Torn Meniscus – Symptoms and Causes
What is a Knee Meniscus Injury?
A meniscus tear ranks among the most frequent knee injuries people experience. This injury often happens during activities that force you to twist your knee while supporting your body weight.
The meniscus is a tough, C-shaped piece of cartilage located between your shinbone and thighbone. Each knee contains two of these cartilage pieces that function as natural shock absorbers.
When torn, the meniscus causes several noticeable symptoms. Patients typically experience pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected knee. Many also report difficulty fully extending their knee or feeling a blocking sensation during movement.
The injury commonly occurs when someone twists their knee suddenly while bearing weight on it. This motion puts excessive force on the knee joint, potentially tearing the cartilage.
Treatment Options
Several approaches exist for managing meniscus tears:
- Rest and ice to reduce swelling.
- Anti-inflammatory medications to manage pain.
- Physical therapy to strengthen surrounding muscles.
- Surgical repair for more severe tears.
Many patients respond well to conservative treatments that allow the injury to heal naturally. However, some tears require surgical intervention, especially when symptoms persist or the tear affects knee stability.
Treatment choices depend on:
- The location of the tear
- The severity of symptoms
- The patient’s age and activity level
Signs and Problems
If you tear your meniscus, you might not feel pain right away. Sometimes it takes a day or more for symptoms to appear, especially with small tears.
Common signs of a meniscus tear include:
- A noticeable “pop” when the injury happens
- Swelling around the knee
- Stiffness in the joint
- Pain, particularly when you twist your knee
- Trouble fully straightening your leg
- Feeling like your knee is stuck or locked
- Sensation of your knee giving way or being unstable
These symptoms may worsen when you try to move or put weight on your injured knee.
When to Visit Your Doctor for Knee Issues
Get in touch with your doctor when your knee hurts, shows swelling, or if you cannot move it normally. These symptoms may indicate a problem that needs medical attention.
Causes
A meniscus tear often happens during activities that force your knee to twist or rotate sharply. Quick stops, sudden turns, and aggressive pivoting movements put stress on the knee joint.
Even everyday actions like kneeling, lifting heavy objects, or deep squatting can sometimes damage the meniscus.
For older people, natural wear and tear of the knee joint makes tears more likely. These age-related changes can cause the meniscus to tear even with minor physical stress or minimal trauma.
Physical activities that put stress on knees include:
- Sports with quick direction changes
- Heavy lifting
- Deep knee bends
- Sudden pivoting movements
Risk Factors
Certain activities increase your chance of tearing your meniscus. If you play sports that require quick turns and knee movements, your risk goes up. This is especially true for:
- Contact sports like football
- Activities with pivoting motions, such as tennis and basketball
Other factors that raise your risk include:
- Age: Older knees experience more wear and tear, making tears more likely
- Weight: Being overweight puts extra pressure on knee joints, increasing tear risk
Physical activity that involves sudden knee movements combined with these personal factors can significantly impact your likelihood of experiencing this injury.
Complications
A torn meniscus can cause several problems with your knee function. You might feel like your knee gives out when you put weight on it. Many people also notice they cannot move their knee normally.
Another common issue is pain that doesn’t go away. Over time, the damaged knee joint faces a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. This happens because the torn meniscus affects how stress is distributed across the knee joint.
