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Arthritis Meniscus Knee Pain

There are several reasons for knee pain but one common reason is a torn meniscus. The meniscus is the cartilage that cushions the knee joint. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, "Without the meniscus cushion, persistent knee pain and arthritis can develop." Many people live active lifestyles despite having meniscus tears. It is only when the meniscus tear becomes symptomatic and interferes with activities that surgery should be considered.

  1. Meniscus

    • The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage situated between your shin bone and your thigh bone. It serves as the shock absorber in your knee joint. A meniscus tear may not cause pain.

    Arthritis

    • Arthritis literally means inflammation of the joints and can be very painful. If you tear your meniscus and do not repair it, you will develop osteoarthritis sooner or later. Osteoarthritis is a type of arthritis caused by the breakdown of cartilage within a joint, such as the knee. This type of arthritis affects over 20 million people in the United States.

    Physical Therapy

    • Recent medical news reports that you may relieve knee pain related to meniscus injury and arthritis through physical therapy alone. According to sports medicine scientist Jolie Bookspan, on the website Healthline.com, "Recent studies confirm you can stop most pain and restore function just as well without surgery through good physical rehab." The physical therapy may include home exercises such as straight leg raises and ham string curls to build strength to help prevent future degeneration.

    Surgery

    • Arthroscopic surgery is typically prescribed for knee pain caused by meniscus injuries and arthritis. Now there is another surgery option available--meniscal transplant surgery--which is when the damaged meniscus is replaced with donor cartilage. You must be under 55 and have minimal or no arthritis.

    Referred Pain

    • Even though an MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan, may show that you have a torn meniscus, it may not be the reason you have knee pain. The pain can originate from other parts in your body. According to Healthline.com, meniscal tears are common in the general population and many people do not have pain because of the tear.

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