This has persisted for a period greater than a year. If this is you, then surgery may be your best option. In conclusion, it appears to me that the irritability of the tear, the nature of your work or sport and the ability for you to enjoy activity is what may make surgery necessary.
This information is not meant to replace the advice or treatment of a qualified physician or physiotherapist. It is meant for information only. Please seek an assessment and discuss your treatment options with your caregiver prior to making a decision about your treatment path. I was diagnosed with a torn meniscus over three years ago. The surgeon was ready to operate but suggested that I try physiotherapy first.
My physiotherapist suggested exercises to strengthen the two small gluteus muscles as well as the quads and hamstring muscles.
She also suggested that I apply light traction to the knee. I have continued these exercises on a regular basis. I know that I still have a torn meniscus since the knee will lock occasionally with intense pain.
However, I have been able to resume squash and tennis with no pain or swelling. It would seem to me that some healing of the meniscus must have taken place. Thanks for the post Stan. While the meniscus will not heal, the inflammatory response will reduce and in many cases stability will return. If the locking goes away and you are able to function at a normal level, then there is little reason to move on to more drastic measures. Hi Grant! I found your article very interesting, I was told I have a lateral meniscus tear, I have previously had part of this meniscus shaved off.
I am 19 years old. I live a very active lifestyle and am studying abroad in January. Unfortunately this means I will try to have surgery to fix my meniscus. Hopefully I will have that luxury at some point!
Thank you! Thanks for sharing your story Audrey, please keep us up to date with your outcome. I wish you the best for a speedy and successful recovery.
Hi Emma, a good thorough assessment by a medical practitioner should be able to narrow down the diagnosis. I find that a MRI is important only in some circumstances, such as when it appears surgery may be indicated. But this is the first time I've had to think about surgery. I've had bad pain in my knee fairly constantly since I twisted it in the gym a few weeks ago. It's particularly bad if I bend or flex my knee.
The surgeon says that the MRI shows a large tear in the inner part of my meniscus, and that's the part that doesn't heal well. He's recommending a partial meniscectomy to remove the damaged tissue. He says that he'll only have to remove a small part of the meniscus and I'll still have stability in the knee, and no more pain! I'm going to have the surgery next week.
Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. I think my meniscus tear is minor. I want to wait and see if my knee gets better before I have surgery. I'm in a lot of pain, and I want to have surgery so I can start feeling better. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision.
Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. My treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on more than just how I hurt my knee. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?
Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. Blahd Jr. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use.
Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Get the facts.
Your options Have surgery to treat a meniscus tear. Don't have surgery. Use home treatment and physiotherapy to treat your knee. Key points to remember Your decision about surgery for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your surgeon's experience and preference, as well as your age, health, and activity level, can also affect your treatment options.
There are two kinds of surgery for a meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back together. The other kind removes part or all of the meniscus. In general, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it. Some types of tears can't be fixed. For example, radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. But most horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed.
You may want to have surgery if your knee pain is too great or if you are unable to do daily activities. Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. There are no long-term studies to prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the knee is protected from uneven force, there is a lower risk of future joint problems.
Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, you may try rest, ice, compression, and propping up your leg on a pillow when you sit or lie down. What is a meniscus tear? How is a meniscus injured or torn? What are the types of meniscus tears? How is a torn meniscus treated?
There are two basic types of treatment for a torn meniscus—non-surgical treatment and surgery. With non-surgical treatment , you use rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and you have physiotherapy. You may wear a knee brace for a short time. With surgery , you can have one of the following: Surgical repair to sew the tear together.
Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the meniscus. Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the entire meniscus. This surgery is not usually done, because it increases the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee. If you have a small tear at the outer edge of the meniscus in what doctors call the red zone , you may want to try home treatment. These tears often heal with rest.
If you have a moderate to large tear at the outer edge of the meniscus red zone , you may want to think about surgery.
These kinds of tears tend to heal well after surgery. If you have a tear that spreads from the red zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus called the white zone , your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not work. You may need a partial meniscectomy instead.
If you have a tear in the white zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not heal. But partial meniscectomy may be done if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and swelling. How well does surgery work? In knees that have good stability. In longitudinal tears or in radial tears that occur in the red zone. If the repair is done in the first few weeks after the injury. What can you do instead of surgery for a torn meniscus?
Why might your doctor recommend surgery? Your doctor may recommend surgery because: You still have pain after trying other treatment, such as rest and physiotherapy. Your knee "locks up" instead of working normally. You may be able to reduce the risk of future joint problems osteoarthritis. You are an active person and your tear is in the red-to-white zone. Surgery can help return your knee to normal. Show which way you are leaning right now.
How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. My treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on more than just how I hurt my knee. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: William H. Blahd Jr. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. Get the facts. Your options Have surgery to treat a meniscus tear. Don't have surgery.
Use home treatment and physical therapy to treat your knee. Key points to remember Your decision about surgery for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your surgeon's experience and preference, as well as your age, health, and activity level, can also affect your treatment options. There are two kinds of surgery for a meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back together.
The other kind removes part or all of the meniscus. In general, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it. Some types of tears can't be fixed. For example, radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. But most horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed.
You may want to have surgery if your knee pain is too great or if you are unable to do daily activities. Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. There are no long-term studies to prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the knee is protected from uneven force, there is a lower risk of future joint problems. Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, you may try rest, ice, compression, and propping up your leg on a pillow when you sit or lie down.
What is a meniscus tear? How is a meniscus injured or torn? What are the types of meniscus tears? How is a torn meniscus treated?
There are two basic types of treatment for a torn meniscus—nonsurgical treatment and surgery. With nonsurgical treatment , you use rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and you have physical therapy.
You may wear a knee brace for a short time. With surgery , you can have one of the following: Surgical repair to sew the tear together. Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the meniscus. Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the entire meniscus. This surgery is not usually done, because it increases the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee. If you have a small tear at the outer edge of the meniscus in what doctors call the red zone , you may want to try home treatment.
These tears often heal with rest. If you have a moderate to large tear at the outer edge of the meniscus red zone , you may want to think about surgery. These kinds of tears tend to heal well after surgery.
If you have a tear that spreads from the red zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus called the white zone , your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not work.
You may need a partial meniscectomy instead. If you have a tear in the white zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not heal. But partial meniscectomy may be done if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and swelling.
How well does surgery work? In knees that have good stability. In longitudinal tears or in radial tears that occur in the red zone. If the repair is done in the first few weeks after the injury. What can you do instead of surgery for a torn meniscus?
Why might your doctor recommend surgery? Your doctor may recommend surgery because: You still have pain after trying other treatment, such as rest and physical therapy. Your knee "locks up" instead of working normally. You may be able to reduce the risk of future joint problems osteoarthritis. You are an active person and your tear is in the red-to-white zone. Surgery can help return your knee to normal.
Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Have surgery for a torn meniscus Don't have surgery. Compare Option 2 Have surgery for a torn meniscus Don't have surgery. Have surgery for a torn meniscus Have surgery for a torn meniscus You have surgery to fix or remove the meniscus. In most cases, you will go home on the same day as the surgery. Either type of surgery is followed by rehabilitation that includes rest, walking, and doing exercises until you have full range of motion without pain.
After surgery to fix your meniscus, you must limit movement for up to 2 weeks. It may take weeks or months before you can go back to your daily activities after surgery. That means that of people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not.
Out of people who had surgery to remove part of the meniscus, 78 to 88 had relief from pain and knee problems. You may still have pain and joint stiffness after surgery. Surgery has risks, such as: Infection.
Damage to nerves or blood vessels around the knee. Blood clots in the leg. Damage to the joint. Risks from anesthesia.
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