Meniscus Tear Treatment Without Surgery – PRP for torn meniscus

What is the meniscus?

All joints in the body are covered by an extremely soft tissue called “articular cartilage”.

The articular cartilage of the knee covers the ends of the femur and tibia, as well as the patella, allowing the surfaces of the bones not to come into contact (which would cause pain and degeneration of the joint).

In addition to the articular cartilage, the knee joint also has structures known as menisci. These are two circular surfaces that absorb all the energy of the knee during impact exercises.

That is to say, while the cartilage protects the bones of the knee, the meniscus is the lifeline of the knee, delaying degeneration and improving day-to-day activity.

The menisci also contribute to the stability of the knee joint and help to effectively distribute joint fluid around the knee.

Degeneration or injury of the meniscus predisposes to diseases such as advanced degrees of osteoarthritis of the knee.

What is meniscopathy?

A meniscopathy is an injury that affects one of the two menisci of the knee, which may cause pain and other symptoms. It can be traumatic or degenerative, with risk factors such as obesity and certain work activities. The treatment of meniscal tears varies according to the type of injury and can be conservative or surgical.

Meniscus tear: What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscal tear is a typical injury in young patients and athletes, although it can also occur in situations of acute stress on the knee after an eventual effort.

The usual mechanism of meniscal tear occurs when we drop all the weight on one of the knees and make a turn of the body at the same instant. This is typical in sports of impact against the ground like basketball, soccer, tennis…

When there is a meniscal rupture, we must discard other injuries of the joint of the knee that can be associated. Often there is a relationship with a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, for example.

Degenerative meniscopathy: torn meniscus in elderly patients.

There is another type of patients, those of middle-advanced age. Frequently a meniscal tear can occur due to wear and tear of the meniscus.

The pad has already performed its intended function for many years, and has gradually worn out partially or completely.

The meniscus tears due to its constant exposure to repetitive loads when we walk, run or perform other activities.

Older people are more prone to degenerative meniscal tears, as the cartilage wears down and weakens with age.

What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?

A meniscus tear causes pain, swelling, stiffness or a locking sensation in the knee, making you unable to move your knee through its full range of motion.

You may experience a cracking or popping sensation at the acute moment . However, on some occasions, there may not have been any precipitating event or injury.

The pain of a meniscus tear is usually located on the inside or outside of the knee joint, and often radiates to the back of the knee.

The pain is usually very intense at first, followed by relief after the first few minutes. It is then accompanied by an increase in the volume of the knee (within hours of the acute event).

The sensation of not being able to bend and to extend the knee is habitual, even it will be complicated to let fall the weight of the body in the same one. These blockages are due to the fact that the broken meniscal fragment moves inside the knee and is located between the femur and the tibia.

If you have not experienced an acute event, recurrent effusion, stiffness and/or locking in the knee are more common. This is due to the discomfort of an injured meniscus inside the knee, making knee mobility difficult and “calling for attention” with effusions.

Meniscal tears can be classified into several types.

Depending on the type or degree of the injury, one clinical presentation will predominate or another. That is to say, two people with a meniscus tear can have similar symptoms and very different symptoms between them.

What else besides a torn meniscus could be causing my pain?

Meniscal tears are very common and are often the cause of the symptoms detailed above.

However, there are other pathologies with similar symptoms.

For example, loose pieces of cartilage floating inside the knee joint. They usually depend on articular cartilage that has become unstable on the femoral or tibial articular surface.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome or a plica (soft tissue fold within the knee).

Other causes and treatments for knee pain

Causes related to knee injuries include damage to parts of the knee, such as bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons or muscles.

• Injection treatments for patellar tendinitis: Patellar tendonitis results from inflammation of the tendon that attaches the patella to the tibia. It is called runner’s knee or jumper’s knee.
• Prepatellar bursitis treatment: For the inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs or bursae that cushion the knee. It is usually a consequence of tendinitis.
• Stages of osteoarthritis in the knee: Osteoarthritis occurs when joint cartilage wears away and causes pain, stiffness and swelling.
• Chondromalacia patellae: is the softening and loss of cartilage in the kneecap. It occurs in young and adult athletes suffering from knee arthritis.
• Knee bone marrow edema: inflammation or injury in the medullary zone of the knee, due to a contusion, with the appearance of microfracture and inflammation.
• Knee sprain treatment: Usually due to sports injuries.
• Meniscus tear treatment for meniscal injuries: Meniscus tears are common in athletes and contact sports. In older people, degenerative meniscus tears occur.