The Truth About Meniscus Tears

Meniscus tears are common in sports like football, volleyball, and soccer. They can happen when a person changes direction suddenly while running, and often occur at the same time as other knee injuries, like an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Meniscus tears are a risk factor for older athletes since the meniscus weakens with age.

To keep know more about the line of treatment for your meniscus tear, consult with the best knee replacement surgeon in Ahmedabad, Shalby Hospitals.

SYMPTOMS:

• Pain in the knee
• Swelling
• A popping sensation during the injury
• Difficulty bending and straightening the leg
• A tendency for your knee to lock up

DIAGNOSIS:

1.      Physical Exam: Your doctor also may perform a McMurray test to look for a meniscal tear. This test involves bending your knee and then straightening and rotating it. You may hear a slight pop during this test. This can indicate a tear of the meniscus. 

2.      Imagine Tests: X-Ray, CT Scans, MRI Scans, Arthroscopy, Ultrasound

TREATMENT:

• Rest the knee: Use crunches to get support.
• Ice your knee : Reduce pain and swelling, exercise 15-20 minutes every 3-4 hours for 2-3 days or until the pain and swelling have faded.
• Compress your knee. Use an elastic bandage on your knee to control swelling.
• Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you're sitting or lying down.
• Take anti-inflammatory medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs will help with pain and swelling.
• Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress in your knee. Ask your doctor to recommend a physical therapist for guidance.
• Avoid impact activities such as running and jumping.

These conservative treatments, however, aren't always enough. If a tear is large, unstable, or causing locking symptoms surgery may be required to either repair or remove unstable edges.

How To Prevent Meniscus Tear:

Meniscus tears are tough to prevent since they're usually the result of an accident. You should:

• Keep your thigh muscles strong with regular exercises.
• Warm-up with light activities before taking part
• Give your body time to rest between workouts. Fatigued muscles can increase your risk of injury.
• Make sure your shoes have enough support and fit correctly.
• Maintain flexibility.
• Never abruptly increase the intensity of your workout

Prevention is better than cure. Know how to prevent such accidents and the right thing to do in such cases. Shalby Hospitals, knee replacement in Ahmedabad has experts who have a solution to your every query.

Also Read: Spinal Column Surgical treatment - Range in India