Meniscus Tear Diagnosis & Treatment in Chapin, SC
Agility & speed depend on healthy kneesQuick pivots, artful dodges, and sudden changes in direction are the foundational movements of America’s most popular pastimes. But the forces resulting from placing your full weight on a single knee can sometimes exceed that knee’s ability. Meniscus tears may be common sporting injuries, but the pain, limited range of motion, and inability to bear weight are anything but common to those suffering from them. At Palmetto Bone & Joint, we employ the latest technologies and techniques to diagnose and treat meniscus tears in professional athletes and amateurs alike. While you can treat the symptoms, you may not be able to fully or quickly heal without dedicated orthopedic help. Schedule your appointment today and let us put you back in play.
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Signs, Symptoms, & Treatments for Meniscus Tears
There’s hardly a professional or amateur sport that spares the knees. For the most part, your knees keep up, bearing the weight throughout quick changes in direction or during jumps and falls. But when a sudden and forceful turn results in popping, swelling, stiffness, and pain, a meniscus tear is the most likely culprit. Thankfully, modern medical imaging and next-generation treatments can put you back in play ASAP.
At Palmetto Bone & Joint, we’ll start with a physical examination before employing MRI and X-ray technology to fully understand your injury. Next, we’ll recommend a course of rest and medicine or targeted injections. If these methods aren’t enough, we may recommend arthroscopic meniscus surgery—a revolutionary, outpatient procedure requiring only small incisions and instruments. For athletes of all kinds, strong knees are non-negotiable. Get back in the game with Palmetto Bone & Joint today. Call (803) 941-8095 or contact us online!
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Meniscus Tear FAQs
Your knees put up with a lot of shock. At any given time, the force applied to a single knee can equal or exceed your entire body weight. To deal with these forces, your knees rely on pieces of cartilage between the leg bones (femur and tibia). These menisci absorb the shock of everyday and sporting activities, but can sometimes tear, resulting in loose, painful pieces of cartilage or the inability of a given knee to bear weight.
For athletes, nearly any injury of the knees qualifies as serious. But even for everyday people, a meniscus tear is not to be underestimated. While some tears can heal with RICE (rest, ice, compression, & elevation), other tears may benefit most from targeted injections or even arthroscopic meniscus surgery. If symptoms persist after a period of rest, your meniscus tear may be more serious than others.
Any sport that involves sudden, forceful twists and turns can result in meniscus tears. Many of the most popular sports carry a risk of knee injury, including football, basketball, and tennis. That said, everyday activities can also contribute to meniscus tears. Standing and turning under heavy loads or pivoting frequently between two workstations can result in a similar injury.