what is the best treatment for a torn meniscus

Medication

Treatment for meniscus tears ranges from icing and pain medication to surgery, depending on your symptoms and the type of tear. Nonsurgical Options. Nonsurgical treatments may include: Icing; Bracing; Pain medication; Muscle-strengthening exercises; Meniscus Tear Surgery. Our specialists perform meniscus tear surgery arthroscopically, by making small cuts in the knee. …

Procedures

Oct 28, 2021 · Nonsurgical Options. Physical Therapy. Knee-specific exercises strengthen the muscles that surround and stabilize the knee joint. Physical therapy will help prepare your ... Medications. Office-Based Cortisone Injections.

Therapy

Dec 07, 2020 · 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.

Self-care

Dec 23, 2020 · The whole goal of physical therapy exercises is to strengthen the muscles that support the knee. If your meniscus tear is complicated by arthritis, your orthopedic surgeon may also be able to use therapeutic injections to improve recovery and pain.

Nutrition

For an effective meniscus tear treatment, it is essential to put weight on your knee again gently. As a result, the meniscus receives sufficient nutrients to recover without being overloaded. One way to reduce the load on the meniscus is to wear a knee brace. A knee brace minimizes the pressure on your knee so that you experience less knee pain.

What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?

Jul 07, 2020 · The initial treatment of a meniscus tear is the R.I.C.E. protocol: Rest with modified activity. 10 Apply ice or a cold pack to your knee for 15- to 20-minute sessions, several times a day. Compress your knee with a brace or knee sleeve to prevent additional swelling. Elevate your leg above your heart while icing it or whenever resting/relaxing.

Does a torn meniscus heal on its own?

NSAID’s are best for relieving pain and reducing the inflammation while analgesics focus mainly on alleviating the pain. Self-care: When it comes to self-care for meniscus tear treatment, a combination of RICE therapy and physical exercises other than the ones prescribed in physical therapy is recommended by medical professionals. RICE ...

How long does a torn meniscus take to heal?

Jul 19, 2021 · if you go to most pain practices if you fail physical therapy and surgery is not recommended, they may recommend a steroid injection, which can help temporarily reduce inflammation in and around the knee and meniscus, but this is not advised as steroids as we know can cause damage to the joint cartilage, inhibit healing, and has a host of other …

Can a torn Mensicus heal without surgery?

In order to relieve swelling, you should apply ice to your knee for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Compression is also beneficial. Using an elastic bandage or a knee brace to wrap over your knee might also help to minimize swelling. How long does …

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

Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. 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.Jan 25, 2021

Can a tear in the meniscus heal without surgery?

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.Nov 10, 2020

How do you heal a torn meniscus naturally?

To speed the recovery, you can:Rest the knee. ... Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. ... Compress your knee. ... Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you're sitting or lying down.Take anti-inflammatory medications. ... Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.More items...•Jan 26, 2022

What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?

An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.Nov 26, 2020

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.Oct 19, 2021

What aggravates a torn meniscus?

Lifestyle and home remedies. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain — especially sports that involve pivoting or twisting your knee — until the pain disappears.Jan 6, 2022

Is walking good for torn meniscus?

Many people with a torn meniscus can still walk with the injury. Some athletes may even continue to play their sport with the injury, especially immediately after the incident as it may take several days for the stiffness and swelling to develop fully.Dec 21, 2020

What are two treatments for a meniscus tear?

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.Jan 6, 2022

What foods help heal a torn meniscus?

7 Foods that Help Rebuild CartilageLegumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown. ... Oranges. ... Pomegranates. ... Green Tea. ... Brown Rice. ... Nuts. ... Brussel Sprouts.

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.

Does a torn meniscus hurt all the time?

Do all meniscus tears hurt? Yes, at some point in time most all meniscus tears will hurt. But that doesn't mean they will hurt for a long time. In many cases the pain from a meniscus tear will either improve significantly or go away without surgery.

Can a meniscus tear get worse if not treated?

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, it's important that you come see us sooner rather than later so that we can identify and treat the problem. Allowing soft-tissue injuries like a meniscus tear to go untreated can lead to more damage within the joint that ultimately requires surgery.

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.

Is running good for your health?

Running is a great activity for your heart, weight and mental health, but it comes with a risk of injuries, no matter how experienced you are. Orthopaedic surgeon James Ficke, M.D., and physical therapist Ken Johnson discuss measures you can take to avoid common running injuries.

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.

Can meniscus tears occur?

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 call s 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 of your injury, ...

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.

Can cortisone help with meniscus tear?

Cortisone injections may temporarily decrease the pain associated with a tear but cannot heal a meniscus tear. These injections are used primarily when the knee is inflamed and swollen and there is arthritis associated with the meniscus tear.

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 ...

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.

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.

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 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.

What is cartilage avascular?

There are portions of the cartilage situated in what is known as an avascular area , meaning there is no adjacent blood flow. This area is not capable of the same level of healing that the vascular region is and is therefore likely to heal incompletely and is at a greater risk of additional injury in the future.

