Meniscus tears happen to be the most prevalent knee injuries, especially among athletes, but they often occur with other injuries, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. If not treated, the tears can lead to excruciating pain and interfere with your mobility. Fortunately, Dr. Ronald Hess West Chester offers noninvasive and minimally invasive treatments at Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine to restore optimal mobility in your knee joint.
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An overview of a meniscus tear
A torn meniscus tops the list of the most prevalent knee injuries, especially in athletes. A physical activity that requires you to rotate or forcefully twist your knee can result in a meniscus tear. The meniscus is a part of your knee that is susceptible to injury. The menisci act as shock absorbers between your shin bones and thigh bone. They consist of rubbery fibrocartilage that makes them resilient to pressure when running, standing, or walking.
However, extreme stress or sudden movements can weaken and tear over time. As you get older, your tissues become more susceptible to wear and tear, meaning that meniscus tears are more likely to happen when doing simple activities such as squatting to pick something or getting out of the car. Superficial knee injuries improve with conservative treatments and adequate rest, but meniscus tears require surgery.
Signature signs of a meniscus tear
You will know something is not right when you have a torn meniscus. Although it may take about 24 hours to experience extreme pain and swelling, you may still experience other symptoms. They include trouble straightening your knee, a popping sound in your knee, or being unable to move your knee. To determine if you have a torn meniscus, your doctor may conduct a thorough knee exam and enquire about how you got the injury. Dr. Hess and his team may perform an X-ray to rule out fractures and other severe problems. They may also request an MRI to get a clear view of your knee cartilage and identify the problem. If you develop a swollen and painful knee, inform your doctor immediately.
Available treatment options for a meniscus tear
Your treatment relies on the location and size of the tear, related injuries, activity level, and age. The red zone (the outer portion of your meniscus) has an excellent blood supply and often heals without medical intervention if the tear is small. The white zone, however, does not have an adequate blood supply, meaning that a tear in this area cannot heal on its own as it lacks blood vessels to nourish it with nutrients.
Fortunately, not all meniscus tears require surgery. If your knee is stable and the pain responds to conservative treatments, knee surgery may not be necessary. To speed up recovery, Dr. Hess may recommend adequate rest, elevating your knee, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and doing knee stretching exercises to strengthen the joint. These noninvasive treatments may, however, not always be practical. If your knee causes locking symptoms or is unstable, or the tear is large, you may need surgery to remove or repair the unstable parts.
For diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of a meniscus tear, call the Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine office or book your spot online today.