Knee Pain - Meniscus Tear
Are you experiencing knee pain on the inside or outside of your knee?
Do you often hear a clicking noise when bending or straightening your knee?
Are activities such as squatting or kneeling quite hard for you?
Is there swelling around the knee?
You may have a meniscus tear…… But not to worry, we can help you get back on track!
Other Names:
Torn meniscus
Meniscal lesion
Lateral/medial meniscus tear
Degenerative meniscus tear
Meniscus rupture
Meniscal cyst
But first of all, what is a meniscus tear? Let’s find out:
Your knees are great for taking much of the weight when walking, jumping, and running, whatever it may be! And to help with this, we all have what’s called “meniscus” in our knees- 2 in each knee in fact!
The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of tough cartilage that sits between the thigh bone (femur) and shinbone (tibia). It cushions the knee joint to help with shock absorption and knee stability
Sometimes, the meniscus can tear. Generally, this can be either from knee trauma, or degenerative changes
Knee trauma: a sudden meniscus tear can happen when the knee is weight-bearing and forcefully twisted at the same time. This is commonly seen in sports!
Degenerative changes: these are associated with age, and just means the slow deterioration of the meniscus over time, making the meniscus more prone to a tear
There are 4 common types of meniscus tears, shown in the image to help you understand!
Symptoms:
Pain in the knee, particularly on the inside or outside
Stiffness and swelling of the knee
Catching or locking of the knee
The feeling your knee is “giving way”
Pain when twisting or turning the leg
Unable to fully bend or straighten the knee
Pain when putting weight on the leg, squatting, or kneeling
Unable to fully bend or straighten the knee
What should I do?
It is important to come and see your Physio! Your Physio will perform a series of tests to help diagnose your injury, and give you some exercises and tips. This will help you understand the condition and how to manage it, move pain free, and get you feeling back to your very best!
Is this rare?
No! A meniscus tear is quite a common knee injury, and we continue to help many people recover from this sort of injury.
Will I need surgery?
No, it is most likely that you won’t need surgery…How amazing! We do work with some amazing surgeons so we can refer you to the best in Melbourne, Upon assessment.
How long will it take to get better?
The time to full recovery will depend on factors such as extent of the tear, age, and lifestyle. In general, recovery time can be 6 to 8 weeks. However, doing the right things such as specific exercises can help you feel stronger and return faster! We can guide you every step pf the way, all the way back to sport.