If not treated, part of the meniscus may come loose and slip into the joint. You may need surgery to restore full knee function. Untreated meniscus tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis.
It could be 8 weeks or more before you're back to regular activities. Some meniscal tears, however, won't improve without surgery, so it's important to consult with a specialist who can talk through your options.
A torn meniscus is certainly not life threatening. Once treated, the knee will usually function normally for many years. A meniscal tear that catches, locks the knee, or produces swelling on a frequent or chronic basis should be removed or repaired before it damages the articular (gliding) cartilage in the knee.
Since your torn meniscus won't heal on its own, the pain may continue getting worse as the tear gets worse. You might experience pain that worsens when you stand or twist your knee. Along with pain, other common symptoms are stiffness and swelling around the joint.
Depending on the amount of pain and fluid accumulation, this may cause the knee to become difficult to move. In some situations, the amount of swelling may not necessarily be enough to notice and the patient does not become aware of the injury until symptoms develop later.
Medial meniscal root tears are associated with poor subjective knee function (24), and a relatively high proportion of these patients (31 %) require a knee replacement within five years (35), emphasising that medial root tears are part of a general degenerative process.
Swelling or stiffness. Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee. Difficulty straightening your knee fully. Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it.
Not necessarily. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
What are the benefits? Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
You will have a physical examination to find out if you have a torn meniscus and to rule out other knee injuries. Your doctor will check both knees for tenderness, range of motion, and knee stability. X-rays are usually done. Based on your symptoms and the physical examination, your doctor may diagnose a meniscus tear.
For instance, if the meniscus tear is mild, which would be a Grade 1 or 2, you will most likely not need surgery. However, if your injury is more severe at a Grade 3 rating, then your doctor might discuss your surgery options.
Is Walking Good for a Torn Meniscus? Walking can be useful to improve your weight-bearing tolerance and loosen up the knee. Meniscus injuries are often worsened by pivoting or twisting or bending motions. Walking can help with meniscus tear rehab.
Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee. If your pain is severe, using crutches can take pressure off your knee and promote healing. Ice. Ice can reduce knee pain and swelling.
Not everyone with a meniscus tear will have severe pain. In fact, many of you may have no pain at all if you give your knee a few weeks to rest. If your pain persists despite a few weeks of rest or PT then we may consider repairing your tear.
Untreated tears can progress and become worse over time. Progressive meniscus loss can increase the risk that a person will develop degenerative knee arthritis. It is important to get a diagnosis and seek treatment early.
Meniscus tears, indicated by MRI, are classified in three grades. Grades 1 and 2 are not considered serious. They may not even be apparent with an arthroscopic examination. Grade 3 is a true meniscus tear and an arthroscope is close to 100 percent accurate in diagnosing this tear.
Category 3 - THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES
These items are intended to cover all knee ligament repair and reconstruction procedures and associated intra-articular surgery, including (but not limited to), meniscal surgery, notchplasty, chondroplasty and removal of loose bodies.
What type of meniscus tear is the worst? Bucket-handle meniscus tears are the most serious type of meniscus injury. They often occur alongside a ligament injury. Bucket-handle tears require prompt surgery in order to have the best possible chance of recovery.
What are the risks or complications of arthroscopic meniscus surgery? Arthroscopic knee surgery is very safe, with only rare complications: Arthritis later in life. Blood clots.
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.
Strengthening the thigh and leg muscles and stretching the knee, thigh, and leg can help to restore the full range of motion to the knee. Low-impact exercises such as stationary biking may reduce your level of pain, improve mobility, and restore function to the area around the meniscus tear.
If the meniscus has been removed, even if a small piece has been removed, then the stress on the articular cartilage increase 3-fold. That can cause osteoarthritis, which may go on to require a knee replacement.
Degenerative meniscal pathology typically presents as knee pain accompanied by mechanical symptoms. Patients are typically over the age of 30 and often complain of insidious onset of symptoms with no known traumatic event.