‍Have you ever torn your meniscus? It’s one of those injuries that is a lot more common than you might think. You see, the meniscus — which the dictionary defines as “a crescent-shaped fibro cartilage in the knee joint that serves as a shock absorber and helps with stability, motion, and providing an optimum position for force transmission from the tibia to the femur” — is located just beneath your kneecap in each leg. And while tearing doesn’t cause arthritis, getting this injury has been linked with developing osteoarthritis later on. Meniscus tears can be acute or chronic in nature.

If you have an acute tear, this means the meniscus was torn suddenly and possibly due to another pre-existing knee condition such as arthritis or previous knee surgery. Another reason for this is an imbalance between contractile (tightening) forces of your quadriceps muscles and passive/resisting forces of your ligaments and tendons when they come into contact with each other at the end of your leg. Chronic tears occur over time due to repetitive stress or overuse of your knees and can result in a partial or complete tear of one or both of your menisci (plural form).

Know the Different Types of Meniscus Tears

There are two types of meniscus tears:

  • A partial tear:

A partial tear is less common than a complete tear. It occurs when the meniscus is stretched but is not completely torn though. This is the most common form of meniscus tear and can happen due to overuse or due to ageing with degenerative knee conditions such as arthritis.

  • A complete tear:

A complete tear occurs when a meniscus is completely torn. This type of tear is more serious than a partial tear. The chances of infection are more prominent in a complete tear as compared to a partial tear.

What is a Torn Meniscus?

The meniscus begins at the inside rim of your knee joint and ends at the outer rim of the joint. The tear usually occurs at the inside edge of the meniscus, which happens to be the part that cushions the knee joint. It’s an injury that is commonly seen in athletes, especially those in contact sports such as football or soccer. Torn knee cartilage, including the meniscus, is a common sports injury. It often happens when two bones in the knee joint come together and hit each other at the same time. A meniscus tear usually happens after a sudden twisting, or turning motion causes the knee joint to open up quickly. The knee joint is covered by a slippery substance called synovial fluid. Sometimes, this fluid gets trapped between the bones in the knee joint. This can cause inflammation and swelling in the knee joint.

How to Heal a Torn Meniscus Naturally?

If you have arthritis in your knee, the stress load of running can cause the outer ligament attachments or cruciate ligament at the outer end of your knee to become worn and weaker over time resulting in superficial tears or micro-fractures that go unnoticed until they get worse.

In addition, repetitive motion like walking or running will eventually wear out the cartilage surface on top of your menisci, gradually increasing the likelihood that larger tears form. Fortunately, there are several natural remedies available today that provide outstanding results in treating Knee meniscus tear arthrosis effectively without too many side effects.

The first step in treating a torn meniscus is to see your doctor, who will probably advise getting an MRI. Identifying the severity of the rip is the next step after having the tear confirmed. Is the rip total or only partially torn? Your doctor will decide the appropriate course of therapy after this has been determined. In order to better understand some of the reasons and symptoms, the doctor may ask you to move your knee in specific directions, walk, sit, or squat.

Following that, the doctor could order an X-ray or an MRI as part of various imaging testing. The meniscus won’t be visible in the x-ray since it is composed of cartilage. However, the x-ray can be useful in excluding the possibility of other knee issues that are producing similar difficulties. The most sophisticated imaging test to find a torn meniscus is MRI. It will generate pictures of the knee’s soft and hard tissues using a powerful magnetic field.

However, there are other options for treating a torn meniscus, including:

  • Physical therapy:

    One of the widely opted and recommended methods to aid the treatment of meniscus tears is physiotherapy sessions. The slight exercises and movement of your knees can help in blood circulation and aid in the healing process.

  • Nutritional supplements:

    Nutritional supplements such as taking multivitamins help in further dealing with weakness and making the body active.

  • Rest from physical activity:

    A bit of physical activity is recommended, but exerting your body, especially your knees, by walking long distances or going to the gym is to be highly avoided.

  • Hot and cold therapy:

    This therapy can help in releasing the tension in your knee and the surrounding areas.

  • Using knee braces:

    In the worst-case scenario, the doctor might recommend you to go in for knee braces to avoid any further knee activities.

  • Massage therapy:

    Similar to hot and cold therapy, massage therapy can also help in releasing knee ligament tension.

The doctor can advise you to have surgery if these conditions have little to no effect and your knee continues to hurt after treatment. In cases involving adolescents and youngsters, surgery may be the best course of action. If the tear cannot be healed, the meniscus may occasionally be surgically shortened through microscopic incisions using an arthroscope.

Exercises must be done to maintain and improve knee strength and stability after surgery. A knee replacement may be advised by your doctor if you have advanced, degenerative arthritis.

A meniscus transplant may be used to treat young individuals with postoperative signs and symptoms but no advanced arthritis. In this procedure, a meniscus is transplanted from a corpse.

Arthritis Treatment Tips for Tearing a Meniscus​

If you’re suffering from an acute meniscus tear in knee, you should first focus on healing the meniscus first. This means you’ll want to follow all of the above-mentioned treatment methods to help the torn meniscus heal. In addition, you should also work to strengthen your knee joint and surrounding muscles to prevent further injury and avoid arthritis. Here are some ways to do this:

  • Exercise regularly:

Physical activity done in moderation and under the supervision of a fitness professional can help prevent arthritis. A 2017 study found that moderate exercise can lower arthritis risk by 50 per cent. Avoid putting a lot of pressure on your knee and activities that involve brisk knee movements, pivots, twisting, etc.

  • Stay hydrated:

An adequate intake of water helps to flush toxins and impurities from the body. Additionally, it’s crucial to drink plenty of water if you have arthritis to avoid joint stiffness and pain. It is recommended to drink atleast 8-10 glasses of water(about 1.5 L) on a daily basis.

  • Dietary modifications:

While there are many dietary recommendations for arthritis and joint pain, there is no evidence that any specific food can prevent arthritis. However, having an iron-rich diet can help strengthen the bones, which will help you in the long run.

  • Sleep well:

Getting a good night’s sleep of at least 8 hours per day can help to reduce arthritis pain and promote healing. When we are in a subconscious state, the healing mechanism of our body works to its full potential, effectively and efficiently. Proper rest with a healthy diet can boost your recovery to a major and paced level.

  • Ice:

Ice can help in reducing knee swelling and pain greatly if you have suffered meniscus tear in knee. Use an ice pack, a bag full of veggies that are frozen, or a towel filled with ice cubes for 10-15 minutes while elevating your knee. It is recommended to repeat this procedure for a total of 5-7 hours for the first and the second day, and then repeat it if needed.

  • Medication:

Prescribed painkillers from your concerned doctor should be taken if you experience sudden spikes of pain in your knee and the surrounding area. However, these should be taken only when asked or upon consulting your concerned specialist.

Conclusion

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that occurs when the cartilage in the joints wears away. The symptoms of osteoarthritis include joint pain and stiffness, swelling and limited mobility. If you have torn your meniscus, it’s important to treat it as soon as possible to reduce the risk of arthritis. To heal a torn meniscus, you should exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and avoid putting stress on the knee joint. This situation is curable through natural means such as exercising regularly, staying hydrated, making some modifications in your diet, sleeping at least 8 hours per day, and using ice packs to get instant relief. If you are facing problems in your knee, it is highly recommended to get a check-up done by the best doctors for meniscus tears in Gurgaon.