How Meniscus Damage Occurs ?

Knee injuries form a large part of a person life affecting one’s movement while impacting daily life activities. Meniscus tear is one of the most frequently occurring cartilage injuries of the knee. It is pretty common and affects plenty of people in young and old age alike. It can be painful and severely affect the person life and hampers his work and personal life in equal measure. Meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilizes the joint. It protects the bone from wear and tear. But it does come with concerns for a single twist of a knee leads to a tear in the meniscus. It is common in impact games as well as non-contact games where a single sudden change of direction leads to a meniscus damage tear.

SYMPTOMS OF THE MENISCUS TEAR:

  • Knee pain
  • Swelling
  • Difficult in bending the knee
  • Popping sensation during the injury
  • Inflammation in the Knee

Diagnosis of meniscus tear is crucial to the right form of treatment. X-Rays are undertaken to identify if the bone is broken or not. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan, which allows a more detailed evaluation of knee cartilage.

TREATMENT FOR THE MENISCUS TEAR:

The medical treatment hinges upon the size and location of the tear. Age, activity level and related injuries influences the treatment course. It is often found that not all meniscus tears require surgery, non-surgical methods may work out fine. To add impetus to recovery from cartilages injuries like meniscus tears, one can follow the steps:

  • Rest the Knee- Use crutches to aid in the movement while limiting physical activities that exacerbate pain.
  • Put ice on the knees- Reduces pain and swelling effectively.
  • Elevate your knees with a pillow in order to give comfort to the knees.
  • Avoid physical strenuous activities or impact sports.

If a tear is large, unstable, or causing locking symptoms, surgery may be required to either repair or remove unstable edges. The surgery is pretty simple and the discharge is on same day or a day after the surgery. But in the long-term, people who have a large meniscal injury that is irreparable may be at a higher risk of developing knee arthritis.

TIME FOR REHABILITATION:

The severity of the meniscus tears often decide the recovery time for the patients. Full recovery on the max takes 4 to 6 weeks depending upon the various factors such as surgery procedure, extent of injury. Consulting with a physical therapist who will guide you through the whole rehabilitation process. In most cases physical therapy is used after surgery to minimize complications and speed recovery. Let the knee be healed before embarking on any physically exhausting activity. Consult Dr. Patel Chirag in regards to meniscus tear.

Get an appointment for the best treatment that can be provided to you. Call +917574887777.