A meniscus is a part of the knee and the tears in the meniscus are referred to as meniscus tears. Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries that affect a sports player. The meniscus is a structure in the knee joint that looks like a crescent thick pad with rubbery shock cartilage. It is observed that meniscus tears are common among players who are involved in contact sports like basketball, football, and rugby. Furthermore, a meniscus injury can also occur during old age as we have heard people often use the term “torn cartilage,” which refers to a meniscus injury. The level of injury decides the suitable treatment option for a patient.
The meniscus is located in each knee and is identified as the medial meniscus inside and the lateral meniscus outside. However, the meniscus acts like an absorber of the shock received from the upper legs and lower legs. Moreover, they help to distribute body weight across the knee joint and provide stability to the knee during movement.
How do you identify a torn meniscus?
A meniscus tear is a common injury that can occur in the knee joint when the meniscus is damaged or torn. This can happen due to a sudden twisting or turning of the knee or from wear and tear over time.
Below are the common symptoms to identify meniscal tears in your knee.
1. Stiffness in the knee
2. Swelling in the knee
3. Painful sensation
4. Locked feeling during knee movement
5. Discomfort in knee movement
6. Issues while straightening and stretching the knew
7. Instability
It is not necessary that these symptoms would be evident in the initial stages. Additionally, you may not feel any pain during the initial stage and you would be comfortable playing sports or doing any activity. However, if your knee starts swelling, you must get in touch with your doctor.
There are instances where a tear in the meniscus heals itself. On the other hand, rest, medication, and physical therapy are required to boost recovery, which makes surgery avoidable in some situations. In severe situations, the meniscus has to be treated through arthroscopic surgery.
How do you heal meniscus tears?
The treatment for a meniscus tear depends on the severity of the injury, the location of the tear, and the patient’s age and activity level. Therefore, the RICE concept below is recommended to heal the pain.
1. Rest
Rest is extremely important when you go through any pain or surgery. Therefore, you should put your knees to the test for a couple of days after surgery. Moreover, it is also important not to put any kind of pressure on the knees as it can lead to delayed recovery.
2. Ice
Ice is one of the best options to heal your injury. A pack of ice for 15–20 minutes daily can help to slow down the swelling.
3. Compression
It is always advised by doctors to cover the injury with a brace to stabilize and heal any bone injury.
4. Elevation
Elevate your knee above your heart by attempting to sit back or lie down. In addition, this will encourage blood flow to your heart and speed up healing.
In severe cases, a doctor may advise you to have surgery. The surgery involves three stages, which are mentioned below.
1. Meniscus Repair – During this stage, the surgeon will perform an arthroscopy to determine the level and extent of the tear in your knee. Furthermore, after conducting this stage, the surgeon will sew the torn pieces of menisci.
2. Trimming the meniscus – After the arthroscopy procedure, the surgeon will focus on removing damaged cartilage by trimming and removing it whereas the healthy cartilage is kept intact.
3. Meniscus Transplant – In some instances, a doctor may recommend replacing the meniscus with a healthy one from a donor. Although the meniscus replacement option is available, the patient must meet several criteria to qualify for this treatment process.
