The knee is one of the most important joints of the body. It not only aids in movement but also different kinds of activities and provides support to the leg. There are a lot of injuries to the knee, and a meniscus tear is a common one. Here is a guide to take help from before seeing an orthopedic surgeon.

Knee Meniscus Tear

To understand knee meniscus tears, you first need to know about the anatomy of the knee. The knee comprises the joints of the thigh bone and the shin bone. The knee is one of the most complex joints of the human body and each of your knees is surrounded or cupped by a c-shaped cartilage. This is known as a meniscus. So, what is the purpose of the meniscus?

Well, a meniscus usually aids in preventing friction against the thigh bone and shin bone. It also provides that extra bit of cushion you need when you’re engaging your knee in strenuous sports and activities. Think of the meniscus as a shock absorber. If you fall on your knees, the reason why none of your bones break or there isn’t any major injury is because of the meniscus, however, that doesn’t mean that it is indestructible.

A knee meniscus tear occurs when the cartilage is torn beyond its limit. This can happen a lot to people who play a lot of sports and engage their knees a lot. The result is swollen knees, a lot of pain, and an inability to bend or move your knee properly.

Causes Of Knee Meniscus Tear

There are a lot of causes of a torn meniscus and some of them have to do with how you’re using your leg, while some are just totally out of your control. Here are some of the most common reasons and causes of knee meniscus tears.

Sports And Exercises

Sportsmen can often suffer from a torn meniscus in either one or both knees and this can happen if they run a lot and they don’t warm their bodies up beforehand.

Another reason why meniscus tears are so common in athletes is because they tend to engage in activities that twist the upper part of the leg a lot and this action can put a lot of strain on the knee and it can cause the meniscus to tear partially or completely.

Anterior cruciate ligament, also known as ACL injury, which is a very common injury in a lot of people who play sports, especially with their feet, can also tear their menisci and it’s really common to occur in younger athletes. Their legs are very stiff and this can lead to their menisci getting torn.

Age

Speaking of age, as the years increase, the overall body gets really weak and the meniscus in your knees can also fall victim to tearing or weakening. This is common to occur in old people who are also suffering from a variety of different bone or body pain-related disorders.

Accidents

Bad accidents or falls can also tear the meniscus and it’s sudden and life-changing. If the accident is bad, then the whole meniscus can be at risk of getting torn, so it’s always recommended that you get yourself checked, even if you feel nothing after a bad fall or accident.

Symptoms Of Knee Meniscus Tear

Now that you know the causes of knee meniscus tears, here are some symptoms that you need to look out for and visit an orthopedic clinic.

• The first and the most obvious sign of a torn meniscus is pain. Your knee will be in a lot of pain and the worst part is that the pain is radiating. So, you will feel it all the way up and down your leg, whenever you try to move your knee or put any weight on it.
• You will also experience swelling in the knee and this is something that a lot of people tend to turn a blind eye towards. Swelling in the knee isn’t normal by any means, especially if you’ve taken a hard hit. So, it’s always advised to check for any swelling.
• This is something that you will only experience while you’re getting injured and that is a popping sound that is heard when the meniscus is torn. It might sound cliché, but you will hear your meniscus getting torn and that’s the sound you will hear. It will be a light and snappy popping sound.
• Your knee can also get locked up and you will have a hard time walking.
• You will see that straightening your leg will be a hard thing to do and during the process, you will feel a lot of pain.

Diagnosis Of Knee Meniscus Tear

Before jumping into the treatment plan, it’s important to know how a torn meniscus is diagnosed. The gist of the diagnosis is that whenever you feel like the symptoms are lasting for too long, that’s when you should see a knee specialist Woodbridge.

Once you go to a doctor, they will do a physical examination and ask you some routine questions. Afterward, if the need arises, then an X-ray or MRI will be done to take a better look at the torn meniscus, and after the severity of the tear is determined, the treatment will follow suit.

Treatment For Knee Meniscus Tear

Here are some treatment regimens for knee meniscus tears.

Rest

If the knee isn’t locked up, then you won’t need surgery. You will need to take a break from playing sports though and you will need to give your knee a rest.

Keeping the knee elevated will do wonders for the pain and it will heal quickly.

Ice Compress

If the tear is small and not as bad then ice compress will do the trick, while you let the tear heal on its own.

Pain Medication

You can also use pain medication if the pain in your knee is bad. However, it’s tolerable for the most part and you can get away with little to no pain medication at all. However, if you have a low threshold for pain, then over-the-counter medication, NSAIDs, and ibuprofen will work amazingly.

Exercises

Stretching and light exercises will also make the healing process easier and some exercises can even help with the pain, so that’s a huge plus.

Braces

If you want, you can also wear a knee tear brace, if you really can’t afford to rest. It will keep your knee cushioned and secure while you walk.

Surgery

If your knee is locked up and the pain is a lot, then you will probably need to go forward with an arthroscopic surgery. In this surgery, a camera is inserted in an incision in your knee and cuts are made to remove the damaged meniscus tissue.

The healing time is pretty quick and you will be able to move your knee normally again very soon. Surgery is only recommended when the tear is severe.

Conclusion

Knee meniscus tears are very common to occur and they can affect your leg in the worst way. Surgery is not required in many cases, but you need to get checked so the knee injury doctor Woodbridge can create the right treatment plan for you.