I have a Meniscus Tear, What Should I do?

I have a meniscus tear, but I am not having surgery. 

Welcome to your 40's, you have another injury. Midlife is not easy and this month I have been thrown another curve ball. My right knee has a torn medial meniscus. How do I know? Well ... I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy who specializes in the musculoskeletal system, so trust me, I KNOW. 

What is a meniscus?

Each of your knees has two C-shaped pieces of cartilage that act like a cushion between your tibia and your femur. Injuring it is very common, and typically occurs when you are putting weight on your need and forcefully rotating it.

What does it feel like to have a torn meniscus? 

I can’t full straighten or bend my knee. It feels like it will give out when I put weight on it. I want to cry when I look at a flight of stairs and have to go down them. I absolutely cannot twist or turn my knee with pain and popping. And the ache, oh the ache when I am trying to fall asleep at night. Sound familiar? It is a tale I have heard countless patients tell me over the years, and now it is my turn. 

To have surgery or not have surgery, that is the question!

For me, the answer will be no. I will pursue a course of shockwave therapy and corrective exercise. Studies have shown that shockwave therapy promotes meniscal tear healing in avascular areas by stimulating cell proliferation and upregulation of cartilage-repairing factors. If after 4-6 weeks of treatment, I am not able to return to my normal activities, I will have an MRI and review the findings with an orthopedic surgeon. Many other options exist if conservative treatment is not an option, such as PRP (Plasma Rich Platelets) or Stem Cells Injections.

But maybe for your the answer will be yes? Meniscal tears are the most commonly treated knee injury in the United States. In fact, there are 850,000 meniscal procedures each year. I would of course suggest that you try Physical Therapy first, but then again I am a Physical Therapist.