Knee Meniscus Injuries
What is torn Meniscus?
A torn meniscus is one of the most common knee injuries. The cartilage between your shinbone and thighbone is shaped like a C and acts as a cushion. A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling and stiffness. You also might feel a block to knee motion and have trouble extending your knee fully.
What causes torn Meniscus?
You can tear your meniscus if you forcefully twist or rotate your knee, especially when putting your full weight on it.
How is Torn Meniscus Diagnosed?
- X-rays. Because a torn meniscus is made of cartilage, it won’t show up on X-rays. But X-rays can help rule out other problems with the knee that cause similar symptoms.
- MRI. This uses a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of both hard and soft tissues within your knee. It’s the best imaging study to detect a torn meniscus.
How is Torn Meniscus treated?
Initially, you should treat the knee injury with conservative techniques that include rest, ice, compression, and elevation, or the RICE method:
- Rest your knee. Use crutches to avoid any weight bearing on the joint. Avoid any activities that worsen your knee pain.
- Ice your knee every three to four hours for 30 minutes.
- Compress or wrap the knee in an elastic bandage to reduce inflammation.
- Elevate your knee to reduce swelling.
If your knee isn’t responding to the treatments above, your doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery. Your doctor will give you specific instructions as to how to prepare for this surgery.