DESCRIPTION:
The meniscus is made of cartilage and lines the inside surface of the knees, protecting and acting as a shock absorber between the upper and the lower leg bones. Each knee joint has two menisci (one on either side of the joint), each of which also stabilize the knee joint. A tear in the meniscus interferes with proper knee function.
How does a torn meniscus develop?
In individuals under the age of 30, most meniscus injuries occur because of sharp twisting movements that happen during sports activities. At this age the meniscus is still tough and rubbery. A tear can also result from a movement as simple as twisting the knee while the foot is caught on something. Other knee injuries, such as torn ligaments, may occur at the same time as a meniscus tear. The meniscus of older individuals, on the other hand, contains tissue that has degenerated and may tear more easily, and as a result of even minor "awkward" movements. This degenerative process of the meniscus is usually present with osteoarthritis of the knee.
What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?
Pain is usually felt either along the line of the joint where the meniscus is located or in the whole knee. Minor tears will lead to slight pain and swelling. A more serious tear may result in stiffness, as well as sharp pain with twisting or squatting, symptoms that may go away over time but can recur with a repeated twist or overuse. If a large portion of the meniscus is torn, the knee may lock, or it may even become impossible to straighten out the knee. The latter occurs when a piece of the torn meniscus gets caught in the hinge mechanism of the knee, similar to a pencil in a door hinge, preventing the knee from straightening.
Over time, the constant rubbing of the torn meniscus on the articular cartilage of the knee joint may break down the surface and cause joint degeneration. The knee swells and becomes stiff and tight due to "water on the knee" (accumulated fluid in the knee joint). Water on the knee, however, can also be caused by other knee injuries.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms of a torn meniscus, but they do not address the root of the problem. By strengthening structural weaknesses in the body, as natural medicine treatments like Prolotherapy do, pain associated with a torn meniscus may be alleviated permanently.
Discover why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat a torn meniscus.
