Treating and Diagnosing Meniscus Tear

1. Treating and Diagnosing Meniscus Tear

2. Meniscus tear is a common knee injury. Athletes involved in contact sports are at a higher risk of a meniscus tear.  The knee joint is the largest joint in your body. Your knee joint is composed of the thighbone (femur), shinbone (tibia), and kneecap (patella). Two wedge-shaped cartridges between your thighbone and shinbone are called meniscus. The meniscus acts as shock absorbers and help cushion and stabilize your joint. Torn meniscus causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in your knees. Your range of knee movement may be difficult. • A meniscus tear can occur in different ways. We can classify tears by how the appearance and location. Common types of meniscus tears are:- • Bucket handle tear • Flap tear • Radial tear • Parrot break

3. Symptoms • Symptoms of a meniscus tear are:- • Pain in your knee joint. • Swelling and stiffness. • Difficulty in mobility or straightening your knee fully. • Feeling your knee is locked in place. • Limping. • Popping sensation. • Giving way or buckling of your knee. • An untreated torn meniscus can lead to your knees giving in, inability to move your knees and persistent knee pain. Book an orthopedic doctor in Patna if your knee is swollen or sore or if it is locked in place.

4. Causes • Meniscus tear is caused when you forcefully twist or rotate your knee. The injury often happens during contact sports. Kneeling, squatting or lifting heavy objects can cause a meniscus tear. Elderly people can have a degenerative meniscus tear. Your cartridges can weaken and wear down as you age. Aged and worn tissues are more likely to tears. • Diagnosis • The best orthopedic doctor in Patna will test your medical history and physical examination of your knee. They will feel, assess the tenderness and stability of your joint. They will test the range of motion of the knee. During the physical doctor, they may predict if your medial or lateral meniscus is damaged. But imaging tests are required to confirm the diagnosis. • The orthopedic doctor near me may order imaging tests such as an X-ray or an MRI. They may use an arthroscope to examine the inside of your knees.

5. Treatment • The best orthopedic doctor in Patna makes your treatment plans depending on the size and location of the tear, your age, and your overall health and medical history. For a minor injury, they may prescribe over-the-counter medication to reduce inflammation and pain. They may recommend RICE (Rest, ice, compression, and elevation) treatment on the injured knee. They may suggest you visit a physiotherapist in Patna to strengthen your knee and legs and stabilize and reinforce your knee joint. • The orthopedic doctor near me may recommend surgery if the joint remains painful after therapy. During the surgery, your meniscus may be trimmed or repaired using the arthroscope. After the surgery, you will need to exercise gradually to increase and maintain knee strength and mobility. They may recommend knee replacement surgery if you have degenerative arthritis. • Meniscus tear is a common injury with accurate diagnosis and treatment most people return to their pre-injury activity.