Treat meniscal tear without surgery
When can a meniscus tear be treated without surgery?
How to get one Meniscal tear treated depends on various factors from how Age, occupation, sportiness and pain of the patient. If a meniscus tear does not cause any discomfort, then no therapy is necessary.
A conservative therapy (without surgery) a meniscus tear is particularly suitable if the meniscus tear is recognized quickly. Surgery does not necessarily have to be performed if the Meniscus tear relatively small and smooth and is in a well-perfused area. Such smaller tears in the meniscus usually run along the base of the meniscus.
Against this is one operative therapy of the meniscus tear is necessary if the tear is larger or on the inside of the meniscus that is not supplied with blood, as it cannot grow back then. If a meniscus tear has arisen as a result of degenerative changes in the joint, conservative treatment of the injury without surgery is usually not sufficient, but it can be tried out first if there are minor complaints.
If a clearly visible Knee effusion has formed, you can puncture the joint before an operative measure and let the effusion drain. An operation should also be considered if symptoms and complaints are still present after two to three months, because constant stress in everyday life can even cause a meniscus tear and consequential damage such as arthrosis (Knee joint wear).
A conservative treatment a tear in the meniscus makes sense, especially if an operation is not possible or not desired. For this you should consider before making a decision on a specific therapy Form and extent of the meniscus tear, health status of the person affected, accompanying damage (Cartilage damage, cruciate ligament or collateral ligament tear) and Information on the patient's occupation and sporting activities to be determined. Which therapy path to take must be decided individually. As a rule, conservative therapy without surgery in the case of a meniscus injury does not lead to healing of the tissue, but it can have a positive effect on pain and discomfort.
Conservative therapy of a meniscal tear
An individual treatment concept for a meniscus tear without an operation usually consists of one drug and physical therapy together. The knee affected by the meniscus tear should last for about immobilized for three to four weeks and not burdened become. The leg is usually splinted and the patient is given walking aids so that the knee can be spared. Knee supports or so-called orthotics (external hinge joints) can help to relieve the knee.
In addition, the doctor often gives a drug pain treatment prescribed as a meniscus tear without surgery can cause severe and excruciating pain. When taking painkillers, personal needs and possible previous illnesses must always be taken into account. For example, it is advisable not to take the pain reliever Voltaren® if you have an inflammation of the stomach lining. Local anesthetics (Local anesthetics) and anti-inflammatory drugs (often cortisone) that are injected directly into the knee (infiltration) provide relief.
The inflammatory response due to the meniscus tear is inhibited by these agents. Infiltration of the knee joint with hyaluronic acid can be considered if there is cartilage damage in addition to the meniscus tear and this can have a beneficial effect on healing. By protecting the affected leg for weeks, the muscles break down, especially on the thigh. In addition, it often occurs due to the meniscus tear Restrictions on movement up to blockages in the knee joint. For this reason, you should start with an appropriate treatment at an early stage (after two to four weeks) physiotherapy can be started to strengthen the muscles around the knee and long term healing to enable. Exercise therapy should be used to stabilize the knee joint gymnastic mobilization, muscle stretching and muscle strengthening techniques be performed.
The healing process of a meniscal tear without surgery can be from external applications like Cold or electrotherapy are supported as they relieve pain, improve blood circulation and tense and relax the muscles. Alternative methods such as professional acupuncture can also help treat the meniscus tear in individual cases. Joint-friendly behavior in everyday life can support the healing of the meniscus tear, which means that twisting and pushing movements should be avoided during the time when pain symptoms are still present. The same applies to knee flexion under load over 90 degrees, as is the case, for example, when squatting or in sports with a rapid change of direction.
Appointment with a knee specialist?
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Who am I?
My name is dr. Nicolas Gumpert. I am a specialist in orthopedics and the founder of .
Various television programs and print media report regularly about my work. On HR television you can see me every 6 weeks live on "Hallo Hessen".
But now enough is indicated ;-)
The knee joint is one of the joints with the greatest stress.
