The meniscus is a piece of cartilage that provides a cushion between your femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone). There are two menisci in each knee joint.
They can be damaged or torn during activities that put pressure on or rotate the knee joint. Taking a hard tackle on the football field or a sudden pivot on the basketball court can result in a meniscus tear.
You don’t have to be an athlete to get a meniscus tear, though. Simply getting up too quickly from a squatting position can also cause a meniscal tear. According to Boston Children’s Hospital, more than 500,000 meniscal tears take place in the United States each year.
Depending on the severity of your injury, treatment options can vary from at-home remedies to outpatient surgery. You can help prevent this injury by doing exercises that’ll strengthen your leg muscles and using proper techniques during contact activities or sports.
The meniscus can be torn during activities that cause direct contact or pressure from a forced twist or rotation. A sudden pivot or turn, deep squatting, or heavy lifting can lead to injury. Many athletes are at risk for a meniscus tear.
Sports that require sudden turns and stops may put you at higher risk for meniscus tears. Some of these sports include:
- football
- basketball
- soccer
- tennis
According to Boston Children’s Hospital, meniscus tears are growing increasingly common in children. This is because children are participating in organized sports at an earlier age. Additionally, when focusing on just one sport, a child is more likely to experience a meniscus tear. The same is true for adolescents who participate in competitive sports.
The meniscus weakens with age. Tears are more common in people over the age of 30. Movements like squatting or stepping can lead to injury in someone with weak menisci.
If you have osteoarthritis, you’re at higher risk of injuring your knee or tearing your meniscus. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder involving pain and stiffness in your joints caused by aging and wear and tear.
When an older person experiences a meniscus tear, it’s more likely to be related to degeneration. This is when the cartilage in the knee becomes weaker and thinner. As a result, it’s more prone to tear.
When a meniscus tear occurs, you may hear a popping sound around your knee joint. Afterward, you may experience:
- pain, especially when the area is touched
- swelling
- difficulty moving your knee or inability to move it in a full range of motion
- the feeling of your knee locking or catching
- the feeling that your knee is giving way or unable to support you
You may also experience a slipping or popping sensation, which is usually an indication that a piece of cartilage has become loose and is blocking the knee joint.
Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms and they persist for more than a few days or occur after your knee has been injured. Call your doctor immediately if your knee locks and you’re unable to bend your knee after straightening it.
Physical exam
After you discuss your symptoms with your doctor, they’ll examine your knee and test your range of motion. They’ll look closely at the spot where the meniscus is along your joint.
Your doctor also may perform a McMurray test to look for a meniscal tear. This test involves bending your knee and then straightening and rotating it. You may hear a slight pop during this test. This can indicate a tear of the meniscus.
Imaging tests
Imaging tests may be ordered to confirm a tear of the meniscus. These include:
Knee X-ray
This test won’t show a meniscus tear. However, it can be helpful to determine if there are any other causes of your knee pain, like osteoarthritis.
MRI
An MRI uses a magnetic field to take multiple images of your knee. An MRI will be able to take pictures of cartilage and ligaments to determine if there’s a meniscus tear.
While MRIs can help your doctor make a diagnosis, they aren’t considered 100 percent reliable. According to a study from 2008 published in the
Sometimes, meniscus tears may not show up on an MRI because they can closely resemble degenerative or age-related changes. Additionally, a doctor may make an incorrect diagnosis that a person has a torn meniscus. This is because some structures around the knee can closely resemble a meniscus tear.
However, using an MRI has helped reduce the need for arthroscopy in some people.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to take images inside the body. This will determine if you have any loose cartilage that may be getting caught in your knee.
Arthroscopy
If your doctor is unable to determine the cause of your knee pain from these techniques, they may suggest arthroscopy to study your knee. If you require surgery, your doctor will also most likely use an arthroscope.
With arthroscopy, a small incision or cut is made near the knee. The arthroscope is a thin and flexible fiber-optic device that can be inserted through the incision. It has a small light and camera. Surgical instruments can be moved through the arthroscope or through additional incisions in your knee.
After an arthroscopy, either for surgery or examination, people can often go home the same day.
Initially, you should treat the knee injury with conservative techniques that include rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or the RICE method:
- Rest your knee. Use crutches to avoid any weight bearing on the joint. Avoid any activities that worsen your knee pain.
- Ice your knee every three to four hours for 30 minutes.
- Compress or wrap the knee in an elastic bandage to reduce inflammation.
- Elevate your knee to reduce swelling.
