Meniscus Tears
A meniscus is a disk-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber inside a joint. Each knee has one lateral meniscus under the outer knob of the thighbone and one medial meniscus under the inner knob of the thighbone.
Both the lateral and medial meniscus act as a natural cushion between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The two cushions prevent excess wear and tear inside the knee joint by keeping the ends of the two bones from rubbing together.
Each meniscus also absorbs much of the shock of jumps and landings and helps to distribute joint fluid evenly to lubricate and nourish the knee.
You’ve probably heard of athletes with this type of injury, however, you don’t have to be an athlete to get a meniscus tear. Simply getting up too quickly from a squatting position can also cause a meniscal tear. Your meniscus can be damaged or torn during activities that put pressure on or rotate the knee joint.
Depending on the severity of your injury, treatment options can vary. Xcell Medical Group treats partial meniscus tears in our office.
No matter how a torn meniscus knee injury occurs, everyone wants the same result – fast healing and recovery.
Symptoms of a meniscus tear
When a meniscus tear occurs, you may hear a popping sound around your knee joint. Afterward, you may experience any or all of the following:
- pain, especially when the area is touched
- swelling around the knee joint
- difficulty moving your knee or inability to move it in a full range of motion
- feeling as if your knee is locking or catching
- feeling as if your knee is giving way or unable to support you
You may also experience a slipping or popping sensation, which is usually an indication that a piece of cartilage has become loose and is blocking the knee joint.
Contact Xcell Medical Group right away if you experience any of these symptoms and if they persist for more than a few days or occur after your knee has been injured.
Diagnosis
Our highly trained medical staff will inspect both of your knees to compare your injured knee with your uninjured one. They will check your injured knee for signs of swelling, tenderness, and fluid inside the knee joint.
If your knee is not locked, they will bend your injured knee and check for clicks, snaps, and “catches” within the joint. They also will evaluate your knee’s range of motion and will maneuver your knee to see whether your meniscus is sensitive to pressure.
If the results of your exam suggest you have a torn meniscus, you may need more tests, including:
Knee X-rays — to check for bone injuries as well as osteoarthritis. It is helpful to determine if there are any other issues that can cause symptoms similar to a torn meniscus
MRI, with or without contrast — An MRI uses a magnetic field to take multiple images of your knee. An MRI will be able to take pictures of cartilage and ligaments to determine if there’s a meniscus tear.
Depending on the severity of your injury, treatment options can vary. Xcell Medical Group treats partial meniscus tears in our office.
If your torn meniscus knee injury is caused by a work-related injury, Xcell Medical Group is an Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation certified provider.
We combine all of our knee therapy treatment plans with a combination of comprehensive therapeutic exercises, chiropractic care, and medical massage to achieve maximum results with our program!
To learn more about our treatment programs for a torn meniscus and to see if you are a candidate, contact our team at Xcell Medical Group in Elyria, Ohio.
