Here in southwest Florida, with year-round temperatures allowing for outdoor sports and activities, it’s common to see multiple knee injuries in people of all ages. From high school sports to active adults, activities like soccer and baseball, pickleball and tennis or even just walking and jogging can lead to meniscus tears.
The meniscus is a small, dense piece of cartilage that serves as a shock absorber between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (lower leg bone). There are two menisci in the knee joint — the medial meniscus and lateral meniscus.
A torn meniscus most often occurs during a twisting motion while weight bearing. While it can happen on its own, it’s most commonly accompanied by an underlying condition, such as arthritis or overuse. In more severe cases, usually acute, meniscus injuries can occur in connection with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) disruption.
“Anterior cruciate ligament injuries are fairly common,” said Dr. Arthur Valadie, board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine at Coastal Orthopedics. “About half the people with an acute ACL tear will also have a meniscal tear. If you have an untreated ACL tear and an unstable knee and the knee buckles or shifts on you, then the risk of you having a meniscus tear increases over time.”
What does a torn meniscus look like?
The meniscus is made up of dense cartilage and sometimes pieces of that dense cartilage can become torn and move to different locations in the knee, resulting in pain when it is compressed. Internally, those pieces can sometimes disconnect and become floating debris (loose bodies) within the joint that can get in the way of normal joint function.
Without an MRI, it’s hard to diagnosis a torn meniscus by looking at the outside, but if you think you have a torn meniscus, some symptoms you may be experiencing include:
• Swelling behind the knee
• Inability to fully straighten the knee
• Pain
What does a torn meniscus feel like?
Those that are suffering from a torn meniscus usually complain of pain that is focused on the side or center of the knee. This pain can be associated with a clicking and/or popping sensation. Oftentimes, the pain worsens when in use, such as going up or down stairs, twisting, or going from a seated position to standing.
“I had Coastal Orthopedics take a look at my knee the day after my injury occurred. My wife was pregnant at the time, so I waited almost three months before having surgery.
During that time, I was dealing with pain constantly. I wasn’t able to bend my knee over 90 degrees and whenever I pivoted or turned, I would feel a shooting pain in my knee,” described 29-year-old Michael De Michieli, a recent patient at Coastal Orthopedics who suffered from an ACL tear and a medial and lateral meniscus tear that stemmed from a soccer injury.
“Meniscal tears come in all different shapes and sizes,” said Dr. Valadie. “Some of them are not repairable and some of them we just trim out the torn part. Michael happened to have two meniscal tears that were going to be better off in the long run to repair.”
For Michael, the decision to have the professionals at Coastal Orthopedics perform his surgery was an easy one. “I’ve had several friends come to Coastal Orthopedics for their sports-related injuries,” said Michael. “After talking to Dr. Valadie, I felt even more comfortable with my decision. He was extremely informative, answered all of my questions and is very well-known.”
How do you heal a torn meniscus naturally?
The good news is that some meniscus injuries can be healed naturally without the assistance of a medical professional by modifying daily activities and protecting the joint. However, if the pain continues to persist for several weeks, it’s best to seek medical advice.
Within a couple of the days of the injury, ice is encouraged for most acute injuries to help minimize the effects of swelling. Keep in mind that some swelling is good to promote healing.
When treating a torn meniscus at home, it’s helpful to also perform gentle stretching exercises, including:
• Hamstring stretches
• Quadricep stretches
• Gastrocnemius stretches
• Light strengthening within comfort, including isometric contractions of the quad and open kinetic chain leg lift
Additionally, generalized activity and safe weight bearing activities such as walking and light strengthening are beneficial for overall meniscus health.
Can a torn meniscus heal on its own?
Small meniscus tears can sometimes stabilize on their own, and conservative management of a meniscus tear should typically be tried first. This can include activity modification, joint protection, gentle strengthening, stretching and a judicious usage of NSAIDS.
To promote healthy healing, avoid activities that would compromise the integrity of the meniscus, such as prolonged running, twisting on a planted foot or deep squats. If you’re still having pain with normal activity or cannot perform your normal level of function, it’s likely you’ll need to seek medical advice.
“If you have an unstable knee for a long period of time, then you have a high risk of damaging the meniscus,” said Dr. Arthur Valadie. “Since the meniscus is preventative against arthritis, you can actually do harm by ignoring that injury.”
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
This can depend on the severity of the injury. If walking does not cause any extra pain, it is good to continue walking and being active. However, it’s important to remember that the menisci are shock absorbers, so if you have significantly prolonged walks, it can aggravate your symptoms.
If you suspect you have a torn meniscus, avoid performing activities such as squatting too far, planting the leg and twisting on the knee, lunging too far or running as they will further irritate your condition. If you are feeling unstable due to pain or are unable to straighten your knee, it may be beneficial to use a brace or crutch for safety purposes.