You can also take medication such as ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin (Bayer), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce pain and swelling around your knee.
You shouldn’t put your full weight on your injured knee if it’s painful. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles surrounding your knee.
Physical therapy can help reduce pain and increase your knee mobility and stability. Your physical therapist may also use massage techniques to reduce swelling and stiffness.
Surgery
If your knee isn’t responding to the treatments above, your doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions as to how to prepare for this surgery. Some example instructions may include:
- be fitted for crutches before your procedure and learn how to use them
- complete presurgery requirements, such as blood tests, X-rays, MRI, electrocardiogram (EKG), and other medical clearances, including an anesthesia clearance
- fill your prescription for pain medication before your procedure
- refrain from eating or drinking anything the night before your procedure
Notify your doctor if you experience any conditions that could keep you from having your surgery. These include:
- a fever
- an infection
- a cold
- an open wound
The surgeon will make a small incision in your knee. Your surgeon will insert tools and a camera through the incision to repair or trim away the damaged meniscus. The entire procedure typically lasts about an hour.
You can usually go home the same day after this procedure. Full recovery will take time. However, you can begin participating in physical therapy exercises within days after surgery.
If your procedure involves a meniscal repair, the recovery and rehabilitation time is about six weeks. You’ll wear a knee brace or crutches during this time.
Surgery involves risks and you should talk with your doctor to determine if you’re a good candidate for this procedure. The recovery period will include regular visits to the doctor as well as physical therapy to strengthen the muscles supporting your knee.
If you are facing Meniscus injury problem then you can consult best orthopedist in patna
If you are facing this types of problems then you can also consult orthopedist
1 . Dr Piyush Thakur
Dr Piyush Thakur currently practices at Pillar No-81,Ashram Gali,seikhpura,Baily Road..
Dr Piyush Thakur comes with experience of 5 years. He currently practices at Nidan Health care and Diagnostic centre. He was a Resident doctor for RML Hospital & SR Paras HMRI Hospital.
2 . Dr Navin Upadhyay
Dr Navin Upadhyay currently practices at Yogesh Clinic-Orthopaedic & Gynaecology, Rukanpura, Bailey Road. Opposite Sri Sai Yahama Showroom (Swadesh Tower).
Established in the year 2017, Dr Navin Upadhyay in KHAJPURA, Patna is a top player in the category Orthopaedic Doctors in the Patna. This well-known establishment acts as a one-stop destination servicing customers both local and from other parts of Patna. Over the course of its journey, this business has established a firm foothold in it’s industry. The belief that customer satisfaction is as important as their products and services, have helped this establishment garner a vast base of customers, which continues to grow by the day. This business employs individuals that are dedicated towards their respective roles and put in a lot of effort to achieve the common vision and larger goals of the company. In the near future, this business aims to expand its line of products and services and cater to a larger client base. In Patna, this establishment occupies a prominent location in KHAJPURA. It is an effortless task in commuting to this establishment as there are various modes of transport readily available. It is at Rukanpura,Bailey Road, Opposite Sri Sai Yahama Showroom (Swadesh Tower), which makes it easy for first-time visitors in locating this establishment. It is known to provide top service in the following categories: Orthopaedic Doctors, Orthopaedic Hospitals, Arthritis Doctors, Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Surgeons, Orthopaedic Traumatologist Doctors, Musculoskeletal Treatment, Hip Pain Treatment, Wrist Treatment.
3 . Dr Abhijeet Jayaswal
Dr Abhijeet Jayaswal currently practices at Gandhi Setu Colony,East of Biscomaun colony ..
Dr Abhijeet jayaswal comes with experience of 3 years. He currently practices at Popular Orthopedic Hospital, Gandhi setu colony. He has been senior resident in SAIMS & PGI, Indore. He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to bone and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
4 . Dr Ajay Kumar Jayaswal
Dr Ajay Kumar Jayaswal currently practices at Gandhi Setu Colony,East of Biscomaun colony..
Dr Ajay Kumar jayaswal comes with experience of 35 years. He currently practices at Popular Orthopedic Hospital, Gandhi setu colony. He is head consultant orthopaedic surgon. He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to bone and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
5 . Dr Abhinay Jayaswal
Dr Abhinay Jayaswal currently practices at Gandhi Setu colony,East of Biscomaun colony..
Dr Abhinay jayaswal comes with experience of 4 years. He currently practices at Popular Orthopedic Hospital, Gandhi setu colony. He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to bone and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
6 . Dr.Vineesh Niranjan
Dr.Vineesh Niranjan currently practices at Behind Devarun Apartment Bhikna Pahari..