Therefore, the treatment of the knee joint (e.g. meniscus tear, cartilage damage, cruciate ligament damage, runner's knee, etc.) requires a lot of experience.
I treat a wide variety of knee diseases in a conservative way.
The aim of any treatment is treatment without surgery.
Which therapy achieves the best results in the long term can only be determined after looking at all of the information (Examination, X-ray, ultrasound, MRI, etc.) be assessed.
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- Lumedis - your orthopedic surgeon
Kaiserstrasse 14
60311 Frankfurt am Main
Directly to the online appointment arrangement
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Further information about myself can be found at Dr. Nicolas Gumpert
Phases of wound healing
In order to understand at what point in time the torn meniscus can be subjected to certain loads, it helps to know the different phases of wound healing.
Of the acute meniscus tear first solve one Inflammatory response in the knee. In this initial phase, the joint is often swollen and more or less painful. The swelling is caused by an accumulation of fluid inside the joint caused by the inflammation (a so-called Irritation pour). This is where the treatment of the meniscus tear says Pain management and the Stimulation of blood circulation in the foreground, protection, cooling and elevation of the leg to reduce the swelling.
The consistent relief of the leg plays a major role. After about a week the so-called begins Proliferation phase, new connective tissue is created, which increasingly fills the wound. In this phase of wound healing, the knee can be increasingly loaded, moved and mobilized. Only after a few months does the final phase, the remodeling phase, begin, in which the connective tissue that has formed restores the functionality of the meniscus (as a "shock absorber" in the knee joint) and specific training therapy can be carried out.
Duration / healing time
Those not in need of surgery Meniscus tears are mostly minor tears in the well perfused outer zone of the meniscus, which at Immobilization frequently heal by itself can. The only tear in the Mensikus that requires surgery is the so-called Basket handle tearwho cannot heal on their own with conservative therapy. There are now different therapy conceptsthat promise healing without surgery and a lower risk of secondary diseases such as knee osteoarthritis and wound healing disorders after surgery.
For one, it has therapy with one supportive bandage showed a good result with normal load on the knee. There is one too conventional approach based on Protection of the knee joint. Generally a period of about six to twelve weeks for healing of a meniscus tear necessary for a small tear but can do this too go faster. During this rest period you can also use Painkillers, physiotherapy exercises, cooling and anti-inflammatory injections be worked into the knee joint. In any case, the patient should be with careful stress test and Muscle strength exercises before the knee is fully loaded again.
When can I do sports again?
First after complete healingthat at least six to twelve weeks should take Muscle strength in the knee joint and slowly in the thigh again be trained and Sports for possibilities carefully and slowly started again become. To secure yourself about the load capacity of the knee is one Consultation of a doctor before full sport activity makes sense. Depending on the sport, there is one pause of different lengths makes sense. Sports that do not place much strain on the knees can be resumed more quickly. Particularly stressful sports how Soccer play or To ski should paused longer or even completely prevented to avoid further meniscus damage or further tears.
The Regeneration of the meniscus depends, however, not only on the success of the therapy, but also on Age, weight, nutritional status and physical condition of the patient. Is a Avoiding the burden through sport or work not possible or only possible to a limited extent, can a tight bandage the knee stabilize and reduce the pressure on the mensicus and the joint a little. Even so, care should be taken not to repeat the movement that triggered the meniscus tear.
Summary
Injuries to the meniscus were one of the most common triggers of knee problems. Not every meniscal tear requires surgery. The therapy of a meniscus tear without surgery focuses on the Restoration of mobility in the knee joint, pain relief and freedom from symptoms in everyday life. Also should Consequential damage such as excessive wear and tear in the knee joint (Knee arthrosis) prevented become.
The extent of the injury determines the treatment method, smaller cracks can be adequately treated conservatively, larger damage usually requires surgical intervention as part of a knee-joint endoscopy (arthroscopy). Conservative (non-surgical) therapy includes drug and physical treatment options for a meniscus tear without surgery.
