What Is a Torn Meniscus?
The meniscus is a pad of cartilage in the knee that acts as a shock absorber, allowing the joint to move easily without pain. Meniscus tears usually take place when an individual (typically an athlete) twists or turns their upper leg while their foot is planted and their knee is bent. Some of the typical symptoms you may experience if you have a torn meniscus include:
- A popping sensation during the injury
- Pain in the inside (medial), outside (lateral), or back of the knee
- Swelling
- Locking of the knee joint
- Inability to fully extend or bend the knee joint
- Limping
At first, the pain you experience from a meniscus tear may not be too bad, and you may even be able to continue playing through the injury. However, once the inflammation sets in, your knee will likely start hurting quite a bit.
Receive Expert Care at AOSMI
At Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, we can provide you with prompt, caring, and effective treatment for a torn meniscus. When diagnosing your knee injury, one of our highly skilled and experienced doctors will likely perform an MRI, along with the McMurray’s test, which is a simple, in-office procedure that involves systematically rotating the knee to identify where tears in the meniscus may have developed.
When treating your torn meniscus, your doctor may begin by implementing conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatories, bracing, steroid injections, massage and acupuncture, and physical therapy. If conservative treatments don’t suffice, we have a team of board-certified surgeons who can expertly perform a number of minimally invasive surgeries that will help heal your knee and restore your mobility.
If you would like to learn more about how we can treat your torn meniscus, contact Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute today. We would be happy to schedule your appointment at our facility in Freehold or Monroe Township, New Jersey.