Dr. Vineesh Niranjan comes with experience of 15 years. He currently practices at Niranjan Aarogya Niketan & Research Centre. He has a thorough knowledge of bone problem and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
7 . Popular Orthopedic Hospital
Popular Orthopedic Hospital currently practices at gandhi setu colony..
Popular Orthopaedic Hospital, An initiative by Dr. Ajay Kumar Jayaswal with a vision for providing the best healthcare at the most economical price to benefit all strata of society especially the peripheral of Bihar including the neighboring states. popular orthopedic hospital was established in 2008 and has been growing since under the aegis of Dr. Ajay Kumar who is senior orthopedic surgeon and has 35 years of experience.
8 . Popular Orthopaedic Nursing Home
Popular Orthopaedic Nursing Home currently practices at Paschim Darwaza,Patna-800008.
Popular Orthopaedic Hospital, An initiative by Dr. Ajay Kumar Jayaswal with a vision for providing the best healthcare at the most economical price to benefit all strata of society especially the peripheral of Bihar including the neighboring states. popular orthopedic hospital was established in 2008 and has been growing since under the aegis of Dr. Ajay Kumar who is senior orthopedic surgeon and has 35 years of experience.
9 . Dr Rajeev Kumar Bhatt
Dr Rajeev Kumar Bhatt currently practices at Rajendra Nagar, Maila Tanki Road Near Gold Gym..
Dr Rajeev Kumar Bhatt comes with experience of 20 years. He currently practices at Rajendra Nagar Patna. He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to bone and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
10 . Hari Om Nursing Home
Hari Om Nursing Home currently practices at Patiputra times Building,Nala Rd,KadamKuan Chowk.
Hari Om Nurshing Home offers treatments from the best doctors in the field of Joint Preservation Surgery, Joint Replacement Surgeon, Orthopedic Trauma Specialist, Orthopedist,Spine Surgery, Gynecology,Urology,ENT,Neurology etc.Our goal is to provide a compassionate professional environment to make your experience comfortable. Our staff is friendly, knowledgable and very helpful in addressing your health and financial concerns. Doctors have thorough knowledge of problems and they tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
All Professional Doctor of Hari Om Nursing Home
Orthopaedic Doctors Dr Anshu Anand And Dr Vinay Kumar Fee-300
Neurologist Doctor Dr C.M Jha Surgeon Fee -1000, Dr H.N SinghPhysician Fee-500.
General Surgeon Dr Neeraj Sinha. Fee 400.
Urologist Doctor Dr P.K Sinha Fee 400.
Gynecologist Doctor Dr Poonam Nandan. Fee 400
General Physician Dr Sanjay Kumar. Fee 500
ENT Dr Sumit Kumar
Plastic Surgeon Dr S K Satyapal
11 . Dr Rakesh Kumar
Dr Rakesh Kumar currently practices at G/43 P.C.Colony,Kankarbhag,.
Dr Rakesh Kumar comes with experience of 16 years.He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to all Orthopedics and Spine problem with Joint replacement with his clinical experience.
12 . Dr Anand shankar
Dr Anand shankar currently practices at H -3, Kankarbagh Road, Near Over Bridge, Dr. Colony, Rajendra Nagar..
Dr Anand Shankar comes with experience of 15 years. He currently practices at Patna Bone And Spine Hospital. He has a thorough knowledge of problems related to bone and he tackles the problems and challenges with his clinical experience.
13 . Dr Anil kumar
Dr Anil kumar currently practices at MIG-162,Doctors Colony, Kankerbagh, Patna.
Dr. Anil Kumar is one of the very few gifted Orthopaedic Surgeons you can find in Bihar.After M.B.B.S. degree course, he got additional training and experiences in general surgery and anaesthesia. He completed his D. Ortho under the guidance of very renowned and experienced professor of Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna.Dr. Anil Kumar is the name of an Indian origin rapidly growing young and enthusiastic Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon who is extremely kind-hearted and is devoted to human being by nature.He is associated with Ford Hospital.Specializes in Limb Lengthening,Arthoscopy,Fracture and Trauma,Spine Surgery,Joint Replacement.
14 . Sarvodya Nursing Home
Sarvodya Nursing Home currently practices at Rajendra nagar road no.1 near electric office old pani tanki patna ..
Dr P.K KANOUJYA comes with experience of 30 year. He was a Resident doctor for Appolo orthopaedic freacture and centre sasaram.
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