{"id":7303,"date":"2019-07-06T05:31:32","date_gmt":"2019-07-06T05:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=7303"},"modified":"2021-06-15T12:33:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T12:33:52","slug":"torn-meniscus-14-most-common-symptoms-causes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/torn-meniscus-14-most-common-symptoms-causes\/","title":{"rendered":"Torn Meniscus: 14 Most Common Symptoms & Causes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Your menisci are the two pads of cartilage that are found in each knee joint. They live between the two long bones of the leg and have the role of helping to lubricate movement in this area, while also absorbing impact. If you jump down from a height and you don\u2019t see your knees instantly splinter, you can thank your menisci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, though, the menisci are more prone to injury and slower to recover as compared with the muscle. This means that it\u2019s a fairly common complaint to hear of a torn meniscus, and this is one of the most common ailments that keep athletes out the gym and off the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this is also a very common complaint among the general population. Many people will experience a torn meniscus when trying to climb the stairs, or change direction while going for a walk. For these reasons, it\u2019s important to consider the symptoms and causes. This post will help to shine a light on those.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 Popping Sensation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the most serious signs of a torn meniscus but also one of the most commonly reported is a popping sensation. You may be able to hear this sound, or it might simply feel as though your knee cap needs to \u2018pop\u2019 into place as it tracks. Either way, this can cause pain and discomfort and may even prevent a full range of motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what is going on? As it happens, this popping is due to dislodged cartilage <\/a>that has come loose and is now blocking the usual movement of the knee. If this persists for more than a few days, or if you\u2019re unable to fully bend the knee, then you should consider speaking with your physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2 Swelling<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Swelling <\/a>is a common symptom associated with practically any kind of knee injury \u2013 any kind of injury at all for that matter. This can be one of the first signs that something is wrong though, and therefore it is a useful indicator to look out for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swelling might be considered a bad thing, but in fact, it is good in that this is your body trying to combat the problem and speed up recovery. The knee swells up as the body delivers more oxygen, blood, nutrients, and antibodies to the affected area. It can then use those supplies in order to repair the tissue, while the antibodies prevent the site from becoming infected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For these reasons, it might actually be bad <\/em>advice to try and prevent swelling entirely. In fact, you might do better to use a warm compress rather than cold. Or even to use contrast therapy. This works by causing the blood vessels to dilate and contract, thereby \u2018pumping\u2019 blood and liquid to <\/em>the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3 Pain When Twisting or Rotating the Knee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pain when moving the knee can again be caused by many different things. Common causes include torn ligaments<\/a>, torn tendons, fractures, and of course \u2013 torn menisci. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the issue is indeed a torn meniscus, then you might find that the pain is most noticeable when you attempt to rotate the knee. In fact, among the most common causes of meniscus injury in the first place, is playing a sport that requires you to rapidly change position or turn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you feel you\u2019ve lost your mobility, then this can lead to other issues and may make further accidents more likely. This is why it\u2019s so important following any injury such as this, to take proper time out from your training and thereby allow healing to occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4 Difficulty Straightening the Knee<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another sign of a potential meniscus tear is the inability to fully straighten the leg and the knee. This can occur because of the swelling and fluid in the area, which can hamper normal movement and limit the range of motion. At the same time, the pain can make it difficult to move normally through the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another reason for this might be that the friction <\/a>has increased due to damage to the pad that normally helps to lubricate the joint. Then there\u2019s the fact that bits of cartilage can get stuck in the area, as we have seen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeing as a loss of movement may be unacceptable, one useful management strategy is to use a painkiller such as aspirin or ibuprofen. This is not only analgesic but will work to thin the blood and thereby reduce swelling in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5 Loss of Strength<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You will likely find that you lose strength in the area if you have a torn meniscus<\/a>. This is true in the short term due to the loss in the range of motion. In the long run, it can lead to a much more serious loss of strength, owing to an inability to train fully. If you can\u2019t work out properly at the gym, then, of course, you become far more likely to see deterioration in your strength, mobility, and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several things you can do to mitigate this loss of strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One option is to train using electromyostimulation. This is a type of device that will run a small electric current through the muscle fiber, thereby forcing contractions. While this won\u2019t provide the necessary stimulus for muscle growth, what it can do is to maintain <\/em>blood flow to the region and thereby help to prevent muscle wasting. It also helps to maintain the neural connection to the region, which improves your ability to recruit motor units and muscle fibers from within the muscle belly. This in short means you remain efficient in your use of that muscle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6 Dehydration<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dehydration <\/a>is a common cause that may lead to a meniscus tear. This is something that many people won\u2019t give much thought to, but which can actually play a big role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is very common for us to think of injuries in the gym in terms of the moment we hear the pop. Likewise, if you\u2019re walking up the stairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But did you think at all that might lead to this scenario? What events made the injury more likely? If you train tired, thirsty, and malnourished, then your chances of injury increased considerably. Dehydration is particularly important to consider here, seeing as the fluid we get from our drink our and diet is partly responsible for maintaining the spongey nature of the meniscus that allows it to properly do its job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7 Muscular Imbalance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A muscular imbalance<\/a> is another common cause of a meniscus tear, as well as a symptom over the long term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, when one muscle is out of action or not working properly, this can lead to compensation. A simple example when it comes to the meniscus is that you might start placing more weight and force on the healthy leg, thereby resulting in greater strength and size in that leg than in the other one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other muscular imbalances might be due to poor posture (sitting at a desk for instance, which causes the hamstrings to become short and tight) etc. One of the first things you should do when starting a new training program then, is to make sure your mobility is good and overturn any limitations caused by poor habits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8 Poor Technique<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Poor technique is another common issue that can lead to a meniscus tear. And that doesn\u2019t just mean technique in a complex sport: it can also mean technique that the rest of us use every single day. And particularly common is a poor gait <\/a>when walking or running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our shoes are partly responsible for this. Modern shoes include large heels and padded soles that prevent us from properly using our feet the way they were designed by evolution. When we run, we are supposed to land on the ball of our foot, so that we can compress the knee and ankle in order to act as a spring. If you land on the heel of your foot though, this won\u2019t be under your center of gravity and it won\u2019t be able to bend. That means that a jolt is sent up through the leg and that can place strain on the knee and meniscus over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to avoid this is by trying to switch slowly to more minimal shoes. These are designed to prevent this from being an issue, by forcing you to run with very little protection.
