Torn Meniscus

Knee pain? A torn meniscus might be the cause. It's a fairly common knee injury.

Your knees have two curved pieces of cartilage, like cushions, between the shinbone and thighbone. These cushions help protect your knee. If you twist or turn your knee forcefully, especially while bearing weight, you could tear this cartilage.

A torn meniscus often leads to several uncomfortable symptoms. You'll likely feel pain, your knee will swell up, and it might feel stiff. You might also notice that your knee doesn't move easily, or you have trouble straightening your knee all the way.

A torn meniscus can sometimes take a while to cause noticeable pain and swelling, especially if the tear is small. Symptoms often appear within 24 hours or more, but sometimes they don't show up right away. Here are some common signs your knee might have a torn meniscus:

• A popping sound: You might hear or feel a sudden pop in your knee at the time of the injury.
• Swelling and stiffness: Your knee might become noticeably swollen and stiff. This is your body's natural response to injury.
• Pain: You'll likely feel pain, particularly when you twist, turn, or rotate your knee. The pain can range from a mild ache to a sharp, intense feeling.
• Limited straightening: You may have trouble fully straightening your knee. It might feel like it's getting stuck or blocked.
• Feeling of "locking": Sometimes, your knee might feel like it gets stuck in a certain position, preventing you from moving it.
• Giving way: Your knee might feel unstable, like it's going to buckle or collapse under you. This is a sign of instability and potential damage.

These symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the tear. If you experience any of these, it's important to see a doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

If your knee hurts, is swollen, or feels stiff and you can't move it normally, see your doctor.

A torn meniscus happens when the cartilage in your knee, called the meniscus, gets damaged. This often occurs during activities that involve twisting or rotating your knee quickly, like suddenly changing direction or pivoting. Other activities that can strain the meniscus include deep squats, kneeling, or lifting heavy objects.

In older people, the knee joint can naturally wear down over time. This wear and tear can make the meniscus more vulnerable to tearing, even without a sudden, forceful movement. Essentially, the gradual breakdown of the knee can lead to a meniscus tear.

Doing activities that involve a lot of twisting and turning motions in your knee can make a torn meniscus more likely. This is especially true for athletes, particularly those in contact sports like football, or sports that require a lot of pivoting, like tennis or basketball. The constant twisting and pivoting puts extra stress on the cartilage in the knee, increasing the chance of a tear.

Over time, your knees naturally wear down as you age. This wear and tear also increases the risk of a torn meniscus. Being overweight or obese also contributes to this risk. Extra weight puts more pressure on the knee joints, making them more prone to injury.

A torn meniscus in your knee can cause several problems. You might feel like your knee is unstable and gives out, making it hard to move your knee normally. You might also have ongoing knee pain. Sadly, a torn meniscus could increase your chances of getting arthritis in that knee later on.

Diagnosing a Torn Meniscus

A torn meniscus, a common knee problem, often shows up during a simple physical exam. Your doctor will likely move your knee and leg in different ways, watch you walk, and ask you to squat. This helps them figure out what's causing your pain and other symptoms.

Sometimes, your doctor will use a special tool called an arthroscope. This is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and camera. They insert it through a tiny cut near your knee. The camera sends a magnified picture of the inside of your knee to a screen, making it easy to see what's going on. If needed, they can use the arthroscope or other tiny cuts to carefully trim or fix the torn meniscus.

• X-rays: X-rays can't show a torn meniscus because it's made of cartilage. However, X-rays can help rule out other knee problems that might be causing similar pain. For example, they can check for broken bones.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): An MRI uses a strong magnet to create detailed pictures of the soft and hard tissues inside your knee. This is the best way to see if you have a torn meniscus. It's like a detailed map of your knee, showing any tears or damage in the cartilage. This allows your doctor to plan the best course of treatment.

Treating a torn meniscus often starts with non-surgical methods, tailored to the tear's type, size, and location.

If the tear is connected to arthritis, treatment focusing on the arthritis itself might improve the torn meniscus over time, making surgery unnecessary. Many tears that don't cause your knee to lock or get stuck also may heal and become less painful without surgery.

Your doctor might suggest the following:

• Physical Therapy: Working with a physical therapist can help strengthen the muscles around your knee and legs. This added strength helps support and stabilize your knee joint, which is crucial for healing. Exercises will be tailored to your specific needs.

If your knee pain persists despite physical therapy or if your knee gets stuck (locks), surgery might be recommended. In some cases, especially for children and younger adults, it's possible to repair the torn meniscus.

If a repair isn't possible, the torn part of the meniscus might be trimmed. This is often done using a small, thin camera (arthroscope) inserted through tiny cuts. After surgery, you'll need to do exercises to rebuild and maintain the strength and stability of your knee.

For people with severe, advanced arthritis, a knee replacement might be a better option. For younger people who experience problems after surgery but don't have severe arthritis, a meniscus transplant—using a donor meniscus—could be considered.

To help your recovery at home:

• Rest: Avoid activities that make your knee hurt, especially those that involve twisting, turning, or pivoting your knee. If the pain is intense, using crutches can reduce the pressure on your knee and promote healing.
• Ice: Applying ice helps reduce pain and swelling. Use an ice pack, frozen vegetables in a bag, or a towel with ice cubes for about 15 minutes at a time, keeping your knee elevated. Do this every few hours for the first day or two, and then as needed.
• Medication: Over-the-counter pain relievers can help ease the pain.

To help your knee pain go away, avoid activities that make it worse. This especially includes sports that require you to quickly change direction or twist your knee. Until the pain is gone, it's best to stay away from these activities. Applying ice and taking over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen might help ease the discomfort.