Meniscus Injury

A torn meniscus is one of the most common knee injuries our physicians see in our center. Your meniscus is the cartilage in your knee that acts a cushion between your bone and joint. A tear or rupture such as this is generally caused by a sudden rough twist (movement) of the knee.

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What are Symptoms of a Meniscal Tear?

  • Pain while knee is being moved (twisting, rotating, running, or walking)
  • Popping sound as knee is moved
  • Knee feels locked which can make it difficult or impossible to move
  • Swelling
  • Stiffness
  • Fluid build-up on the knee

How is a Meniscal Tear Treated?

A condition such as meniscal tear generally involves treatment that is focused on physical therapy and medication. However, dealing with a tear such as this requires life-long preventative measures to ensure further complications don’t arise.

Types of medication used for treatment:

  • Anti-inflammatory medications are you used to prevent swelling and pain
  • Corticosteroids (Cortisone injections) are generally used in severe cases where the joint is extremely inflamed

Types of treatment you can do from home after you’ve visited your doctor:

  • Rest
  • You should utilize crutches or some other support system to keep pressure off the affected area
  • Place an ice pack on the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation/swelling of the area
  • Using a bandage to wrap the affected area can also be helpful with inflammation