To speed the recovery, you can:
- Rest the knee. …
- Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling. …
- Compress your knee. …
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications. …
- Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.
What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?
An untreated meniscus tear can result in the frayed edge getting caught in the joint, causing pain and swelling. It can also result in long term knee problems such as arthritis and other soft tissue damage.
Can meniscus tear heal without surgery?
The Truth About Meniscus Tears
That said, very few meniscus tears will heal completely without surgery. 1 It’s important to understand that not all meniscus tears cause symptoms, and even if a meniscus tear occurs, the symptoms may subside without surgery.
Is it OK to exercise with a torn meniscus?
Doctors will usually advise against performing certain exercises when you have a meniscus tear. These exercises can put too much pressure on an already unstable knee. Avoid exercises that involve: pivoting.
Will a knee brace help a torn meniscus?
After meniscus tear surgery, a knee brace can be worn to limit knee flexion and rotation, protecting the meniscus while allowing weight-bearing and movement . Additionally, braces can support the knee while doing physical therapy exercises later on in rehabilitation.
Can you live with a torn meniscus?
“You can live with a meniscus tear,” Dr. Parker says. “And it may heal on its own, or just not cause you problems.” However, you’ll know pretty quickly when it is a problem.
How do you tell if your meniscus is damaged?
If you’ve torn your meniscus, you might have the following signs and symptoms in your knee:
- A popping sensation.
- Swelling or stiffness.
- Pain, especially when twisting or rotating your knee.
- Difficulty straightening your knee fully.
- Feeling as though your knee is locked in place when you try to move it.
What is the best exercise for a torn meniscus?
Once you have your doctor’s approval to begin exercising, try some of these exercises to enhance your strength and stability following a meniscus tear.
- Quadriceps setting. …
- Mini-squats. …
- Straight leg raise. …
- Hamstring heel digs. …
- Leg extensions. …
- Standing heel raises. …
- Clams. …
- Hamstring curls.
What aggravates a torn meniscus?
Lifestyle and home remedies. Avoid activities that aggravate your knee pain — especially sports that involve pivoting or twisting your knee — until the pain disappears.
How long does meniscus tear take to heal?
Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery.
What foods help heal a torn meniscus?
7 Foods that Help Rebuild Cartilage
- Legumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown. …
- Oranges. …
- Pomegranates. …
- Green Tea. …
- Brown Rice. …
- Nuts. …
- Brussel Sprouts.
Is walking good for torn meniscus?
Many people with a torn meniscus can still walk with the injury. Some athletes may even continue to play their sport with the injury, especially immediately after the incident as it may take several days for the stiffness and swelling to develop fully.
Should you stay off a torn meniscus?
Rest. You should stay off your feet until your meniscus tear is healed. Don’t walk, run, or play sports because this can make your injury worse.
Does a torn meniscus hurt all the time?
Do all meniscus tears hurt? Yes, at some point in time most all meniscus tears will hurt. But that doesn’t mean they will hurt for a long time. In many cases the pain from a meniscus tear will either improve significantly or go away without surgery.
Why does meniscus tear hurt at night?
There are a couple of reasons why your knee pain is worse at night: Pain is perceived to be worse at nighttime. As you climb into bed and start to quiet your mind pain becomes more pronounced than when you were active during the day distracted by your activities. An active day may cause your knee joint to swell.
Where does a meniscus tear hurt?
In a typical moderate tear, you feel pain at the side or in the center of the knee, depending on where the tear is. Often, you are still able to walk. Swelling usually increases gradually over 2 to 3 days and may make the knee feel stiff and limit bending. There is often sharp pain when twisting or squatting.
How long can you walk with a torn meniscus?
As this healing occurs, patients progress towards bearing weight, increasing their range of motion, and leaving the knee brace behind. How quickly this progress occurs varies by surgeon, but a typical range is 4-8 weeks. Patients are usually out of the brace and walking without crutches around 2-3 months.
Is it worth having meniscus surgery?
Surgery may help you reduce the risk of other joint problems, such as osteoarthritis. There are no long-term studies to prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint.
Is heat or cold better for torn meniscus?
Heat (Circulation Boost) should be used when you suffer from a chronic, tight or stiff meniscus injury and after you reduce swelling, pain and inflammation with cold.
How do you sleep with a torn meniscus?
3 Tips for Better Sleep After Meniscus Surgery
- Keep your bandages clean and dry. Before you go to bed, check the dressing around the surgery site to make sure everything is copacetic. …
- Sleep on your back with the leg slightly elevated. …
- Roll over to the “good leg” side. …
- Try breathing exercises to help relax.
Is a compression sleeve good for a torn meniscus?
Compression sleeves are often the best knee brace for a torn meniscus if you also suffer from arthritic knees or from a degenerative condition. They are also a good choice for an athlete at the end of the rehabilitation process and requiring compression therapy to reduce pain and promote more rapid healing.
Can you put weight on a torn meniscus?
Many individuals are still capable of putting weight on the affected knee and even walking normally after a meniscus injury. In fact, many athletes can even continue playing after a meniscus injury.
How can I regrow my meniscus?
A meniscus transplant uses donor tissue to replace a missing meniscus. But this approach relies on a supply of healthy, young donor tissue, which is not always easy to acquire, and a highly specialized surgical procedure.