What Are Common Treatments For A Meniscus Tear
The treatment for a meniscal tear will vary, depending on how severe the tear is. Your doctor will likely try nonsurgical options before resorting to surgery, including time, rest, anti-inflammatory medicines, ice packs and physical therapy. These treatments are often effective in relieving symptoms. “If those don’t work,” says Dr. Griesser, “then often we’re talking about operative treatment in the form of knee arthroscopy.”
Knee arthroscopy involves inserting a small camera and surgical instruments into the knee joint through small incisions. This allows the surgeon to repair the torn meniscus. Depending on the degree of the tear and surgery performed, recovery and rehabilitation can range from three or four weeks up to three months.
Question 7 Of : What Is The Prognosis For A Torn Meniscus
Stage : Remodelling Stage
As your meniscus recovers, its important to slowly increase the forces through your knee and challenge its control through more complex exercises.
Rehab aims:
- To build strength and control in positions that resemble the running action these usually place a higher load through your knee and are more challenging to control.
- Continue building core strength and control.
- Slowly build your walking endurance and pace without pushing into pain.
- Cross train to maintain your cardiovascular fitness.
Examples of stage 3 meniscus tear exercises
Lunges and step-up exercises fall under this category.
Activities to avoid
When to progress
- When you can walk for 30 minutes at a brisk pace and
- You can perform the exercises that the app has prescribed without pain and with good control.
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Question 2 Of : What At
How Many Days Should You Ice After Surgery
Most people ice for 20-30 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days after surgery. You can ice for longer periods of time if it is comfortable for you.
When and how long to ice an injury is critical in determining how effective and safe this treatment is. Ice packs should be applied to the injured area as soon as possible. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the best way to apply ice to the wound and how it will aid in healing. When an injury has already been traumatised, ice it for about 10 minutes. In the first 24 hours, ice should not be used unless a doctor orders it. If ice is not applied correctly, it can cause frostbite and damage to the delicate tissues. A lack of movement and too much rest can lead to fatigue and a slower healing process. The term optimistic loading refers to starting gentle exercises after a short period of rest and gradually increasing the amount of exercise to improve strength and range of motion. Swelling must be reduced in order for blood to circulate, and it must be raised above the heart in order to accomplish this.
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Location Of Meniscal Tears
In our , we explained that meniscal tears need a good blood supply to heal. The meniscus has areas with a good blood flow and areas with no blood supply at all .
If your tear is in a no blood supply zone, it will likely not heal and it cant be repaired with surgery. However, studies have shown that you can have a fully functional, pain-free knee even if you have a meniscus tear that hasnt healed.
It is always best to see if your knee can improve with a conservative treatment plan, but if your symptoms are bad and stop you from living your daily life, the damaged part will usually need to be removed.
Most minor to moderate tears respond well to . A program like this helps support and protect your meniscus, and in turn may improve your symptoms.
How To Help A Meniscus Tear At Home
Meniscus tears can be helped at home through following the principles listed above, which are:
- Allow the initial pain to settle with rest, ice, compression and elevation you can find a guide to using ice or heat for knee injuries here.
- Prevent any twisting including crossing legs, breaststroke swimming, twisting when on feet etc.
- Avoid sport until the pain subsides and your strength returns.
- Seek to improve the strength of the muscles, flexibility of the lower limb and mobility of the knee to speed up healing. You can find a complete guide for doing that here.
- Continue to walk as normal in most cases as this should be good for healing.
- Avoid running try walking or cycling instead.
- Do not try to move objects with your foot, hold doors open with your foot or kick anything during the healing process.
Our forthcoming Optimal Knee Health Programme is a home course that we designed to help people improve the health of their knees.
The programme is very similar to the graduated rehabilitation that we take our patients with meniscus injuries through to promote a full recovery.
You can read more about the programme here.
Thank you very much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this article.
If you did, please feel free to leave a comment below with any questions.
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Can You Tear Your Meniscus Again After Surgery
There is always a risk of tearing your meniscus again after surgery, especially if you return to high-impact activities too soon. Its important to follow your doctors instructions and rehab protocol to help reduce the risk of re-injury.
If the meniscus is torn, it is possible that your leg will swell and feel stiff. If you twist or straighten your knee, you may experience pain. As a result, you should rest, use pain relievers, and ice to your knee as soon as possible. If your injury is severe, you may require surgery. If your knee has a mild tear , it may not need surgery. If it is Grade 3, you should be able to handle it. Physical therapy may be appropriate in some cases as part of your recovery. Meniscectomy can usually be completed in a month or two, depending on how partial or total it is.
Continue Learning About Bone & Joint Injuries
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
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What Is A Meniscus Tear In The Knee
A meniscus tear is a common injury that affects a structure inside the knee called the meniscus.
In fact there are two menisci in our knees: one on the medial side and one on the lateral side . We call these the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus.
The meniscus is a very important structure. It is made of tough fibrocartilage and acts as a shock absorber inside the knee.
When we walk and stand, forces travel through the tibia into the femur . The meniscus helps to cushion this force and protect the other structures within the knee.
The meniscus is tightly bound down to the top of the tibia. This means that it can act as a very effective shock absorber but it is vulnerable to twisting due to it being so tightly attached.
Luckily, our knees are only designed to move forwards and backwards. Most of the time, the meniscus does not have to cope with much twisting.
