Medication
Typically, mild meniscus tears heal within two to three weeks. If left untreated, moderate meniscus tears can cause problems for many years. If you experience symptoms of a meniscus tear or strain for more than a couple days, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Procedures
- Acetaminophen: Adults can take 1 regular-strength acetaminophen pill every 4-6 hours. If 1 pill doesn’t help, try 2 pills next. ...
- Ibuprofen: For MOTRIN, take 1-2 pills once every 4-6 hours. ...
- Naproxen sodium: Take a single pill every 8-12 hours. ...
- Aspirin: Take 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours. ...
Therapy
Torn meniscus recovery time varies based on the way your meniscus is treated. Usually you can expect improvement in your symptoms within several weeks. However, it can take months until all your symptoms resolve.
Self-care
- Schedule bloodwork to reduce outside risks such as aversion to anesthetics or uncover any unknown blood or autoimmune disorders.
- Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital. ...
- Prepare a small parcel of luggage for about two- or three-days’ worth of trip. ...
- Follow your doctors order to a tee. ...
Nutrition
How long does it take to recover from a meniscus?
How long to heal torn meniscus?
What is the healing time for a torn meniscus?
How soon can I return to work after meniscus surgery?
How long does meniscus repair surgery take to heal?
Recovery and Outlook It takes longer for a meniscus repair to heal than a meniscectomy. Full recovery from meniscus surgery can take anywhere from six weeks to three months. Your care after surgery may involve: Crutches to take stress off the knee as it heals.
How long after meniscus repair surgery can I walk?
Arthroscopic surgery for a torn meniscus (meniscectomy) It may take 4-5 months for full healing. The patient should be able to bear weight on the knee while standing or walking, immediately after surgery. Crutches will be necessary for 2-7 days after surgery.
Will my knee ever be the same after meniscus surgery?
Most meniscal surgeries (95%) are partial meniscectomies where part of the meniscus is actually removed, not just repaired. Therefore, the remaining meniscus is now smaller and does not perform as well.
What is the fastest way to recover from meniscus surgery?
You will recover more quickly if you carefully follow all your doctor's instructions. In your first days after surgery, you will need apply ice frequently and elevate your knee above your heart to help relieve swelling. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, to help your body heal.
How long does it take to recover from a meniscus surgery?
They may also share some exercises you can do at home. If you have a partial or total meniscectomy, you can expect your recovery to take about a month. If your meniscus was repaired, it may take as long as 3 months.
How to repair a meniscus tear?
If your doctor’s exam shows your meniscus tear is mild (Grade 1 or 2), you may not need surgery. If it’s Grade 3, you probably will. Your doctor might choose to do any of the following: 1 Arthroscopic repair. Your doctor will make small cuts in your knee. They’ll insert an arthroscope to get a good look at the tear. Then they’ll place small devices that look like darts along the tear to stitch it up. Your body will absorb these over time. 2 Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Your doctor will remove a piece of the torn meniscus so your knee can function normally. 3 Arthroscopic total meniscectomy. During this procedure, your doctor will remove the whole meniscus.
What to do if you have a grade 3 knee tear?
If it’s Grade 3, you probably will. Your doctor might choose to do any of the following: Arthroscopic repair. Your doctor will make small cuts in your knee. They’ll insert an arthroscope to get a good look at the tear. Then they’ll place small devices that look like darts along the tear to stitch it up.
What happens if you tear your meniscus?
If you tear your meniscus, your leg might swell and feel stiff. You might feel pain when twisting your knee, or be unable to straighten your leg fully.
How to keep your knee stable?
You may have to wear a brace or cast to keep your knee stable. You’ll likely also have to use crutches for at least a month to keep weight off your knee. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy as part of your recovery. It’ll help increase your range of motion and help your knee get stronger.
Can you have surgery for a knee injury?
This will help to strengthen the muscles around your knee and keep it stable. If these treatments don’t work -- or if your injury is severe -- they might recommend surgery. To be sure, your doctor will probably have an MRI done. And they might look at the tear with an arthroscope.
Can a doctor remove a torn meniscus?
Your doctor will remove a piece of the torn meniscus so your knee can function normally. Arthroscopic total meniscectomy. During this procedure, your doctor will remove the whole meniscus. Meniscus repair is low-risk. Complications are rare. They may include injury to skin nerves, infections, and knee stiffness.
What is the procedure to repair a meniscus tear?
Arthroscopic Surgery. An orthopedic surgeon may recommend a knee arthroscopy, a minimally invasive procedure used to treat meniscal tears. A tiny camera is inserted through a small incision made near the joint. Images are relayed to a screen so the surgeon can suture or trim the torn portions of the injured meniscus.
How to tell if you tore your meniscus?
You might feel a pop when the meniscus tears. Some people are still able to walk on the injured limb. Signs that you’ve torn your meniscus include: Swelling. Stiffness. Lack of stability (giving way) Limited motion. Limping.
