A meniscus tear is a commonly occurring knee injury resulting from trauma, especially in sports, or wear and tear due to age. The meniscus is an important cartilage that acts as a shock absorber between the thigh bone and the shinbone. The meniscus tear can be acute; this happens due to sudden injury. Then there is degenerative meniscus tear occurring due to wear-and-tear of meniscus tissue in old age. This tear can be painful and disrupt your everyday motion.
Not all meniscus tears require surgery. Some tears can be healed using conservative methods or minimally invasive treatments like arthroscopy. Specialists of a meniscus tear in West Chester provide you with various treatment options and recovery plans, depending upon the tear severity.
Your doctor may advise non-surgical treatments based on the condition of tear and damage done. Like less active or non-sport related people don’t require surgery if the symptoms can be relieved.
Non-surgical treatments like physical therapy, non-steroid injections, joint corticosteroid injections, and stem cell treatments like intracellular injections can be given by the doctor for a meniscus tear.
How Long May the Recovery Take?
The recovery period of conservative methods can take up to 4 to 6 months. Pain relief usually occurs in a period of 4 to 8 weeks.
Faster recovery can be made by the following methods and avoiding certain things:
- Ice, applying ice compression may help to speed up recovery and provide relief from pain, swelling, and inflammation.
- Keep your feet and knees in an elevated position to provide blood flow.
- Compression to the affected knee can be provided by wrapping it up in an elastic or bandage wrap.
- Rest, providing rest to the knee by limiting strenuous activities.
- Usage of special braces. The doctor may recommend using a special unloader brace to avoid shifting and unnecessary bending of the knee. You can also use crutches with leg cuffs to prevent bending and straining.
- Avoid heavy lifting and unnecessary bending, heavy lifting can worsen the recovery and cause pain.
- Your doctor can prescribe you some pain-relieving medications to help with pain, inflammation, and swelling. Be sure to take your medicine correctly.
- Physical therapy is crucial for recovery and can help you strengthen muscles and provide proper movement. Physical therapy can also help you avoid future pain problems.
- Try stretching and strengthening exercises after the pain lessens. These exercises will help reduce stress in your knee.