Common Meniscus Tear Symptoms

Knee pain is the key symptom along with swelling. You might find that your knee feels caught or locked in a way and your entire leg may feel weak. People often describe a feeling like their knee is buckling or "giving way."

When you have to put weight on your injured knee as well as any time you need to twist, turn, or pivot on your knee, it will likely be painful. Similarly, it may hurt to walk up or down stairs and you might notice swelling afterward.

How is Meniscus Tear Treated?

Some people may be able to heal with nonsurgical treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs and physical therapy. More severe cases, however, will require meniscus surgery. Since it can’t heal itself in most areas, it is essential to surgically repair your knee.

Your healthcare professional will also note the kind of tear because traumatic and degenerative tears sometimes require different plans for treatment. Your specific plan will also be dependent on your unique knee injury and medical history.

Alternatives to Surgery

The first objectives of a non-surgical physical therapy treatment plan are usually to deal with pain management and improve your knee’s range of motion. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen are often part of the initial treatment along with other therapeutic treatments. The RICE routine of rest, ice, compression, and elevation is the gold standard for less severe knee injuries and goes a long way in reducing pain.

As the pain and swelling decrease, the next goal is to strengthen the muscles as you regain movement in your knee. Depending on your specific knee injury, your doctor may also recommend steroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections, or injections of bone marrow concentrate.

It is important to keep in mind that the use of non-surgical treatment depends on the severity of your injury rather than your preference, so you will need to take your doctor’s advice on the right treatment. Meniscus tear surgery is required for the majority of acute, traumatic tears and fragmented degenerative tears, and it is crucial to getting rid of knee pain.

Will a Meniscus Tear Heal On Its Own?

Due to its limited blood supply, it doesn’t really have the ability to heal itself very well. Blood vessels are crucial for healing and your meniscus only has blood vessels in the outer third of it. This part is what we call the "red zone." The inner two-thirds, on the other hand, is what we call the “white zone” as this area lacks blood supply.

If you hurt it within the white zone, your knee injury isn’t going to heal on its own. Unfortunately, the majority of tears happen within that white zone rather than the red zone. This means that most injuries won’t heal on their own.

What Happens If You Don’t Treat a Torn Meniscus

Not only do tears not heal themselves in most cases but tears that are left untreated will worsen over time. Degenerative knee arthritis is more likely to develop in people who have untreated injuries and progressive loss. That is why it is crucial to get a diagnosis and start knee pain treatment as soon as possible.

While looking up information online is a great way to find information and narrow down which orthopaedic specialist to see, you will do more harm than good trying to solve the problem with at-home treatments and diagnosis.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From Meniscus Surgery?

Your knee surgery recovery time depends on the severity of the meniscal surgery and the extent of the injury. If the torn portion is simply removed, you will probably only need crutches or another type of support for a few days. If your tear is being repaired during the surgery, you will probably need to have crutches for one month to six weeks.

Of course, these are just general tear recovery timelines. The only truly accurate guideline is the one that your doctor provides you will after assessing your case.