Why do meniscus tears happen?
A tear can happen due to trauma caused by a sudden twist or hyper-extension/flexion of the knee joint.
How to heal a knee injury?
One way to speed up recovery, regardless of whether you need surgery, includes following the RICE protocol: 1 Rest - Limit movement to walking. Use crutches to help alleviate pain. 2 Ice - Cold helps reduce pain and swelling in the early stages of the injury. Ice every 15-20 minutes for three to four hours a day for the first few days. 3 Compress - To control swelling, you can try wrapping the knee with an elastic band or knee brace. 4 Elevate - Place a pillow or blanket under your heel or leg when sitting or lying down.
Why does my meniscus make a clicking sound?
If you have a tear, the tension will cause a clicking sound during the test. Treatment depends on the size and location of the tear (s). The meniscus can be divided into two “zones”: red and white. The red zone has access to an ample blood supply — if the tear here is small, it can sometimes heal on its own.
How to reduce swelling in knees?
Compress - To control swelling, you can try wrapping the knee with an elastic band or knee brace. Elevate - Place a pillow or blanket under your heel or leg when sitting or lying down. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce the pain and swelling but can have side effects.
What to do if you have a broken tear in your shoulder?
Standard treatments like ice, rest, and over-the-counter pain relievers are sometimes enough to help the injury heal on its own. Severe tears, especially those that are large, unstable or cause locking, may require surgical repair.
What to do after meniscus surgery?
After surgery, you will need to do exercises to increase and maintain knee strength and stability. If you have advanced, degenerative arthritis, your doctor might recommend a knee replacement.
How to help knee pain?
Ice can reduce knee pain and swelling. Use a cold pack, a bag of frozen vegetables or a towel filled with ice cubes for about 15 minutes at a time, keeping your knee elevated .
How does a knee splint work?
The device contains a light and a small camera, which transmits an enlarged image of the inside of your knee onto a monitor. If necessary, surgical instruments can be inserted through the arthroscope or through additional small incisions in your knee to trim or repair the tear.
Can you have surgery for a knee tear?
Many other tears that aren't associated with locking or a block to knee motion will become less painful over time, so they also don't require surgery. Your doctor might recommend: Rest. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee.
Can you have a knee replacement if you have arthritis?
If you have advanced, degenerative arthritis, your doctor might recommend a knee replacement. For younger people who have signs and symptoms after surgery but no advanced arthritis, a meniscus transplant might be appropriate. The surgery involves transplanting a meniscus from a cadaver.
Can a torn meniscus show up on X-rays?
X-rays. Because a torn meniscus is made of cartilage, it won't show up on X-rays. But X-rays can help rule out other problems with the knee that cause similar symptoms.
How long does it take to repair a meniscus?
Length of arthroscopic meniscus repair. Arthroscopic meniscus repair generally takes between an hour and an hour and a half. Depending on how much other surgery is necessary to take care of other problems in the knee, the time may be a bit more or less.
What is meniscus replacement?
Meniscus replacement is considered for young, active patients who have previously had most of their meniscus removed, and develop pain in the area without having advanced degenerative changes to the articular (gliding surface) cartilage. Please see meniscus replacement for additional information.
What is the importance of meniscus?
The meniscus is an important structure for load transmission and shock absorption in the knee. The knee is subjected to up to 5 times body weight during activity, and half this force is transmitted through the meniscus with the knee straight, and 85% of the force goes through the meniscus with the knee bent ninety degrees. Loss of the meniscus increases the pressure on the articular (gliding) cartilage, which leads to degenerative changes. A successful meniscus repair preserves meniscus tissue and mitigates these changes.
Where to perform arthroscopic meniscus repair?
The surgery should be performed in a hospital or outpatient surgical center that handles a large volume of arthroscopic knee surgeries.
How long does it take for a blood clot to go away after arthroscopy?
If blood clots occur, blood thinners are used for three months to decrease the chance of clots growing or breaking off and traveling to the lungs.
How long after surgery do you take narcotic pain medication?
Patients require narcotic pain medications an average of 2-5 days after surgery.
Where is the meniscus tear located?
Meniscus repair is considered when: the patient is healthy and wishes to remain active, the patient understands the rehabilitation, and accepts the risks of surgery, the meniscus tear is located in the periphery of the meniscus, the meniscus tissue is of good quality, and. the surgeon is experienced in meniscus repair.
What is the meniscus?
The meniscus helps cushion the forces through the knee and creates a “cup” for the end of the femur. It can move up to a centimeter within the knee. It tears in two main ways. A radial tear leaves a flap that often catches and clicks, and a longitudinal or circumferential tear usually occurs with the wear and tear of aging.
Where is the meniscus located?
The meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage located inside the knee joint between the ends of the femur (the leg bone above the knee) and the tibia (the bone below). There is one on the lateral side—or outside—of the knee and another on the medial side, or inside.
