Meniscal Tear
What is the meniscus? What does it do? And what happens when you tear it?
What is the meniscus and what does it do?
The menisci (you have two of them in each knee) are c-shaped pieces of tough, rubber-like cartilage that sit between your thighbone and shinbone.
The meniscus is the knee’s shock absorber. It’s a cushion that helps protect the lower part of your leg from the stresses placed on it by the upper part of your body.
What causes a torn meniscus?
Menisci are usually torn as a result of an aggressive twist of the knee, sudden starts and stops, or kneeling or squatting. These are the sort of moves you might make when playing competitive sport or while at the gym, but meniscal tears are also common DIY and gardening injuries.
The risk of a torn meniscus increases with age and weight.
What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?
You might feel a sort of popping sensation and the knee may swell, although it doesn’t always swell immediately—it can take 24 hours or more.
Symptoms of a meniscal tear may also include:
- Stiffness in the knee
- Difficulty straightening the knee
- A feeling that knee is ‘catching’ or locking
- Pain when you twist
- A feeling of instability, as though the knee is about to give way
How do you diagnose a meniscal tear?
Cartilage doesn’t show up on X-rays (although these may be used to rule out other damage) so Alex will usually use an MRI scan to diagnose your torn meniscus.
For a swift diagnosis, book your appointment now or call 01242 246549.
How do you treat knee a torn meniscus?
Not every meniscal tear is the same. Tears may be of different sizes and in different locations. Some may require surgery but many may not.
Depending on the location of the tear, some menisci may heal on their own in time, although because there isn’t much blood flow to the meniscus this only happens in a small fraction of cases. Even if it doesn’t heal, once the initial pain has subsided you may not notice any ill effects of living with a small tear.
You can treat the initial injury and pain with:
- Over the counter painkillers such as ibubrofen
- Resting the leg and keeping pressure off the knee
- Icing the knee (use ice packs or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel). Ice for 15-minute spells every four hours in the first two days after injury, then as required
- Physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles around your knee
If pain or discomfort continues, you may need to consider meniscal repair surgery.
Find more about meniscal repair in Gloucestershire with Alex Dodds.
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Appointments
To make an appointment please either fill in the contact form and you will be called back by our secretary to arrange a convenient appointment time or get in touch directly.
Call Chrissie Holmyard 01242 246549 at Nuffield Health, Cheltenham.
