What Treatment Options Can You Have For Meniscus Tear?

You can access various treatment options if you are suffering from a meniscus tear. Your doctor will evaluate your injury before recommending the best treatment depending on how severe your injury is. A meniscus tear West Chester can limit your movement, making it difficult for you to walk.

The meniscus is a part of your knee that acts as a shock absorber between your thigh and shin bone. While the meniscus supports movements like walking or standing, it can sometimes tear because of certain sudden movements.

Causes

You can have a meniscus tear resulting from sudden unexpected movements or wear and tear. While your knee is used to repetitive movements, you can suffer a meniscus tear from aggressive movements that stretch your meniscus beyond normal.

Symptoms

The following are common symptoms of a meniscus tear.

• Pain
• Low mobility
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Instability
• Knee locking

Treatment options

Your treatment will depend on the intensity of your tear. If the tear is mild, you can use painkillers and other conservative methods like physical therapy to help you recover. For a severe tear, your specialist might recommend surgery.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy involves stretching and strengthening exercises that help your recovery. The activities will help stretch your surrounding muscles to improve the strength of your knee. The treatment method is useful when you do not require surgery.

Heat and ice therapy

You can reduce pain and swelling using ice. Your specialist can give you time intervals for when to use ice. For a better outcome, you can use ice for the first few days after injury. You can use heat therapy to help with blood circulation and promote faster healing.

Rest

Your specialist might recommend resting for a few days to ensure a quick recovery. You can use walking crutches to relieve your knees of pressure. You can support the affected leg at home with a pillow under the heel.

Steroid injections

In other instances, your specialist might recommend steroid injections to help with inflammation and pain. The injection goes straight into your knee to help you recover.  

When do you need surgery for a meniscal tear?

Your orthopedic specialist might recommend surgery if conservative methods prove ineffective. One suitable surgery can be arthroscopic surgery which involves the use of tiny incisions. The process ensures a shorter recovery and less bleeding than traditional open surgery.

The tiny incisions, also referred to as portals, are useful when inserting a camera and operating tools. Once your surgeon accesses your tear, they remove the damaged tissues and repair the healthy tissues with sutures. Once your surgery is complete, your surgeon will send you home to recover.

You can incorporate conservative treatment methods after surgery to help you recover well and quickly. Your specialist might recommend physical therapy to help you stretch and strengthen your knee.

If you have a meniscus tear, visit Beacon Orthopedics & Sports Medicine for treatment. Your specialist will evaluate your injury and recommend the most suitable treatment depending on its intensity. Call or book an appointment online and improve your movement.