As discussed in the
Emergency Department prior to discharge, based on our evaluation you may have a
meniscus tear. A
meniscal tear is a condition that causes knee pain and other knee
symptoms. It happens when a part of the
knee joint called the "meniscus" tears. The meniscus is the cushion of rubbery
material (cartilage) between the thigh bone and shin bone.
There are different kinds of meniscal
tears, depending on the part of the cartilage that tears and how it tears. A meniscal tear can happen suddenly, such as
during a sports injury. It can also
happen slowly over time. This is more
common in older adults.
Symptoms of a meniscal tear can include:
knee pain, knee swelling (from a collection of fluid around the knee), the knee
locking, not straightening all the way, or feeling like it "catches"
on something as it straightens, the knee giving out, feeling unstable, or
feeling like it won't support you, an knee stiffness.
You may
have had x-rays of the affected knee in the Emergency Department and the results
have been discussed with you prior to discharge. Many people are curious about whether they
will need more advanced imaging such as an MRI or magnetic resonance
imaging. These studies can only be
obtained in the Emergency Department when there is a chance that an emergency
surgery needs to be done. It is possible
you will need additional imaging, including an MRI, but this will need to be
ordered by your primary care provider.
This is because this study will usually require referral to physical therapy
and possibly to Orthopedics for surgery.
In some
cases, the MRI is inconclusive, and patients suspected of having a meniscal
tear are referred for a surgical procedure called an arthroscopy. This lets the doctor
look inside your knee at the meniscus.
During arthroscopy, the doctor makes a few small cuts around the
knee. Then he or she inserts long, thin
tools into the knee joint. One tool has
a camera on the end that sends pictures to a TV screen that the doctor
sees. If you have a meniscal tear, the
doctor can use the other tools to treat it.
There are several ways to reduce swelling in the injured
knee and to help the healing process:
-Elevate
the injured knee. This can be done by
putting your leg up on a chair when sitting down (watching TV, reading, eating
dinner, etc.).
-If
the knee is swollen or painful, apply ice wrapped in a towel (or a bag of
frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel) on the knee for about 10 minutes at a
time. Then remove the ice pack and allow
the skin to return to normal temperature before re-applying the ice pack (to
avoid frostbite). Continue this while
the knee is still swollen; do not apply heat while the knee is swollen.
-A
tensor bandage can be wrapped around the knee to provide more support over the
lengthy healing period. This bandage can
be removed when applying ice to the knee.
-If
the sprain was severe, you may have been provided with a splint or immobilizer
during your visit to the Emergency Department.
Use the splint as directed by the emergency physician.
You can take Acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol), Ibuprofen (also known as Advil or Motrin), or Naproxen (also known as Aleve) for the pain.
https://orthoinfo.org/en/staying-healthy/knee-exercises/
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