If you have a grade 1 or 2 tear (mild or moderate case), your orthopedic doctor will likely recommend physical therapy as the mainstay of conservative treatment. Grade 3 tears typically require surgery, but your orthopedic doctor will also recommend physical therapy to help facilitate a successful recovery.
How long is physical therapy for torn meniscus?
As part of a conservative treatment, you’ll probably try PT for around 4 to 6 weeks, on a regular schedule. Also, you must regularly exercise at home the way you are taught. If it doesn’t work, then it may be time for surgery.
Why is my torn meniscus not healing?
If your meniscus is torn and simply won’t heal, the question is whether a surgeon should fix it or take part of it out. “Most meniscus tears are not repairable because of the pattern of the tear. Only the outer third of the meniscus has a blood supply and will heal reliably,” said Joshua J.
Do meniscus tears ever heal?
In the case of meniscus tears, some people think the injury will heal over time on its own. But the truth is that there are different types of meniscus tears — and some tears won’t heal without treatment. If your tear is on the outer one-third of the meniscus, it may heal on its own or be repaired surgically.
What makes a meniscus tear worse?
Pain. A torn meniscus usually produces well-localized pain in the knee. The pain often is worse during twisting or squatting motions. Unless the torn meniscus has locked the knee, many people with a torn meniscus can walk, stand, sit, and sleep without pain.
What is the best therapy for a torn meniscus?
- Rest. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain, especially any activity that causes you to twist, rotate or pivot your knee.
- Ice. Ice can reduce knee pain and swelling.
- Medication. Over-the-counter pain relievers also can help ease knee pain.
How long does a meniscus tear take to heal without surgery?
Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery. If your symptoms persist after 3 months or your symptoms become significant, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tear.
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
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.
What percentage of meniscus tears require surgery?
Differing treatment It’s important to know the differences between the tears because usually only acute traumatic tears are surgically repairable. Less than 10 percent of meniscal tears occurring in patients age 40 or older can be repaired.
Is it worth having meniscus surgery?
What are the benefits? Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. Surgery to repair tears may reduce the risk of long-term joint problems.
What are two treatments for a meniscus tear?
Conservative treatment — such as rest, ice and medication — is sometimes enough to relieve the pain of a torn meniscus and give the injury time to heal on its own. In other cases, however, a torn meniscus requires surgery.
What are 3 signs of a meniscus tear in the knee?
- 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.
- Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint.
- Limping.
How can I regenerate my meniscus naturally?
- Rest: It’s crucial to rest your knee after injury.
- Ice: Apply ice to your knee for 15 minutes at four-hour intervals.
- Compression: To help reduce swelling, you should keep something on your leg.
Does a torn meniscus hurt all the time?
Do all meniscus tears hurt? Yes, at some point in time most all meniscus tears will hurt. But that doesn’t mean they will hurt for a long time. In many cases the pain from a meniscus tear will either improve significantly or go away without surgery.
Can you live with a torn meniscus?
“You can live with a meniscus tear,” Dr. Parker says. “And it may heal on its own, or just not cause you problems.”
Will a cortisone shot help a torn meniscus?
It doesn’t heal the meniscus A cortisone injection cannot heal your meniscus tear. In most cases, your body will heal over time. Cortisone only helps with reducing the pain and inflammation from meniscal injuries.
Should I wear a knee brace with a torn meniscus?
Yes. Although knee braces do not heal or treat your meniscus tear directly, they can provide extra support and stability for your knee while your meniscus injury heals. A good brace will protect your knee and take the pressure off your meniscus, allowing it to rest.
Can you rehab a torn meniscus without surgery?
Nonsurgical Treatment for a Meniscus Tear Walking aids such as crutches may be recommended to take pressure off of the knee and to promote healing. Using a cold compress or ice pack can help to reduce swelling and pain in the knee.
What are the grades of meniscus tears?
Meniscus tears, indicated by MRI, are classified in three grades. Grades 1 and 2 are not considered serious. They may not even be apparent with an arthroscopic examination. Grade 3 is a true meniscus tear and an arthroscope is close to 100 percent accurate in diagnosing this tear.
What is a meniscus tear recovery time?
In many cases, rehabilitation can be carried out at home, although your doctor may recommend working with a physical therapist. Rehabilitation time for a meniscus repair is about 3 to 6 months. A meniscectomy requires less time for healing — approximately 3 to 6 weeks.
Is heat or cold better for torn meniscus?
Too much cold will keep your injury in the same state – slowing down the healing process. This can sometimes make chronic injuries linger even longer. Heat (Circulation Boost) should be used when you suffer from a chronic, tight or stiff meniscus injury and after you reduce swelling, pain and inflammation with cold.
Can you bend your knee with a torn meniscus?
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.
Should you stay off your feet with a torn meniscus?
You should stay off your feet until your meniscus tear is healed. Don’t walk, run, or play sports because this can make your injury worse. Ice. You should put ice on your knee as soon as possible.
Which is worse lateral or medial meniscus 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.
Will your knee ever be the same after meniscus surgery?
Most meniscal surgeries (95%) are partial meniscectomies where part of the meniscus is actually removed, not just repaired. Therefore, the remaining meniscus is now smaller and does not perform as well.