Not necessarily. Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
A torn meniscus is certainly not life threatening. Once treated, the knee will usually function normally for many years. A meniscal tear that catches, locks the knee, or produces swelling on a frequent or chronic basis should be removed or repaired before it damages the articular (gliding) cartilage in the knee.
Part of a torn meniscus can break off and become lodged in the knee joint itself, sometimes causing serious knee mobility issues and pain that require a more invasive surgery than an initial meniscus repair or treatment.
Tears on the outer one-third of your meniscus can heal independently because this area has a rich blood supply, and blood cells can regenerate the meniscus tissue. However, if the tear is located on the inner two-thirds, the tear will not repair itself and will need to be surgically removed.
What is the prognosis (outlook) for people with a torn meniscus? Most people who tear a meniscus can return to full activity. If you have surgery to repair a torn meniscus, your knee should be fully recovered after a few months of physical therapy.
Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee. If your pain is severe, using crutches can take pressure off your knee and promote healing.
Success rates after meniscal repair range from 60% to 95%, but many reports are based on a small number of patients.
Your doctor may recommend the RICE regimen—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—to treat a meniscus tear. Resting your knee can help relieve your symptoms. Your doctor may suggest using a cane for a few weeks to keep weight off your knee and to stay away from physical activity that may have contributed to the injury.
Arthroscopic surgery to remove a part of the meniscus is called arthroscopic meniscectomy and it has an approximately 90% success rate. Over time, the success rate diminishes following the surgery due to the impact of having less meniscus cartilage.
Left untreated, a meniscus tear can limit your daily life and ability to participate in exercise and sports. In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis.
The athlete with a meniscal tear is often treated with meniscectomy or meniscal repair, depending on the size and location of the tear. Potential sequelae of meniscal injuries include the loss of in-season competition days and diminished career longevity.
Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days. Plus, suffering a torn meniscus may also increase your risk of complications, like developing osteoarthritis in that knee.
Is the lateral meniscus tear worse than a medial meniscus tear? It is hard to differentiate what type of tear is worse if it is repairable. However, it is well known that if a lateral meniscus is taken out, the consequences are almost always worse than having a medial meniscus resected.
Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery. If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear.
In most patients, meniscus tear repair is preferred over meniscus removal. That's because studies have shown when the meniscus is repaired and preserved, patients tend to experience better overall healing and better long-term joint function.
Dr. Flanigan explained his conclusions to OTW, “Age really does not matter. If an appropriate tear that can be repaired is found, especially if it extends to a vascular zone, the results of repairs are consistent across age groups (regardless of age over 40 years old).”
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.
Meniscus tears hurt because they upset the lining or the synovium of the knee. The synovium has a lot of nerves in it and this synovium will cause significant pain, and swelling when it is irritated.
What type of meniscus tear is the worst? Bucket-handle meniscus tears are the most serious type of meniscus injury. They often occur alongside a ligament injury. Bucket-handle tears require prompt surgery in order to have the best possible chance of recovery.
Left unrepaired, a meniscus injury can linger for years, causing pain and limited mobility. An unrepaired meniscus tear increases the risks of further injury and permanent damage to the knee.
Untreated tears can progress and become worse over time. Progressive meniscus loss can increase the risk that a person will develop degenerative knee arthritis. It is important to get a diagnosis and seek treatment early.
Like many orthopedic disorders, a meniscus tear generally responds well to physical therapy. In fact, conservative methods are the preferred treatment before surgery is considered.