce more synovial fluid and thus improves the recovery of your meniscus tear. The best way to do this is by riding a stationary bike.

How much does it cost to repair a meniscus tear?

The recovery without exercises takes a little bit longer but comes without side effects. Surgery costs about $10,000 and also increases your risk of developing osteoarthritis. A total knee replacement because of that later in life will cost an ...

Why does my knee turn blue after a meniscus tear?

That is because of a popped blood vessel inside the meniscus or the surrounding tissue and the inflammatory process that starts to clean up the damage. Walking is usually very difficult after a severe meniscus tear.

What happens when your knee locks?

Now, this part of the meniscus can move freely inside the joint space. It can cause your knee to pop or lock. When your knee locks, you may not be able to bend it for some time. You can also experience some instability of your knee.

How to stop twitching in knee?

Give your knee rest and support by applying ice every 2 hours and wear this knee brace. It will reduce the pressure on your knee and meniscus for immediate relief and prevents sudden twitches of your knee. Put this anti-inflammatory cream on your knee to reduce swelling and inflammation and thus your pain.

What is the function of the meniscus?

You have 2 in each knee laying next to each other. Its function is to improve the stability of your knee and improve its movements.

How long does it take to heal a tear in the medial meniscus?

Recovery can take up to 3 months and might require surgery. Since the medial meniscus on the inner side of your knee damages most often, the symptoms are usually felt here. Due to the tear, an inflammatory process starts to remove the damage so that it can begin the repair.

How accurate is MRI for meniscal tear?

MRI scans are only 80%-90% accurate at diagnosing meniscal tears initially and even less accurate post-operatively. High signal in the meniscal tissue can represent oedema, degeneration, an actual tear or a healing tear post repair[56].

Why is the structure of the meniscal fibres important?

The structure of these fibres are important clinically when deciding which meniscal tears are stable or which are unstable and warrant resection or repair. The blood supply to the menisci is of high relevance having important implications for the potential healing of a meniscal repair.

What is the difference between medial and lateral meniscus?

The medial meniscus is “U” shaped covering around 60% of the medial compartment whereas the lateral meniscus is more “C” with a shorter distance between its anterior and posterior horns covering 80% of the lateral compartment[6]. Meniscal tissue consists mainly of water and type I collagen fibres[7].

Does a meniscus tear heal?

The blood supply is fundamental to the success of a meniscal repair. Only tears in the red-red or possibly the red-white zone are expected to heal. The absence of blood vessels in the remaining meniscus prevents widespread use of meniscal repair and patients are subjected to meniscectomy.

What is the best treatment for meniscus tear?

Older people, whose meniscus tears are the result of age and wear and tear, may benefit from physical therapy and guided exercise, non-steroidal pain medication, and other non-surgical treatment . Returning to Sports Activities. Athletes who want to return to their normal level of activity may benefit from minimally invasive arthroscopic knee ...

What is the procedure to repair a meniscus tear?

Meniscus Surgery. During the meniscus surgery, a small instrument called an arthroscope, which has a camera at its tip, is inserted into your knee. Orthopaedic knee surgeons use arthroscopic knee surgery to pinpoint the location of the meniscus tear and repair or remove the damage, depending on the location and pattern of the tear and condition ...

How to get back to normal after meniscus surgery?

Knee-specific exercises strengthen the muscles that surround and stabilize the knee joint. Physical therapy will help prepare your knee for surgery and help you get back to your normal activities faster after surgery. It rarely eliminates the need for meniscus surgery in a younger person or someone without any arthritis. A skilled therapist can provide recommendations for an exercise program as appropriate for the type of tear and discomfort.

What is a transplanted meniscus?

The transplanted meniscus, which is donated from a cadaver, uses plugs to secure it to the native bone, and stitches secure it to the joint capsule. RELATED BLOG ARTICLE. Knee Arthroscopic Surgery for Meniscus Tears.

What is MRI in knee?

An MRI evaluates the soft tissues -- muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons -- of the knee. An MRI helps knee specialists assess the specific part of the cartilage that is damaged. Wear-and-Tear Injuries.

What is the best way to check for popping and clicking in the knee?

A physical exam is performed to assess tenderness along the knee joint and to determine if there is popping/clicking of the knee with rotational movement. X-rays check for broken bones and the presence of arthritis. An MRI evaluates the soft tissues -- muscles, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons -- of the knee.

Can meniscus tears happen during sports?