Can meniscus tears occur with trauma?
This is tough to answer without some of the basics of your story like your age, sex, and the circumstances of your knee problem. Meniscus tears can occur with trauma, damage in sports, or wear and tear with aging. However, I will try to answer your questions in the broad strokes. The meniscus is a crescent-shaped piece of cartilage located inside ...
Can radial tear be repaired?
A radial tear can be “fixed” with surgery, and in younger people it can sometimes be fully repaired. The longitudinal tears are generally left alone, as studies have shown that surgically trimming those usually does little to improve either knee pain or function.
Can a radial medial meniscus tear heal itself?
A radial medial meniscus tear in an adult does not usually heal or repair itself , though the tear may thin and stop catching or irritating the cartilage on the ends of the femur and tibia. Once the pain and discomfort associated with spin class and other activities disappears, it should be safe to try running again.
How long does it take to repair a meniscus tear?
The most common procedure for a torn meniscus is knee arthroscopy. It usually takes less than an hour. First, you receive anesthesia. The surgical team cleans the skin on your knee and covers the rest of your leg with a surgical drape. The team might place a clamp on your upper thigh to help with positioning during surgery.
How long does it take to heal a torn meniscus?
Meniscus surgery is a common operation to remove or repair a torn meniscus, a piece of cartilage in the knee. The surgery requires a few small incisions and takes about an hour. Recovery and rehabilitation take a few weeks. The procedure can reduce pain, improve mobility and stability, and get you back to life’s activities.
Why do meniscus tears hurt?
Many people with a torn meniscus choose surgery because the injured cartilage can make the knee unstable (buckle and give way), cause pain and swelling or cause the knee to “lock-up” or become “stuck.”.
What is a meniscus in the knee?
What is a meniscus? Each knee has two menisci. They are rubbery, C-shaped cushions that serve as shock absorbers in the knee joint. If your meniscus is injured or torn (often called torn cartilage), your healthcare provider may recommend surgery to remove the damaged part or repair it.
What is the tool used to look at a knee tear?
The surgeon inserts a small tool called an arthroscope into the incision. An arthroscope is a thin tube with a small light and video camera at the end. The camera projects video images from inside your knee onto a monitor. The surgeon uses the arthroscope to look at the tear and decide what surgical technique to perform:
What happens before meniscus surgery?
What happens before torn meniscus surgery? If you and your surgeon decide to move forward with surgery for a torn meniscus, you may have some tests in advance . For example, blood tests, electrocardiogram (EKG) and chest X-ray can help determine whether you are healthy enough for surgery.
What to do after knee surgery?
Your care after surgery may involve: Crutches to take stress off the knee as it heals. Knee brace to stabilize the joint as you recover. Pain medications. Physical therapy. Rehabilitation exercises at home to restore mobility, range of motion and strength. RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation).
How long does it take for a meniscus tear to heal?
Generally, meniscus tears take anywhere from 6-12 weeks to heal. Some even heal faster at just 4 weeks, depending on the size of the tear and where it is. That being said, recovering from a torn meniscus, with/without surgery, doesn’t mean you get to laze around for a few weeks.
What is a trauma meniscus tear?
Traumatic/acute meniscus tears – When you can point to an exact moment where you suffered an injury (e.g. during a tennis match, or yesterday’s basketball game, or when you swung your golf club, etc). Degenerative tears – These are tears that mostly happen without your knee experiencing any type of trauma.
What percentage of meniscus tears are orthopedic?
Meniscal tears are among the most common types of injury to the knee anyone can get, amounting to about 12-14% of the population. And, in the U.S. alone, 10-20% of all orthopedic surgeries are done to the meniscus. But, what happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?
What to do if you tore your meniscus after pivoting?
For example, if you’re a tennis player and you tore your meniscus after pivoting, your therapist would probably tailor your exercises towards improving how your pivot foot rotates as well as how the rest of your body moves throughout the rotation. Or, if it’s a basketball injury that happened after a rebound, your training would probably include ...
What is the red zone on the meniscus?
Red zone – This is the outer third of your meniscus that’s rich with blood supply. Healing is very likely here. (Also called the red-red zone.) Red-white zone – The middle third of the meniscus with minimal blood supply. Healing is possible but may depend on the type/shape of the tear.
What is partial meniscectomy?
Total meniscectomy. Partial meniscectomy, of course, refers to when your surgeon only takes part of the meniscus. This surgery is often done when only a small part of the meniscus needs to be taken out, preserving the rest of the cartilage.
Why do you need to rest your knee?
In particular, protecting and resting your knee joint inherently prevents further injury (this might involve using crutches when walking). Ice, compression, and elevation, on the other hand, help with circulation so blood and other fluids don’t pool at the site of injury.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Preparing For Your Appointment
