As one of the largest weight-bearing joints in your body, your knees take a lot of wear-and-tear every day, whether you’re walking, running, or simply standing still. It’s not surprising, then, that knee injuries are common, and many of those injuries involve small discs of cartilage called menisci located smack-dab in the middle of the joint.
Meniscus tears can happen suddenly or over time, but regardless of the underlying cause, all tears need special care to prevent further joint damage later on. It might be tempting to provide that care at home — but it’s not the best idea.
At Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics, our skilled team offers the most advanced treatment options for meniscus tears, using a patient-centered approach designed for long-term success. Here, learn how meniscus tears happen and whether taking a “wait-and-see” approach is a wise move for your knee health and function.
Before delving into how meniscus tears heal, it’s important to know how the meniscus fits into overall knee anatomy and function. First, you should know that each of your knees contains two of these small, C-shaped discs, thick pads of cartilage that act like shock absorbers for your knees.
In addition to absorbing the effects of impacts when you walk, run, or even stand, your menisci help distribute your weight more evenly on your knee joint while also stabilizing the joint during movement. Menisci are tough and durable, but they’re not impervious to damage.
In fact, meniscus tears are very common, typically occurring during activities where the knee pivots or twists abruptly or when jumping or other hard impacts are involved. Tears can also happen from a direct impact to your knee — for instance, during a fall or motor vehicle accident.
Some tears are not related to an acute injury at all, but instead occur over time, as wear-and-tear on the knee joint takes its toll. In fact, about 75% of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis cases are associated with a prior meniscus tear.
If you injure your meniscus, it’s tempting to think you can simply let the injury heal on its own. But considering how important your menisci are for your knee health and function, having a medical evaluation should always be the first step in any type of injury.
When a meniscus tear is very minor and involves the edge of the cartilage pads, you might find symptom relief with RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. That’s because the outer part of the meniscus (the so-called red zone) has a better blood supply than the interior portion of the discs, and good circulation is essential for tissue healing.
Larger tears and tears that involve the inner part of the meniscus rarely — if ever — heal on their own. In fact, even relatively mild tears can cause chronic knee pain and instability that can lead to further injury in the future.
Your specific treatment will depend on the extent and location of the tear, along with other factors, like your activity level. While some tears respond well to physical therapy, RICE, and bracing during recovery, other tears require minimally invasive surgery to repair the damage and restore knee function.
Meniscus tears may be common, but that certainly doesn’t mean they can’t cause serious problems or have major consequences for your mobility, comfort, and quality of life. To learn how we can help treat your meniscus tear and resolve other types of knee problems, too, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics today.
