The bottom line.
Meniscal tears are a common knee injury that don’t always require surgery to heal
. Physical therapy exercises, such as those that focus on the quadriceps and hamstrings, can reduce stiffness and improve symptoms.
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
Can you walk on a torn meniscus?
Whether you can walk on a torn meniscus will depend on the injury’s location and severity
— and perhaps also your own personal tolerance for pain. A slight tear might not feel so bad to you. You may very well be able to stand and walk on a leg that has a torn meniscus in the knee.
Can you naturally heal a torn meniscus without surgery?
In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears — and
some tears won’t heal without treatment
. If your tear is on the outer one-third of the meniscus, it may heal on its own or be repaired surgically.
How do you heal a torn meniscus naturally?
- Rest the knee. …
- Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. …
- Compress your knee. …
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications. …
- Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.
What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?
An untreated meniscus tear
can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling
. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.
Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus?
Yes. Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals
. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.
What percent of meniscus tears require surgery?
It’s important to know the differences between the tears because usually only acute traumatic tears are surgically repairable.
Less than 10 percent
of meniscal tears occurring in patients age 40 or older can be repaired.
Can you live with a torn meniscus?
“
You can live with a meniscus tear
,” Dr. Parker says. “And it may heal on its own, or just not cause you problems.” However, you’ll know pretty quickly when it is a problem.
What foods help heal a torn meniscus?
- Legumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown. …
- Oranges. …
- Pomegranates. …
- Green Tea. …
- Brown Rice. …
- Nuts. …
- Brussel Sprouts.
What aggravates a meniscus tear?
You’re most likely to injure your meniscus when
suddenly twisting or turning while your foot is stationary and planted
. You could injure your meniscus while playing sports, such as football, soccer, or baseball. You could also injure your meniscus off the field by lifting heavy boxes or slipping on a wet floor.
What should I avoid with a torn meniscus?
The only way to prevent and avoid a torn meniscus is to
avoid activities that cause the knees to twist, bend, or rotate in an extreme fashion
. If a person cannot avoid these activities, they should take as much care as possible while participating in them.
Does a torn meniscus hurt constantly?
The pain may be sharp or instead
it can just be a constant dull ache sensation
. It usually hurts more when bending the knee deeply or straightening it fully. It can also hurt when twisting on the knee with your foot fixed on the ground.
What are two treatments for a meniscus tear?
Conservative treatment — such as
rest, ice and medication
— is sometimes enough to relieve the pain of a torn meniscus and give the injury time to heal on its own. In other cases, however, a torn meniscus requires surgery.
Can a meniscus tear lead to knee replacement?
Conclusions: In patients with knee osteoarthritis
arthroscopic knee surgery with meniscectomy is associated with a three fold increase in the risk for future knee replacement surgery
.
Is it worth having meniscus surgery?
Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems, such as osteoarthritis
. There are no long-term studies to prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint.
Why does meniscus tear hurt at night?
There are a couple of reasons why your knee pain is worse at night:
Pain is perceived to be worse at nighttime
. As you climb into bed and start to quiet your mind pain becomes more pronounced than when you were active during the day distracted by your activities. An active day may cause your knee joint to swell.
Is a compression sleeve good for a torn meniscus?
Using an elastic bandage, straps, or sleeves to compress can also control swelling
. In cases of more severe tears, repair of the meniscus may be necessary. The decision to repair is based on many factors, including the location of the tear and age of the patient.
Will a cortisone shot help a torn meniscus?
A cortisone shot can help decrease the inflammation and pain caused by a torn meniscus
. A cortisone shot usually does not help in healing of the meniscus and, hence, does not improve any mechanical symptoms. If a meniscus is repairable, then a cortisone shot is not preferred as it may impair healing of the meniscus.
How do you sleep with a torn meniscus?
Roll over to the “good leg” side
. Sleeping on your back can be an adjustment in and of itself. If you do choose to sleep on your side, roll to the non-surgery side and put a pillow between your knees. Use this position only if you’re having no luck getting to sleep on your back, and remember not to bend the knee.
Which is worse lateral or medial meniscus tear?
3. Is the lateral meniscus tear worse than a medial meniscus tear? It is hard to differentiate what type of tear is worse if it is repairable. However, it is well known that
if a lateral meniscus is taken out, the consequences are almost always worse than having a medial meniscus resected
.
How do you self diagnose a torn meniscus?
Twist your heel inward/outward
. Pain your knee while twisting in- or outwards may indicate a meniscus tear. A rule of thumb, if your knee is painful when you turn inwards, the outer meniscus is torn. And if you turn your toes outwards, the inside or medial meniscus is torn.
How do you check yourself for a torn meniscus?
To test for a lateral meniscus tear (on the outer side of the knee), you’ll be asked to
turn your toes inward as far as your knees can rotate. You’ll then squat and slowly stand up. A click or pain can indicate a meniscus tear
.
