Meniscus tears are a common sports injury because players continuously make sudden movements that can easily harm the knee joint. It would be best to receive an accurate diagnosis from Dr. Ronald Hess West Chester to understand the severity of the injury and thus receive an ideal treatment approach that will relieve your pain.
What is a meniscus tear?
A meniscus tear is a knee injury that limits a patient’s joint movement due to the debilitating pain it causes. Your knee consists of cartilage cushioning the joint called a meniscus. This cushion is necessary to prevent wear and tear due to bones rubbing against each other. It is not uncommon for the knee to undergo a strange twist causing the meniscus to tear. Whenever a shredded meniscus lock into the knee, there is excruciating pain.
The only way to prevent meniscus tears is to be aware of your movement and take causation when making sudden changes in direction. Patients should appreciate that the integrity of their meniscus depreciates over time. It would be best to make healthy lifestyle choices to ensure a healthy meniscus and thus promote strength in your knee joint.
What does a meniscus tear feel?
Patients could recognize a meniscus tear upon experiencing specific symptoms like:
- Pain and swelling
- A pop sound during the injury
- Difficulty bending and straightening the knee
Patients should look out for increasing pain, especially after their injury when inflammation starts. It would be best to seek professional advice before proceeding with any treatment. Your doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical exam of your knee, including examining your range of motion. Imaging tests are a crucial component of a physical examination because the information on these tests helps your doctor determine the status of your knee and any other underlying problems that might be contributing to your symptoms.
What is the treatment for a meniscus tear?
Not all patients require medical intervention. If your meniscus tear occurs in the red zone area of the cartilage, your knee might get better over time. All you might need is rest for healing to occur.
Although you might need medical intervention, surgery is not the only way to treat a meniscus tear. Some ways you can unlock and stabilize your knee include the following techniques:
- Resting your knee: Your doctor will recommend that you take things easy to allow time for your knee to heal. You might need crutches to help minimize pain when walking.
- Icing your knee: Patients can expose their knee to cold temperatures to help minimize pain and swelling.
- Compressing your knee: You can place a bandage or tie a piece of cloth around your knee to promote stability and minimize swelling.
- Elevating your knee: Putting your leg up will take pressure off your knee and promote healing.
- Taking anti-inflammatory medicines: Your doctor will recommend NSAIDs to help manage swelling and relieve pain.
- Physical therapy: Patients should engage in low-impact exercise to strengthen and restore knee function.
Surgical intervention is an option if conservative treatments fail to offer relief. Contact the offices of Ronald Hess, MS, to learn about what surgical approach would effectively improve the health of your knee by resolving your meniscus tear.
Johnson