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9. Sports Injuries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Athletes that participate in sports involving sudden changes in direction, such as football, hockey, and basketball, may find that they become exposed to a knee injury<\/a>, such as a torn meniscus.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meniscus is another word for the cartilage that sits atop the bones that connect to the knee joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When athletes or sportspeople sustain an injury to the meniscus, it occurs alongside a sharp pain. They may also notice a popping sound if there is any ligament damage along with the tear. Sports are the number one reason for meniscus tears and people that experience one tear, are more predisposed to sustaining another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For athletes that participate in any of the above sports, we recommend that you spend time warming up before you hit the sports field or the gym. Warming up helps to drive oxygenated blood to the ligaments and muscles in the legs and knees, preventing injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of athletics supports such as knee braces, help to provide a compressive force to the joint, preventing the onset of an injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Trauma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Trauma describes any forceful damage to the knee joint. An example of such trauma would involve an automotive accident <\/a>where your knee makes contact with the dashboard, causing you to sustain an injury to the meniscus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trauma may come from multiple angles or one angle alone and may affect one or more of the ligaments in the joints, causing the onset of damage to the meniscus. Various types of situations could lead to a traumatic event. Some of the examples are; sustaining an impact on the sides or rear of the knee that results in torn ligaments and damage to the meniscus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience trauma to the meniscus, the chances are that it will cause severe damage, tearing away the cartilage from the bone. As a result, the patient may find that they have foreign bodies floating in the joint, that may cause it to lock up involuntarily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any traumatic injury to the knee joint requires inspection and assessment by a qualified medical practitioner.
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11. Previous Injury<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People have a history of prior injuries to the knee joint, are at a higher risk of sustaining further injuries. For example, if you’re a football player and experience and meniscus tear along with damage to the ligaments<\/a>, it may take you months to fully recover from the injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the injury heals completely, and the athlete feels fine when they return to training, the knee joint is still predisposed to damage. The risk is higher due to weakness in the ligaments and the meniscus, sustained in the previous injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Athletes and sportspeople that have previous histories of knee injuries should take the necessary precautions to avoid damage in the future. The best way to prevent injury is through the use of a proper warm-up routine and protective regards to support the joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Always ensure that you let the joint heal after sustaining an injury to the knee joint, especially the meniscus. If you train or compete on a weekend joint, it may exacerbate your condition, increasing the need for surgery to repair the knee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. Aging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we age, our bodies start to lose efficiency and synthesizing protein. As a result, the body does not have the natural materials available to repair joints and ligaments as efficiently as when the person is younger. Older individuals are also more likely to experience degenerative bone <\/a>disease. Conditions like osteoarthritis affect both the joints and the bones of the knees, degrading the meniscus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seniors are more likely to sustain injuries than younger people, without any direct cause for the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drop in protein synthesis weakens the joints and the ligaments, predisposing the senior to injury. Seniors with a previous history of knee injuries are also at a higher risk of sustaining a tear to the meniscus. Something as simple as getting out of the bath or shower, and stepping wrong on the wet floor, may result in a twisting or rotating force that shears the meniscus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seniors should supplement with additional calcium and magnesium to improve protein synthesis and avoid injuries to the joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Instability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People receive a knee injury that may experience damage to both the ligaments of the knee, and the meniscus which lines the bones in the joint. Depending on the type of injury incurred to the ligaments, the patient may end up receiving symptoms of instability in the joint<\/a>, which may make them unsure of their footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instability in the joint is more common with an ACL tear, and the affected individual requires assessment by a qualified orthopedic surgeon or doctor to evaluate the extent of the injury. The doctor will ask the individual to sit on a bed and draw their foot towards their buttocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The practitioner then secures the foot and places pressure on the sides of the knee to check for movement. If the joint moves readily and displays symptoms of looseness, then the doctor may order an MRI scan to check on the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, an injury to the ACL also occurs alongside damage to the meniscus. The MRI scan will show the practitioner the state of both the ligaments and the meniscus, allowing them to make an informed decision on whether or not surgery is an option for the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Locking of the Joint<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who sustain an injury to the knee joint experience problems with both the ligaments and the meniscus. During the incident that causes the damage, the meniscus may tear, and one or more pieces of the cartilage may end up floating around in the joint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, these pieces of cartilage <\/a>do not cause any pain or discomfort. However, in some cases, the part of the torn meniscus may end up lodging between the bones of the knee, resulting in the joint locking up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This locking sensation may occur at any time, and it does not have to coincide with exertion or movement. The simple act of getting up off of the couch, or getting out of bed in the morning, may cause the piece of the torn meniscus to float into the joint causing locking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This locking symptom is incredibly painful, and the patient will require surgery to remove the pieces of the torn meniscus from the knee. After surgery, the patient requires extensive physical therapy to recover their range of motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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