The knee is made up of several moving parts, including the meniscus – a piece of cartilage that cushions and stabilizes the knee joint. It acts as a shock absorber and protects the bones from wear and tear, but one sharp twist of the knee can tear the meniscus and cause a variety of painful symptoms. A meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries. Although athletes who play contact sports are known to suffer tears of the meniscus, any individual at any age can experience this type of injury. Acute meniscus tears often occur during sports, through either a contact or non-contact injury. Degenerative meniscus tears occur with aging as tissue wears and weakens over time. No matter the cause of your meniscus tear, our team at OrthoGeorgia will provide the care you are looking for. We regularly diagnose and treat various injuries and conditions of the knee, and we want to help you tackle your pain and get back to doing the things you love. Learn more about meniscus tears and how our total joint specialists diagnose and treat them below.
At the moment the meniscus possibly tears, you may hear a popping noise. Pain and swelling may not occur right away, especially if the tear is small. However, symptoms will develop in the following days. These include pain in the knee (usually on the inside, outside, and back of the knee), stiffness and swelling in the area, a catching or locking sensation, and an inability to fully extend or bend the joint. Pain tends to worsen when the knee is twisted or rotated, and patients often feel like their knee has locked in place when they try to move it. As this type of injury can limit your ability to move and do the things you love, we recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our orthopaedic specialists in Central GA as soon as possible. Our total joint specialists have years of experience diagnosing and treating ailments of the knee, hip, and shoulder, and we want to help you. We will take the time needed to understand your symptoms and what makes them better or worse, which will aid in the creation of a personalized treatment plan.
Your appointment at OrthoGeorgia will begin with a physical examination of your knee and a discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and more. Your doctor will check your knee for tenderness along the line of the meniscus and will also lift and bend the knee. If pain or a clicking sensation occurs, a meniscus tear is likely. Many injuries of the knee cause pain, so your doctor may request imaging tests to reach an accurate diagnosis. X-rays may be utilized to rule out broken bones or arthritis in the knee. Since X-rays cannot explicitly show a meniscus tear, an MRI scan may be used to assess the soft tissues in the knee joint. Digital X-ray services are available at all of our locations, and MRI scans are performed in Macon and Warner Robins.
Treatment for a meniscus tear depends on a number of factors such as your age, symptoms, and activity level. Your specific treatment method will also depend on the area of the meniscus that was torn and how severe the injury is. Whether the best path forward involves surgery or not, your care team at OrthoGeorgia will ensure that any questions you have about your treatment are immediately answered.
The area of the meniscus that was torn has an impact on the treatment method that is utilized. The outer third of the meniscus has a rich blood supply, allowing tears in this area to possibly heal on their own. The inner two-thirds of the meniscus do not have the same type of blood supply, so tears in this area will not heal without intervention. Treatment normally starts with conservative methods. Nonsurgical treatment for a meniscus tear starts with the RICE method – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. This protocol can help to reduce pain and swelling in the knee. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can also help with the symptoms of a meniscus tear. If your doctor recommends certain stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce stress on the knee, a physical therapist can help you perform these exercises and ensure that they are being done safely. OrthoGeorgia is proud to offer comprehensive physical therapy services in Macon, Warner Robins, and Kathleen, using state-of-the-art physical therapy equipment to provide the highest quality of care.
Surgery for a meniscus tear may be recommended if nonsurgical treatment methods fail to have a positive impact. Knee arthroscopy, which is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures, can be used in cases of a meniscus tear. Your surgeon will insert a miniature camera into the knee and use small surgical instruments to repair the tear. In other cases, a surgeon might opt to stitch the torn pieces of the meniscus together. Whether or not this surgical method can be used will depend on the type of tear and the overall condition of the meniscus. If the meniscus cannot be directly repaired, it may be surgically trimmed to remove the damaged tissue. This type of procedure allows for immediate weight bearing and full range of motion shortly after surgery. Our team at OrthoGeorgia regularly performs all manner of orthopaedic knee procedures, including knee arthroscopy, meniscus repairs, partial and total knee replacement, and more. No matter what surgical procedure is right for you, we will address any questions or concerns you have and ensure that you feel comfortable with your treatment plan.
Orthopaedic knee issues can keep you from doing what you love, whether that be playing your sport or spending quality time with your family. At OrthoGeorgia, we want to help you tackle pain and move past your injury in the safest way possible. Our total joint specialists have years of experience and want to help get you on the path to recovery. Our orthopaedic knee specialties in Central GA include:
Macon