For More Information. Meniscus tears can occur suddenly during a sports game, or from simple daily activities such as turning to put dishes away or twisting when someone calls your name. Damage to the meniscus cartilage that cushions your knee joint can also result from years of wear and tear. Duke knee specialists evaluate the severity ...

How to heal a torn meniscus?

When it comes to treating a torn meniscus, there are two primary treatments that are considered, surgical methods and regenerative orthopedic methods. Studies show that surgery alone can make things worse or put you at risk of reinjuring yourself.

What is MFAT for meniscus?

MFAT Meniscus Treatment. Lipogems, also known as micro-fragmented fat (MFAT) have been proven to help patients with knee osteoarthritis and meniscus tears, with this 2020 study indicates significant improvements in MFAT patients following treatment.

What age is a good candidate for cartilage repair?

Patients that are younger, 30 and below, are generally good candidates for repair. Once you are older repairs are typically less successful. There are portions of the cartilage situated in what is known as an avascular area, meaning there is no adjacent blood flow.

Why does cartilage tear?

Movements that place abnormal strain or forceful twisting can put undue stress on the joints, causing the cartilage to tear. Given that it is such a prevalent injury, an increasing amount of research is being done to determine the most efficacious treatment option for a torn meniscus.

What is the most common knee injury?

One of the most common knee injuries is a torn meniscus. Situated between the skin and thigh bone in the leg, your meniscus is the cartilage that separates the bones in the joint and ensures smooth, fluid movements.

Can a meniscus tear heal?

By introducing growth factors to this area, the meniscus tear can heal more completely and offer a higher resilience against future injuries.

What is the best treatment for a meniscus tear?

Surgery. Surgery has the best results when the primary symptoms of the meniscus tear are mechanical. 16  This means that the meniscus tear is causing a catching or locking sensation of the knee. In other words, when the meniscus tear is causing pain only, the results of surgery may not be as reliable. There are three types of surgery used ...

What is the procedure to remove a torn meniscus?

A meniscectomy is a procedure to remove the torn portion of the meniscus. This procedure is far more commonly performed than a meniscus repair. The meniscectomy is done to remove the damaged portion of the meniscus while leaving as much healthy meniscus as possible.

Why does my knee feel like it's giving out?

The medial and lateral menisci act as shock-absorbers and also provide cushioning and stability to the knee, which is why any tear or damage to a meniscus results in pain, swelling , and sometimes, a feeling that the knee is giving out. While knee meniscus tears are common in athletes, older people are also at risk.

What causes a meniscus tear?

Causes. Most commonly, a meniscus tear results from an acute injury to the knee, often from a sudden twist of the knee while squatting during a sports activity. Examples of sports that increase a person's risk for a menisci tear include: Soccer 5 . Football.

How long does it take for a meniscus tear to pop?

In contrast, the swelling of an isolated medial meniscus tear tends to develop gradually over the course of one to two days. 2  An MRI can confirm one or both diagnoses.

Why do meniscus tears occur?

But meniscus tears can also occur due to age-related degenerative (wear-and-tear) changes ( knee osteoarthritis ). 7  As people age, their menisci weaken and become more brittle and prone to damage. Everyday movements like getting up improperly from a chair can be enough to cause a meniscus tear. 3 .

How to diagnose a meniscus tear?

In order to diagnose a meniscus tear, your doctor will perform a medical history, physical examination, and order one or more imaging tests. 1 .

Recovery time for a meniscal tear

Recovery from meniscal injuries can take between 4 – 24 weeks if you start effective treatment early and you manage it well.

What are the treatment options for a meniscal tear?

A conservative rehabilitation program for your knee that includes rest, ice, medication and a structured exercise program is often enough to heal a meniscal tear on its own.

What is the fastest way to heal meniscal tears without surgery?

The best way to heal your meniscus without surgery is by following a progressive exercise-based rehabilitation program. It gets inflammation under control, kickstarts the healing process and gradually builds the strength in your legs and body to take the load off your meniscus now, and in the future. You can find a detailed example below.

What happens if a meniscus is torn?

If it is torn, more stress might be transferred to the bones and cartilage, causing damage to those structures. Note the fissuring and fraying of the articular cartilage lining on the end of the femur.

Can you get surgery for a meniscus tear?

But if there is a significant amount of arthritis in the knee, surgery might not provide complete relief.

Do meniscus tears heal by themselves?

Significance of a degenerative meniscus tear. First of all, it is true that meniscus tears generally do not heal by themselves. Yes, there are exceptions, but for purposes of this post, they don’t. That doesn’t mean that every patient with a meniscus tear needs surgery. Some people have them and don’t even know it.