A torn meniscus is painful and debilitating and the most common cartilage injuries of the knee. The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in your knee that cushions and stabilises the joint and protects the bones from wear and tear.
A Torn Meniscus may be caused by activities that causes you to forcefully twist or rotate your knee, especially when putting your full weight on it. Even activities such as kneeling, deep squatting or lifting heavy objects can sometime lead to a torn meniscus. A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling and stiffness. You might also experience a reduction to motion in the knee, as well as difficulty in extending the knee fully.
Conservative treatment such as icing the injured knee, rest and medication may be enough to treat an injured knee but in serious cases, surgery may be needed.
A Torn Meniscus may take 24 hours or more for pain and swelling to begin. Overtime, you may develop symptoms such as:
Activities that involve twisting and pivoting of the knee put you at risk of a Torn Meniscus. Athletes are at a particularly high risk, especially for those who participate in contact sports or sports that require pivoting, such as football and tennis. As you age, wear and tear on your knee can increase your risk of a Torn Meniscus.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests are done with ultrasound or MRI to check for inflammation and to examine the joint and soft tissues around it.
