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.
Initial symptoms of a torn meniscus include well-localized pain and swelling in the knee. The pain is usually either on the inner or outer side of the knee, not around the kneecap.
In a typical moderate tear, you feel pain at the side or in the center of the knee, depending on where the tear is. Often, you are still able to walk. Swelling usually increases slowly over a few days and may make the knee feel stiff and limit bending. There is often sharp pain when you twist or squat.
Not everyone with a meniscus tear will have severe pain. In fact, many of you may have no pain at all if you give your knee a few weeks to rest. If your pain persists despite a few weeks of rest or PT then we may consider repairing your tear. Many more tears are repairable than we previously thought.
A meniscus tear interferes with the normal movement of the knee, and without treatment, you can wind up with serious, lifelong problems.
Many ACL tears we see only have problems ascending stairs, jogging, or walking downhill but can walk up hills and on flat roads without an increase in pain. A meniscus tear, on the other hand, will cause fairly severe pain even just standing on it.
A tear is usually labeled as severe if the meniscus has a big tear. Loose pieces may cause the knee joint to lock or catch. This level of injury may also keep you from bending or straightening your leg and can make walking difficult. Severe tears usually require surgery to repair.
You will have a physical examination to find out if you have a torn meniscus and to rule out other knee injuries. Your doctor will check both knees for tenderness, range of motion, and knee stability. X-rays are usually done. Based on your symptoms and the physical examination, your doctor may diagnose a meniscus tear.
If the tear is in the outer third of the meniscus, it may be able to heal on its own because that area has a rich blood supply. Blood cells help repair tissue naturally. If the tear is in the inner two-thirds of the meniscus, surgery may be necessary.
Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery.
Individuals with a meniscus tear often complain of pain along the joint line. They often have pain or weakness with bending the knee and sometimes they have a catching or locking sensation. With an acute tear, individuals may notice a lot of swelling in the knee and often report that they heard or felt a pop.
Because a torn meniscus is made of cartilage, it won't show up on X-rays. But X-rays can help rule out other problems with the knee that cause similar symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This uses a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of both hard and soft tissues within your knee.
A popping feeling or sound in the knee where the meniscus is torn. Pain in the center of the knee or on one of the sides, especially when you twist your knee or squat down. This pain can go away after a couple of weeks, but you might notice that it comes back if you don't get treatment.
The injury won't heal on its own, which means it may continue getting worse without proper care. For example, a partial tear may continue to worsen until it's a complete tear. Continuing to walk on the affected leg can aggravate your symptoms, making pain and stiffness worse in as little as a few days.
The severity of a meniscus tear is graded on a scale of one to three. A Grade 1 tear is a small tear that does not extend to the articular surface – or the top – of the meniscus. Grade 2 is a larger tear in the meniscus that also does not extend to the articular surface.
Your doctor may recommend surgery because: You still have pain after trying other treatment, such as rest and physiotherapy. Your knee "locks up" instead of working normally. You may be able to reduce the risk of future joint problems (osteoarthritis).
The recovery time also tends to vary; most issues related to the meniscus will usually resolve within a few weeks to three months, while ACL-related problems typically take 6-12 months to fully recover.
One of the most feared sports and work injuries is a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which has ended or derailed the careers of numerous high-profile athletes. A torn ACL is very painful and can debilitate a person for several months and perhaps for life, although recovery for some is possible.
Injuries to the meniscus, whether or not they require surgical treatment, will generally take about three months to resolve. “In some cases, it may even be quicker,” Dr. Lederman said. ACL injuries tend to take more time.
Sometimes providers remove a meniscus if the damage is so severe that they can't repair it. Living without a meniscus can increase your risk of osteoarthritis and chronic (long-term) knee pain. A torn or injured meniscus can also lead to osteoarthritis.
The meniscus does have the capability to repair and regenerate. When we surgically remove meniscus tissue we remove the cells that can naturally repair the meniscus damage.
Since cartilage can't regrow, a lack of cartilage often plays a major role in knee joint malfunctions and knee pain — and may subsequently lead to joint replacement. However, at Penn Medicine, there are options to ease your pain and prevent or delay the onset of arthritis which may delay having your knee replaced.