What is a lipogem?

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. Adipose (fat) is an excellent source of mesenchymal stem cells, vascular cells called pericytes, and structural collagen fibers. These cells bind to the injury site and release hundreds of chemical messengers, which repair the damaged tissue.

What does it mean when your knees are popping?

Even if you already know that you have knee arthritis, new knee pain can mean a new problem. If you are experiencing a popping in the joint, or it’s locking, then you might also have an injury to your meniscus – which is a moon-shaped section of cartilage in your knee that is an extra cushion between the ends of the bones.

How to keep knees from hurting?

You should try to keep your knee elevated, and ice it carefully.

Can you move your knee without pain?

Patients may have a lot of swelling or none at all. Also, some patients with a meniscus tear can move their knee without pain, while others may have more symptoms when the knee is really flexed. Regardless of your symptoms or the pattern of your injury, some patients may be good candidates for nonsurgical treatment.

What is the knee joint?

The knee is a hinge joint. If you imagine a door hinge, you know that it works via two-way movement, just as your knee can extend forward and bend back.

Can a meniscus tear cause knee pain?

Also, some patients with a meniscus tear can move their knee without pain, while others may have more symptoms when the knee is really flexed. Regardless of your symptoms or the pattern of your injury, some patients may be good candidates for nonsurgical treatment.

What is the joint that protects the knee?

Inside the knee joint, the bottom of the thighbone (the femur, which is in your upper leg) meets the top of one of the lower leg bones (the tibia), and they work together like a hinge. In the meantime, the kneecap glides along the bottom and front of the femur, protecting the knee and increasing the strength in your leg.

What is the cartilage in the knee?

Inside the joint, cartilage helps the bones glide smoothly and also acts as a shock absorber when walking or running. The meniscus is actually a separate, thick pad of cartilage between the femur and the tibia, and each knee has two menisci – one on the inside of the knee and one on the outer side.

What happens if you skip a step?

If you skip a step, the recovery will take much longer. Keep reading for the full explanation and detailed description of the exercises (video’s included) Anatomy and function of your meniscus. Causes of a meniscus tear. Symptoms of a menicus tear. Menicus tear treatment with four exercises.

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 ...

Can a degenerative tear be repaired?

The degenerative tear should always be treated through this step-by-step plan. Surgery will only weaken your knee and increase the chance you’ll need a total knee replacement later in life. A traumatic tear can also often repair through exercises with one exception.

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 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.

Can you walk without pain?

You can walk without much pain and are only slightly limited in your daily life. A small rupture is often caused by bumping your knee. It slightly damages your meniscus on the outside, where recovery is generally excellent. A moderate tear can cause pain at the side or center of your knee.

What is a traumatic event?

Degeneration. A traumatic event can be a sports injury, a misstep, or a fall. It always involves a combination of bending and twisting your knee. A degenerative tear happens to many people when they get older. Due to the repetitive use of your knee combined with less recovery of the damage, a tear can start to happen.

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 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 .

Where is the meniscus located?

The meniscus is a type of C-shaped cartilage that sits within your knee joint between your thigh bone and shin bone. Each knee joint has two mensici—one on the outside of the knee (called the lateral menisci) and one on the inside of the knee (called the medical menisci).

Can you walk after a meniscus tear?

Interestingly, as is often the case with a torn meniscus, a person can still walk and even continue to play their sport right after the injury.

What causes knee pain and swelling?

Collateral Ligament injury. Col lateral ligament injuries may also cause knee pain and swelling, like meniscus tears. 12  These may involve the medial collateral ligament (located on the inside of the knee) or the lateral collateral ligament (located on the outside of the knee).

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.

What Is a Meniscus?

The meniscus is a fibrocartilage structure that sits on top of the tibia (lower leg bone). There is one on the medial (inside) aspect of the knee, one on the lateral (outside) aspect of the knee. It is shaped like a C and provides some cushion and support for the knee joint as it acts as a shock absorber.

Types of Meniscal tears

Meniscal tears come in a variety of different types, which can affect potential treatments, symptoms or relevance.

Natural Remedies For a Torn Meniscus

If you have knee pain and have been told you have a suspected meniscal tear either from an exam or from MRI, much of the time this can heal on its own with 4-6 weeks of rest, doing some physical therapy that would focus on some range of motion and strengthening exercises and correcting any biomechanical problems that may stem from the core, back, hips or the ankles.

Treatments For A Meniscal Tear Without Surgery

If you go to most pain practices if you fail physical therapy and surgery is not recommended, they may recommend a steroid injection, which can help temporarily reduce inflammation in and around the knee and meniscus, but this is not advised as steroids as we know can cause damage to the joint cartilage, inhibit healing, and has a host of other negative side effects..

Bottom Line

Meniscal tears are common findings in the knee, which many times are of little clinical significance.