Torn Meniscus – Diagnosis and Treatment

Diagnosis

Scans and Imaging

Doctors use a few different scans when someone comes in with knee pain, swelling, or a weird popping or clicking. X-rays won’t show the meniscus, but they can rule out bone issues that look similar.

Scan Type	What It Shows	Useful For
X-ray	Bones	Rules out bone problems
MRI	Soft and hard tissues	Finds meniscus tears

MRI scans are the real MVPs here—they show clear pictures of cartilage and can pick up small tears.

Knee Arthroscopy

Sometimes, scans don’t tell the whole story. In those cases, doctors use an arthroscope—a tiny camera slipped in through a small cut near the knee.

This lets them see what’s actually going on inside and maybe even fix the tear right then. It’s a closer look than any scan can give.

Additional Details

• During a physical exam, doctors move the knee in certain ways (like the McMurray test, which involves bending and rotating the knee) to check for pain, tenderness, or clicking sounds—signs that may point to a meniscus tear.
• They notice things like swelling, tenderness, or if the knee moves oddly.
• Often, they combine these exams with scans or the camera for a clear diagnosis and treatment plan.

Ways to Manage a Torn Meniscus

Non-Surgical Approaches

Most torn meniscus cases start with non-surgical steps. Here’s what usually happens:

Non-Surgical Options	Purpose
Rest	Minimize stress on knee
Ice	Control pain and swelling
Pain medications / NSAIDs	Reduce pain, inflammation
Physical therapy	Improve strength and support

• Rest: Doctors tell patients to skip movements that make the pain worse, like twisting or sudden turns. Sometimes, crutches help by taking weight off the knee.
• Ice: A cold pack (or even a bag of frozen peas) on the sore spot helps bring down swelling and makes things hurt less. Do this for 15 minutes at a time, a few times a day, especially right after an injury.
• Medications: Over-the-counter painkillers, especially NSAIDs, help with pain and swelling.

Physical therapy plays a big role in getting back to normal. Therapists set up a plan to build up the muscles around the knee. Stronger legs mean a more stable knee and less chance of another injury.

Surgical Procedures

If non-surgical treatments don’t cut it or the knee locks up, surgery might be next.

• Meniscus Repair: For younger individuals especially, doctors sometimes stitch the tear back together using small tools and an arthroscope.
• Partial Meniscectomy: If they can’t fix the tear, they trim out the damaged part to relieve symptoms.
• Meniscus Transplant: If someone keeps having knee problems but doesn’t have major arthritis, a donor meniscus might be an option.
• Knee Joint Replacement: This is mostly for people with severe, worn-out knees from arthritis.

After surgery, rehab focuses on exercises to rebuild strength and flexibility. Doctors personalize the plan based on the tear, your age, and how your knee is doing.

Self care

Take breaks from anything that makes your knee hurt more. Use ice packs for up to 20 minutes to bring down swelling. Wrapping your knee with a compression bandage can help with support.

Braces and sleeves give the joint extra support and help it heal. Listening to your healthcare provider is the best way to recover safely and avoid more knee trouble.

Getting Ready for Your Visit

Getting organized before your appointment makes everything easier. Write down when your knee injury happened and what you were doing. If you heard a pop or felt something weird at the time, jot that down too.

Make a list of any old knee problems or surgeries you’ve had. If the pain is always there or just comes and goes, note that pattern.

Track swelling and symptoms. Does your knee get bigger after certain moves or at certain times? Mention if it ever locks up, feels stuck, or gives out.

Here’s a table to help you get your info together:

Information Needed	Details to Record
Date and cause of injury	Example: Fell while running, Jan 2025
Sensations at time of injury	Heard a pop, sudden pain
Knee swelling	Yes/No; when does it happen?
History of knee injuries	Previous tears, surgeries, sprains
Frequency of symptoms	Is the pain always there or off and on?
Pain triggers or relief	Which movements help/hurt?
Episodes of locking or instability	Knee feels unstable or gets stuck
Other health problems	List any major health issues