When it comes to knee injuries, meniscal tears are common. Many athletes experience meniscal tears, especially those who participate in contact sports. People of all ages may suffer from this common knee injury.
When people say they have a cartilage tear in their knee, they are often talking about a meniscal tear. Your meniscus is a piece of strong cartilage in your knee. You have two (called menisci) and they are located right under your patella. This crescent shaped cartilage acts as a cushion to absorb shock when you jump, hop, leap, run, and fall. Your meniscus also provides a stabilizing function to your knee.
There are different types of meniscal tears including a longitudinal tear, a flap tear, and transverse tears. Athletes often experience a meniscal tear when they twist, turn, and spin the knee suddenly, or following a hard blow or tackle. Knee injuries may also occur as you get older. Overtime, the tissue in your knee can weaken and become more vulnerable to injury.
When you experience a torn meniscus, there are often some common symptoms you may experience. Here are 5 signs that you may have a meniscal tear:
1. Your knee hurts! A torn meniscus can be very painful. If you are experiencing persistent knee pain that is not going away, you should seek medical attention from a qualified medical professional like a board certified orthopedic surgeon.
2. Swelling around your knee. Meniscal tears are often accompanied by knee swelling. Look at your knees in the mirror or ask a friend to compare your knees. Is one notably larger than the other? If yes, this may be a sign of torn cartilage in your knee.
3. A stiff knee. Is your knee difficult to bend? Do you feel like it is more stiff than normal? Does it get progressively stiff over the course of the day? A stiff knee is another common symptom of injury.
4. Unusual or unstable sensations in your knee. Are you feeling like your knee is unstable, or like it might give out on you when you are standing or walking? Is your knee locking up on you? These types of sensations are common for people with a meniscal tear.
5. Difficulty moving. When you tear the cartilage in your knee, you often experience difficulty moving your knee in ways you previously could before your injury. If the range of motion in your knee feels limited, this could be a sign of a meniscal injury.
If you have some type of knee injury like an ACL injury, an MCL injury, or possibly a torn meniscus, it is very important that you seek qualified medical attention and treatment. Knee injuries left untreated can get progressively worse and even lead to more serious damage.
An experienced orthopedic physician will give you a thorough medical evaluation and review your different treatment options. Sometimes a meniscal tear that is very small can be treated without orthopedic surgery. Other times you might need surgical treatment for a meniscal tear. Typically this involves arthroscopy to repair your injury.