However, in some unfortunate cases a twist can occur which can lead to a meniscus tear in the knee.
We call this an acute meniscus tear.
What To Expect Long
The benefits of having a meniscus repair performed by a reputable orthopedic surgeon are numerous. Once the torn cartilage is repaired and fully healed, patients can expect to return to the physical activities they once loved. Many patients report that their knee mobility following the procedure is at least as good as it was prior to the initial injury.
It is important to note that a torn meniscus will not heal itself. Damaged knee cartilage, left untreated, can progress into severe arthritis and become increasingly debilitating. While there are some initial inconveniences associated with the surgery and healing process, the long-term benefits of addressing this condition at the earliest stages are more than worth it.
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How To Heal A Torn Meniscus Naturally
Patients frequently ask: Can you rehab a torn meniscus without surgery?
The answer is yes, but thats only if the tear is not a very long one.
You need to understand what kind of tear you have because some will not heal on their own and cause more damage if left untreated.
Steps to heal a torn meniscus naturally:
- Rest: Its crucial to rest your knee after injury. You should not participate in activities where you could cause additional strain.
- Ice: Apply ice to your knee for 15 minutes at four-hour intervals.
- Compression: To help reduce swelling, you should keep something on your leg. We may recommend using a leg cuff. If you dont have one, an elastic band or sleeve can work as well.
- Elevation: Anytime youre resting on a bed, chair or couch, you should use something to elevate your leg, such as a pillow.
- Medication: Taking an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen or aspirin can help to reduce swelling and pain. Its best not to rely on them to heal you, but they can alleviate some discomfort.
- Stretch: You can stretch by lifting the knee above your heart. A doctor or physical therapist may make other stretch recommendations.
An easy way to remember the first four steps is to use the mnemonic device RICE. To further reduce irritation in the knee, we may recommend using crutches to limit strain, twisting and bending.
Treatments For A Meniscal Tear Without Surgery
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Will Walking On A Torn Meniscus Make It Worse
In cases with acute tears, you may be able to walk around with only slight discomfort or minimal pain. However, if youre noticing increased pain or have a severe tear, you should avoid walking on it until some pain starts to dissipate.
Some research shows that bearing weight after surgery does not cause any additional long-term damage. You can discuss with a doctor what you are and arent comfortable with to figure out if walking is a good idea.
What Should I Do If I Feel Like Theres Something Wrong With My Knees
If you are an athlete and is regularly subject to high physical activity and are feeling suspicious of how your knees are feeling, you need to call a doctor asap.
If you wait too long, you might worsen an injury and need more complex and expensive solutions. So get a check-up and your doctor.
The doctor can identify whether you have a meniscus tear during a physical exam. The practitioner will move your knee and leg into different articulations, observe how you walk and squat to pinpoint what causes your signs and symptoms.
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When Surgery Is Necessary
For a meniscus tear to heal, it must have the following attributes:
- Good blood supply
Suppose you are having surgery for a symptomatic torn meniscus. In that case, a repair is generally necessary only if the tear is unstable, you have healthy meniscus tissue, and the tear is in an area of good blood supply. Your healthcare provider will also consider your age, your activity level, and any other health issues you may have.
If the tear isn’t a good candidate for surgical repair, your doctor may remove the torn portion of the meniscus, called a partial meniscectomy.
Meet Our Doctors Who Treat The Knee
If you have a meniscus tear or youre feeling pain in your knee when you perform your daily activities, schedule an appointment with our knowledgeable team here at OrthoBethesda. Our experienced surgeons specialize in specific areas of the body. So, you can be sure we know what were talking about when we examine you. Our team will examine your knee and inform you of the best way to move forward literally.
Depending on the type of tear you have, we can provide non-surgical treatment. Our physical therapy enables you to heal faster and strengthen your leg muscles while reducing the risk of another tear. You can trust us to find the best solution for you.
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Stage : Build Running Intensity And Speed
Your meniscus should now have the strength to withstand higher-intensity running sessions. Its usually best to start by adding just one per week. Continue your regular strength training sessions.
Now that you have a good idea of what happens in each stage of an effective meniscal tear treatment plan, all you have to do is get started.
Have fun and good luck!
What Do I Need To Do To Prepare For Torn Meniscus Surgery
Our staff will help to set up the surgery through your insurance company and will instruct you on any paperwork that may be necessary. If you are over the age of 50 or have significant health conditions, you may need an EKG and chest X-ray. You may also need to see your internist or family doctor to obtain a Letter of Medical Clearance. The day before the surgery, a member of the hospital or surgery center staff will contact you about what time to arrive for surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your surgery.
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Virtual Care From Sports Doctors And Specialists
SportsMD offers Virtual Care and Second Opinion Services. It allows you to quickly and conveniently speak with a sports doctor or specialist and have an effective alternative to emergency room, urgent care, or waiting for a doctors appointment. You can get Virtual Care from your home or anywhere via phone or video chat.
Hot off the press! An update on #meniscus surgery by @DrKrych on the Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Surgery podcast. A rapidly evolving field, with high yield review by one of the best! @MayoClinic@MayoOrthoRes@mayoclinicsport Link:
Dr. Jonathan Barlow
How Long Can It Take For A Damaged Meniscus To Heal
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