COMMON KNEE PROBLEMS
The material presented on this page is general medical information and should not be considered medical advice.
Meniscal Tears– A very common injury that is responsible for knee pain is a meniscal tear, or what is commonly known as a “torn cartilage”. Each knee contains two menisci, one on the inside of the knee (medial) and one on the outside of the knee (lateral). The menisci were once thought to be functionless structures, but now we realize they have various important functions within the knee. The most important function is to act as shock absorbers for the knee joint. They are also responsible in making the knee more stable and for preventing arthritis.
The menisci can be torn when the knee is twisted and traps the meniscus between the thigh bone (femur) and the shin bone (tibia). The menisci can also be torn when the ligaments of the knee are stretched or torn. Normal aging causes the menisci to lose their rubbery or spongy consistency and can cause them to dehydrate and then fray much more easily. When you tear your meniscus pain is usually felt in the knee. The knee often will get swollen and ache, and at times may feel like a stabbing knife-like pain.
The knee might catch or lock and not straighten or bend as it normally does if there is a meniscus tear. To diagnose a torn meniscus the doctor can examine the knee and by moving it in a specific way tell if the meniscus might be torn. The meniscus does not show on an X-ray but these tests are often done to see if arthritis or other injuries have occurred. Your doctor might order a magnetic resonance image or MRI to confirm the torn meniscus. Once a torn meniscus is identified, many factors are taken into account to how best to treat the injury. If you think that you may have a meniscal tear or if you have knee pain for more than a month, you should see an orthopedic surgeon. Various treatment options exist for meniscal tears including physical therapy, medication and rest. Surgical treatments utilize arthroscopy to either fix the torn piece or to take the torn portion out.