Treating Meniscal Tears

09 Dec Treating Meniscal Tears

If you’ve just experienced a popping sensation in your knee, followed by pain and swelling, you may have suffered a torn meniscus. While this is a common knee injury, it cannot be taken lightly and should receive immediate treatment. Should you have any questions about this injury or how it is treated, our orthopedist in Brooklyn at Advanced Orthopedics and Joint Preservation can help assist you.

What is the Meniscus?

The piece of cartilage that provides a cushion between your femur and tibia is known as the meniscus. Each knee joint houses two menisci, which are known as semilunar cartilages due to their crescent-like shape. The main function of the meniscus is to reduce the wear and tear placed on the femur and tibia from the movement of the joint.   Unfortunately, tears to this vital piece of cartilage are fairly common, often resulting in an athletic injury.   

Symptoms

Initially, when a meniscus tear occurs you may hear or feel a pop around your knee joint. After this, you may also experience:

• Difficulty moving your knee.
• Pain.
• Swelling.
• The feeling that your knee is unable to support you.

Reaching out to Advanced Orthopedics and Joint Preservation immediately after experiencing these symptoms can increase your recovery time.

Common Causes of Tears

Although meniscus tears are commonly associated with athletic based injuries, you don’t need to be a sports superstar to experience one. Something as simple as getting up too quickly from a squatting position can even lead to a tear. Any activity that causes you to vigorously twist and rotate your knee can result in a torn meniscus. Due to the nature of the game, some sports that are the most common culprits for this type of injury are some of the following:

• Basketball.
• Football.
• Soccer.
• Tennis.

No matter the cause, our Orthopedist in Brooklyn has the necessary experience to guarantee proper injury treatment. 

Treatment and Rehab

In some cases, treating a torn meniscus can be done on your own by following the RICE method. This method includes resting, icing, compressing, and elevating the affected knee to reduce swelling and pain. If your knee is not receptive enough to this treatment, our Orthopedist in Brooklyn may determine that surgery is needed. Some types of surgery that can be done to repair the knee are:

• Arthroscopic repair – Small dart-like devices will be placed along with the tear as a means to stitch it up. 
• Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy – A small piece of the torn meniscus is removed allowing the knee to function properly. 
• Arthroscopic total meniscectomy – The entirety of the meniscus is removed.

Contact an Orthopedist in Brooklyn

It may be 4-6 weeks before you are fully healed from this type of injury. Contact Advanced Orthopedics and Joint Preservation today to learn more and discuss what treatment options are best for you.

Whether you are a star athlete or average Joe, a meniscus tear can strike at any time.  Any injury that impedes your ability to walk can be infuriating, so you must get the best care possible to limit your injury time. You can trust that at Advanced Orthopedics and Joint Preservation, your care is our top priority. Start working with our Orthopedist in Brooklyn today to get back your much needed proper knee function.