Meniscus surgery is generally considered low-risk and minimally invasive (arthroscopic), with mild to moderate pain and relatively quick recovery for simple repairs (weeks), but it carries general surgical risks like infection or blood clots and potential long-term risks like arthritis development due to cartilage removal. Severity depends on the tear type and repair needed (repair vs. removal/meniscectomy), with repairs taking longer (months) and meniscectomies being faster but potentially impacting long-term joint health more.
Surgery has risks, including infection, a blood clot in the leg, damage to nerves or blood vessels, and the risks of anesthesia. After surgery you may still have pain and joint stiffness.
According to the Anesthesia Manual of Surgical Procedures, pain from meniscus surgery is rated at 3 out of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain. Pain medication is given to control pain and keep patients comfortable after surgery.
Stabbing pain after meniscus surgery could be due to a retained piece of the meniscus or inflammation. It may also result from nerve irritation or scar tissue formation. If the pain is severe, it is important to seek medical evaluation.
How is a meniscus tear treated? If your MRI indicates a Grade 1 or 2 tear, but your symptoms and physical exam are inconsistent with a tear, surgery may not be needed. Grade 3 meniscus tears usually require surgery, which may include: Arthroscopic repair — An arthroscope is inserted into the knee to see the tear.
Understand exactly what surgery is planned, along with the risks, benefits, and other options. If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your surgery. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.)
Perimeniscal injections: a new gold standard for meniscus tear treatment. Perimeniscal injections offer a promising new pathway in the conservative management of degenerative meniscus tears. Degenerative meniscus tears are a common cause of persistent knee pain, especially in ageing and active populations.
How soon you can return to work depends on your job. If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 3 to 6 months.
This pain is mostly noticeable during the first five days after surgery. As your body heals, symptoms like pain, swelling, and stiffness begin to improve. However, if your procedure also involved meniscus repair or ACL reconstruction, recovery may take longer than four to six weeks.
If your meniscus is repaired, you will use crutches after surgery, and loose shoes can increase your risk of a trip and fall. If the plan is to remove a portion of the torn meniscus, the surgery usually lasts around 30 minutes and is performed with general anesthesia.
Radial Meniscus Tear
A radial tear is the most common type of meniscus tear that we see. These types of tears are found in the avascular area of the meniscus, which means there is no blood flowing to this area. Because of this, it's exceedingly difficult for this type of injury to heal naturally.
If a tear occurs on the outside of the meniscus, it is more likely to be able to heal without surgery, because good blood flow to this part of the tissue can help the cartilage to repair itself. A tear on the inside of the meniscus, however, does not have this same blood flow to promote healing and may require surgery.
How much does the meniscus surgery cost? Meniscus tear surgery usually costs between $5,000 and $10,000, but you may pay much less out of pocket, depending on your insurance coverage.
Small tears often heal on their own, while others may require arthroscopic surgery. Work with your healthcare providers to develop a treatment and rehabilitation plan that gets you back to your favorite activities — without pain — safely. Most people fully recover from a torn meniscus.
Corticosteroid Injections
Although corticosteroids injected directly into the knee do not heal a meniscus tear, they may reduce swelling and discomfort. Some people may experience long-lasting relief. Your doctor may inject a small amount of anesthetic into the knee along with corticosteroids.
While injections temporarily reduce pain, they will not help heal the meniscus tear.
Arthroscopic Meniscus Surgery
Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a special device (called an arthroscope) equipped with a light, camera and magnifying lenses. An arthroscope allows the surgeon to see into the knee joint without creating a large incision (cut).
Please stop taking all herbal remedies, aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Motrin, Naproxen, etc.) seven days prior to surgery unless otherwise instructed. However, it is okay to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) if something is needed for pain.
things to monitor and consider during recovery. Physical therapy will begin within 1 week after surgery. return to sports.
Your vital signs, like your heart rate and blood pressure, will be monitored during the operation. You may have a breathing tube inserted down your throat during the operation to help you breathe. After cleaning the affected area, your surgeon will make a small incision through the skin and muscle of your knee.
The outpatient procedure typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the tear.
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.
In some cases, a meniscus tear may be accompanied by swelling, stiffness, and difficulty moving the knee. While meniscus surgery is considered a relatively minor procedure, it carries the same risks as any other surgical procedure.