Meniscus Tears

The meniscus in your knee is a cushion of cartilage that protects the joint. A tear in the meniscus could cause severe pain and problems using the knee that require expert treatment. At Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC – which serves the Denver metropolitan area – Kevin O’Donnell, DO, and the team offer innovative non-surgical treatments for meniscus damage. To find out what they can do for your meniscus tear, call Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC or book an appointment online today. 

What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is an injury of the cartilage inside your knee. There are mobile cushions called the medial and lateral menisci between your thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia). These cushions protect the inside and outside of your knee from pressure generated by the flat shin bone and the curved thigh bone. 

A meniscus may fray, tear, or move into another part of your knee due to injury, overuse, or age-related joint damage. Tears are most often a result of trauma, typically sports injuries. However, age-related degeneration of the meniscus weakens the cartilage. It makes it prone to injury so that an older person can tear their meniscus more easily.

What symptoms does a meniscus tear cause?

A meniscus tear may be painful and cause joint function loss. You might notice a popping sensation in your knee when the injury occurs, but most people can still walk. After a few days, the knee becomes swollen, tender, and stiff.

The joint might feel like it’s catching or locking up, and you may sense it could give way when you walk. You’re likely to have some limitations to your normal range of motion as well.

Diagnosing a meniscus tear involves taking an appropriate history, performing a physical exam, and using X-rays or an MRI to see inside the knee. 

How is a meniscus tear treated? 

Initial approaches to treating a meniscus tear are likely to involve rest, icing the knee, avoiding activities that cause pain, taking anti-inflammatory medications, and physical therapy. 

Meniscus tears can heal on their own, especially in younger patients. The outer third of the meniscus has a better blood supply, meaning your body can deliver oxygen, nutrients, and healing cells that enable it to heal. 

To boost meniscus healing, Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC offers a range of cutting-edge treatments that promote healing and new tissue growth. These include:

• Prolotherapy 
• Bone and fat stem cell therapy
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Focused shockwave therapy
• Extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT®) radial shockwave therapy

Treating a meniscus tear properly is vital to ensure your knee function returns and reduce the risk of knee arthritis in the future.

If you have knee pain, find out whether a meniscus tear is to blame and get the best treatment available by visiting Revitalize Regenerative Orthopedics LLC. Call the office or book an appointment online today.