Verified By Apollo Hospitals October 1, 2024
A meniscal tear, as the name suggests, is an injury to the menisci, thin cartilages (or semilunar cartilages) of the knee that sit between the femur (the only bone located in your thigh and longest bone of your body) and tibia (the shinbone).
Your knees have two menisci that cushion your knee joint. When a meniscus is torn, it leads to inflammation and stiffness of the joints and causes pain.
A meniscal injury is one of the most common types of cartilage damages. And, like with other knee-related injuries, meniscal damage can be quite distressing and painful.
So, what is the function of the meniscus in your body? The meniscus cushions the knee and works as a shock absorber while providing stability to the joints. In addition, it also protects your bones from getting damaged due to regular wear and tear.
Besides, the semilunar cartilages also help in channeling nutrients into the cartilage and tissue that embrace the bones of your legs (femur and tibia). When these tissues are healthy, it becomes easy to check degenerative arthritis.
Following are the signs and symptoms of a meniscal tear:
Initially, you might not feel intense pain and can even play or run with the injury. However, once your knee happens to swell, it is most likely to hurt a bit more.
If your knee swells or becomes painful or cannot move your knee properly, get in touch with your doctor at the earliest.
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In most cases, all it takes is a sudden twisting or over-rotation of your knee to cause meniscal tears, such as a sports injury or any trauma.
People who are more than 30 years of age are more prone to such injuries. On the contrary, in younger people, the menisci are more flexible, strong, and rubbery. So, the incidences of meniscal tears are also fewer.
And, as we age, the menisci tend to become weak and prone to injuries. So, even a slight disbalance during a workout can tear the meniscus.
In some people, degenerative osteoarthritis can also lead to meniscal tears.
Here are some of the common causes of sports-related meniscal tears:
Following are degenerative causes responsible for meniscal tears:
Your doctor will ask you every detail about your injury and then examine you thoroughly. He/she is most likely to recommend taking an X-ray to understand if you also have fractured bones or not. For a detailed evaluation of your knee cartilage, your doctor may also suggest doing an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
In some cases, the doctor may also want to take a look at the condition of your knee from the inside. In such scenarios, he or she may use an arthroscope (a device used for orthopedic tests) to do it by making a small cut on the skin near your knee.
In most cases, your doctor will start with the treatment, depending on the location, type, size, and severity of your injury. If your meniscal tear is due to arthritis, it is more likely to improve with the right treatment. So, initially, your doctor will not recommend surgery.
The standard treatment for meniscal tears mainly targets keeping the swelling and pain in check. The treatment is known as RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation). So, it begins like this:
So, it is all about the RICE therapy. Now let us take a look at the other treatment options.
Physiotherapy
Your doctor is more likely to prescribe physical therapy to you. It will help in strengthening your knee and leg muscles and properly stabilizing the joint.
Surgery
Conclusion
A torn meniscus is very common. However, if you see your doctor on time, follow what he or she suggests, and make some lifestyle changes, you can get relief from the pain and discomfort owing to a meniscal tear.
Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment
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