Have you ever had a 'cracking' sound and pain in your knee? This could be a torn meniscus!

Imagine you are playing cricket with your friends or doing some household chores. Suddenly, you twist your knee slightly and feel an unbearable pain with a 'crack' sound. Since then, your knee has been swollen and feels like you can't even bend or straighten it. This is how many people feel when they have a torn meniscus in their knee. This is a very common injury. So don't be afraid, let's talk about this simply today.

What is a meniscus tear?

Simply put, a meniscus tear is a tear in the strong cartilage inside your knee. Inside your knee, between the thigh bone (Femur) on top and the shin bone (Tibia) on the bottom, there are two pieces of cartilage. These are what we call the meniscus.

These work like shock absorbers in a car. Their main function is to absorb the pressure on the knee when we run, jump, and walk, prevent the bones from rubbing against each other, and protect the joint. If the knee is suddenly twisted or rotated too hard, this cartilage can tear.

As we age, the cartilage in our knees wears down and becomes weaker. Like an old tire, it can tear easily. It is also more likely to happen to people with conditions like arthritis. This is a common injury for athletes, especially young people.

Are there types of meniscus tears?

Yes, you have two meniscuses in each knee. A tear can occur in either of them.

How do you know if you have a torn meniscus? What are the symptoms?

Many people with a torn meniscus will hear a popping sound inside their knee as soon as the injury occurs. In addition, you may also notice these symptoms:

What are the main reasons for this?

Meniscus tears can occur in two main ways.

• Acute Tears: These are caused by something that happens suddenly. For example, if you are playing a sport like netball, football, or basketball and suddenly turn to one side, but your foot gets stuck in the ground. This can happen when you twist your knee.
• Degenerative Tears: These occur when the cartilage wears down over time. In an older person, this can happen from stepping on a small pebble in the road, or twisting their knee slightly when getting up from a chair.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you about how the injury occurred. Then he will examine your knee.

• Physical examination: Your knee will be examined for swelling and tenderness. Your leg will then be gently bent and rotated in different directions. Special tests such as the McMurray test are used for this.
• Imaging Tests:
• X-ray: An X-ray cannot show the meniscus, but an X-ray may be taken to check for other causes of pain, such as a broken bone.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Scan: An MRI scan is the best way to accurately determine if there is a meniscus tear and how severe it is.
• Arthroscopy: Sometimes, your doctor may recommend this procedure to confirm the diagnosis. This involves making a very small incision in your knee and inserting a small camera through it to view the inside of your joint on a screen. This is similar to "keyhole" surgery.

So how do you treat this?

Treatment depends on what type of tear you have, how big it is, and where it is located. Not all tears require surgery.

Non-surgical treatment

Small tears can often heal without surgery. Your doctor will recommend these things for you.

• Painkillers: You may be advised to take an NSAID, such as ibuprofen, to reduce pain and swelling.
• RICE method: This is definitely something to do in the first few days of the injury.

• Physical Therapy: Physical therapy is very important to strengthen the muscles around the knee and to practice bending and extending the knee properly.

When is surgery necessary?

If the above treatments do not help, or if the meniscus tear is large, your doctor may recommend surgery. This is often done arthroscopy, also known as the "keyhole" method. This means there are no large incisions and the healing process is faster.

Two main things can be done during surgery:

1. Meniscus Repair: The torn cartilage is sewn back together.

2. Partial Meniscectomy: If the torn part cannot be reattached, only the damaged part is cut out and removed.

Are there ways to prevent this?

It's hard to prevent accidents, but if you do these things, you can reduce your risk of a meniscus tear.

• Exercise to strengthen the thigh muscles that support the knee.
• If you know your knees are weak, wear a knee brace when playing sports.
• Warm up well before starting the exercise.
• Use a pair of good shoes that are suitable for the sport you play.

What are the best times to see a doctor?

If you feel something like this, definitely see a doctor.

• If you cannot fully bend or extend your leg without knee pain.
• If the swelling doesn't go down after a few days despite the RICE method and medication.
• If your knees feel like they are getting stuck or if you feel like you are going to faint and fall while walking.

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