On an MRI, a torn meniscus looks like a bright white line or signal breaking into the normally dark, triangular meniscus structure, indicating fluid or disruption, often with abnormal shapes like flaps (parrot-beak) or displaced fragments, and can be seen in different views (sagittal, coronal, axial) as bright signals, gaps, or a displaced "bow-tie" shape.
Longitudinal tears almost always involve the posterior horn in both the medial and lateral menisci. They are diagnosed on MRI by the presence of a vertical line of increased signal intensity contacting the superior, inferior, or both surfaces of the meniscus (Fig. 16).
A torn meniscus causes pain, swelling and stiffness. You also might feel a block to knee motion and have trouble extending your knee fully.
Three signs that you may have a torn cartilage (meniscus tear) are: Pain along the sides of the joint, or pain in the back of the knee which moves towards the back of the calf. The pain is usually worse when you put weight on the knee. It may be aggravated with twisting movements.
Can a torn meniscus cause ankle swelling? Following surgery for a torn meniscus, excess fluid in the body may reach the ankle and cause swelling that will subside within days/weeks.
A patient with a meniscus tear will complain of knee pain and swelling on the inner (medial) or outer (lateral) side of the knee. There will be pain with deep knee bending, walking, twisting, and exercise. There can be a sensation of the knee giving way and mechanical symptoms such as locking, catching, or clicking.
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.
Symptoms of a meniscus tear may be different for each person, but some of the most common symptoms are: Pain in the knee joint: usually on the inside (medial), outside (lateral) or back of the knee. Swelling. Catching or locking of the knee joint.
What causes pain behind the knee? There are many different causes of posterior knee pain, including injury, inflammation or infection of the knee joint, overuse, wear and tear with age, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cysts or in very rare cases, cancer. Leg cramps occur when your leg muscles tighten up.
It is well known that a traumatic meniscus injury is very likely to lead to early knee joint osteoarthritis (OA). Conversely, it is also accepted that the probability of suffering from a torn meniscus increases with age, ultimately resulting in the natural degeneration of the knee joint.
Knee catching or locking is often a glaring sign of a torn meniscus. You might feel or even hear clicking when you extend and bend your knee, or your knee might feel stuck in one position. This catching sensation usually happens alongside swelling and pain.
One study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that patients who received PRP injections reported reduced pain and improved function compared to those who underwent surgery. These findings suggest that PRP therapy can be a highly effective and non-invasive treatment option for meniscus tears.
You can bend your other leg, if that feels more comfortable. Tighten the thigh muscles in your affected leg by pressing the back of your knee down. Hold your knee straight. Keeping the thigh muscles tight and your leg straight, lift your affected leg up so that your heel is about 12 inches off the floor.
Fluid in the knee joint can be a sign of inflammation or injury. On an MRI, fluid build-up is typically seen as bright white areas within the joint. This could be due to: Joint Effusion: An abnormal amount of fluid in the joint, often resulting from trauma or arthritis.
Symptoms may go away but can come back from overuse or when you do activities that involve twisting. The pain may come and go over a period of years if the tear isn't treated. Larger tears usually cause more pain and immediate swelling and stiffness.
Tight muscles
In this situation your meniscus is first being compressed, then the bones around it are rotating, leading to a nice grind of the meniscus. The picture illustrates that the gastrocnemius muscle crosses the knee joint. Many people with meniscus injury report cramping, or tight calves.
The #1 mistake making bad knees worse is excessive rest or inactivity, which weakens supporting muscles, leading to stiffness and instability, creating a vicious cycle of pain and dysfunction, even though it feels counterintuitive; the solution involves controlled movement and strengthening exercises (like walking, swimming) to support the joint. Other major mistakes include wearing unsupportive shoes, carrying excess weight, and performing movements that involve twisting.
Leg pain can signal various diseases, often related to poor blood flow (like Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)), nerve issues (like Sciatica, Diabetic Neuropathy, or Restless Legs Syndrome), joint/bone problems (like Arthritis or infections), or muscle conditions, with symptoms varying from exercise-induced cramping to persistent aching, swelling, or numbness.
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.
In summary, while a torn meniscus doesn't cause hip pain directly, the altered mechanics and movement patterns resulting from knee pain may sometimes contribute to hip discomfort.
Yes, knee pain can radiate down the leg and sometimes up the thigh as well. This happens because nerves, tendons, and muscles around the knee share pain pathways. So, when your knee is inflamed, your shin, calf, or even thigh may “share” the pain.
While injections temporarily reduce pain, they will not help heal the meniscus tear. Researchers have been developing stem-cell therapies that may help heal the injured tissue.
The most common side effect is mild pain and swelling at the injection site that goes away on its own. About 1% of people have a more severe reaction called an injection flare. It causes fluid to accumulate in the joint, with significant swelling and pain.
Meniscus surgery is mainly performed by arthroscopy, which is a minimally invasive surgical technique. This procedure is always performed under anaesthesia, although it is usually performed under general or regional anaesthesia.