Meniscus Tear

Menisci are pieces of cartilage that are C-shaped and lie in the space between where two bones meet, otherwise known as the joint space between bones. The job of a meniscus is to provide protection and support for the surface of the joint and the ends of the bone. It also provides a cushioning effect between the two to encourage smoother movement.

The menisci of the knee are located between the upper femur bone and the lower tibia bones of the leg. This means that the menisci are crucial in protecting the joints and bone against high-shock activities such as walking, running and jumping – anything which means hard impact and can cause the joint to jolt or be affected.

Any tear in the menisci means a huge compromise of stability and movement and can cause a great deal of pain.

The tearing of a meniscus is very common in the category of knee injuries. Torn menisci can occur through any activity which demands a lot of impact or movement from the near joint. It can easily be damaged by twisting the knee the wrong way, or by forcing a lot of weight behind the knee joint whilst rotating or twisting. Simply moving or rotating the wrong way, especially when squatting and lifting, can result in a damaged meniscus.

The deterioration of the menisci is also dependent on age, as older adults become more vulnerable with their joints, meaning a meniscus can actually be torn or damaged with no huge trauma or stimulant.

Meniscus tears are highly likely types of sports-related injuries, due to the amount of movement and pressure athletes are putting on their knee joints on a regular basis.

A torn meniscus is usually very easily detected due to the pain, swelling, and stiffness you may feel in your knee joint. The following signs and symptoms indicate a torn meniscus:

• You may be unable to extend your knee fully
• You may feel a form of blockage to your knee movement that you didn’t have before
• There may also be a popping sensation in the joint or behind the knee
• Noticeable swelling
• Stiffness in the knee joint
• General pain, but more so when twisting, moving or rotating your knee
• Inability or difficulty extending the knee to its full capacity
• You may feel as though your knee locks easily, or locks whenever you try to move it

It’s important to remember that a meniscus tear can manifest in many forms, and you won’t always have a significant amount of pain. Some individuals with a torn meniscus can actually continue to walk, stand properly and sleep without any localized pain in the knee. It may only be through significant twisting or squatting motions that any pain materializes at all. With this in mind, focus more on swelling or differences in the knee movement rather than simply pain in the knee joint.

It’s important to seek medical treatment as soon as possible for a meniscus tear, as this sort of damage can lead to long-term health effects. This might include instability with your knee joint, persistent pain in your knee, and the possibility of developing osteoarthritis in the knee in question.

You should seek medical treatment if you have any of the above symptoms, even if you do not have all of the symptoms, in order to fully inspect what is causing the problems in your knee joint and whether it is, in fact, a meniscus tear.

It is possible to treat the pain of a meniscus tear at home with rest, pain killers, and ice treatment in the affected area, but these are short-term solutions to relieve pain and it’s important to have your injury examined to prevent long-term effects and further damage. In some cases, a torn meniscus may require surgery to fix, therefore, it’s crucial to be examined to understand which treatment option you need.

If your knee is painful and swollen, and you notice that your stability and movement has changed, you should consult with a medical professional as soon as possible.

Icon Medical clinics specialize in injuries caused by auto accidents, sports injuries or general pain relief. If you believe that you are suffering from a torn meniscus or are suffering pain within the knee joint, book an appointment with our professional medical staff for an examination.