The knee is a vulnerable joint that can sustain a variety of injuries, particularly if you participate in sports or fall. A meniscus tear, caused primarily by trauma, is one of the damages that will develop around these joints. The meniscus is crucial in the joint because it aligns the cartilage on the knee bone, tibia, kneecap, and femur. Fortunately, problems caused by meniscus tears can be reversed by the best meniscus tear West Chester specialist if you notice the symptoms listed below.
You could get swelling
Swelling around the knee joint is one of the symptoms of a torn meniscus. When you try to bend or straighten your knee, you may notice a popping sensation. You are likely to have a torn tear, but you may not feel pain, and can remain undetected for an extended period.
The knee will become weak and unstable
A meniscus tear can cause knee joint instability, especially when you twist and move your leg from side to side while performing certain activities.
A sensation of “catching” in the knee
An injury to the meniscus can cause the cartilage to rip apart. The torn cartilage’s rough edges may begin to stick in the joint, causing swelling or pain. When you have such a situation, you will usually develop a sensation of “catching” inside your affected joint when you are active.
Your Range of Motion may vanish
Aside from the swelling, pain, and popping at your meniscus, you will most likely have a decrease in your range of motion. Because of the activities that take place in the area throughout the day, the knee joint moves a lot. When you start to feel stiffness in your joint and it becomes difficult to move, even if the joint is not painful or swelling develops, you may have a meniscus tear.
Meniscus Tear Causes Joint Pain
When you have a lot of tears in your meniscus, you will have a lot of pain in the joint. The pain will occur when you perform a knee squat, twist your knee, and step off a curb, walk, or run. Pain may also develop inside and outside of the knee. When your knee and meniscus are severely damaged, your knee will completely lock when in a given position. As a result, you are unable to move your leg without excruciating pain. When you put weight on the affected leg, the pain becomes unbearable.
Even if most knee injuries occur in athletes, you can develop a meniscus tear if you are not an athlete. In some cases, the damage develops gradually and, if left untreated, can lead to chronic knee pain. As a result, you must be aware of the symptoms of a torn meniscus as well as how the tear is diagnosed and treated. If you believe you have a torn meniscus, make an appointment with Beacon Orthopedics to undergo specialized treatment to return your life to normal.