The symptoms and treatment of a damaged knee meniscus depend on the cause. Diseases are more susceptible to men aged 18 to 40 years. There are two types of meniscus: internal and external. The first is more often injured because it is less mobile.
Causes of meniscus injury
The most common injury is a rupture of the meniscus of the knee joint. There is a fairly extensive list of causes of this damage, but before listing the reasons, it should be mentioned that a meniscus tear is classified into the following categories:
- degenerative tear;
- traumatic tear.
Degenerative rupture of the meniscus of the knee, as a rule, is characteristic of the elderly. It is highly likely that rheumatism served as the basis for the injury, since the disease can negatively affect large joints. Gout can also be the cause - uric acid crystals, once in the joint, provoke its inflammation. In turn, when inflamed, uric acid crystals can damage the meniscus.
Most oftentraumatic rupture occurs in adolescents or the mature part of the population. Based on the name, the motive for the breakup becomes clear.
The list of causes of a traumatic tear is as follows:
- Strike directly on the knuckle.
- Hitting the kneecap on a hard surface.
- Sharp extension of the joint.
Symptoms
Symptoms and treatment of the meniscus of the knee joint depend on the causes of the disease. Painful sensations in case of injury to the lateral and medial menisci differ from each other. If the anterior cartilage is damaged, then there will be a sensation of acute pain when bending and unbending the knee. The injured area swells and enlarges.
Symptoms of the meniscus of the knee joint of the lateral view are simply determined "by eye": the knee joint instantly swells if a person tries to walk, feels a cutting pain, the femoral muscle weakens.
If the medial cartilage is injured, then the sensations of a person can be completely different. There are pain sensations, but it is impossible to do anything with the knee joint, it seems to be fixed in a single state, the thigh muscles weaken.
There is no need to diagnose at home. As soon as the first signs of pain appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only through examinations can the degree of impairment be determined.
If it is not possible to go to a specialist, then you need to reduce any movement in the knee joint. The sore leg must be fixed in a straightened state thanks toelastic bandage or splint and apply cold compresses every fifteen to twenty minutes. Such an action will reduce tissue swelling, and stimulation of lymph flow to the knee joint will begin.
Diagnosis of the meniscus
If there is a suspicion of a meniscus tear, then a detailed examination by an orthopedic doctor is necessary. At the reception, you must thoroughly explain how you got injured and what the symptoms are. The orthopedist will perform an examination during which he will compare both knees in order to understand what the lesion is.
Doctor step by step:
- If a fluid is found in the joint, which makes it difficult to diagnose, they will puncture the joint cavity and anesthetize. This procedure will allow the diagnosis to continue as the swelling will subside.
- After the examination, it is necessary to take an x-ray in a standing position and when the knee is at an angle of 45. There should be 3 pictures: two lateral and one axial. This procedure will remove doubts about a broken bone.
- Further, if necessary, an MRI is ordered in order to get accurate pictures of the meniscus area and understand how badly it is damaged.
- Arthroscopy is also a necessary moment - this is an examination of the knee from the inside using a special tool that has a built-in camera and a flashlight. This procedure will determine the degree of damage to the meniscus.
- After that, doctors will fully examine the joint and take measures to restore the meniscus.
Delete
Removal of the meniscus of the knee joint is used in case of damage to a large amount of cartilage membranes or tissue ruptures.
Indications for surgical intervention:
- Violation of the integrity of tissues with their transverse or longitudinal rupture.
- Foliations of multiple character.
- Pinching of tissues surrounding the meniscus.
- Cartilage damage with detachment from its base.
- Cysts. In this case, a complete tissue incision is performed with the removal of damaged tissues and their replacement with artificial prostheses. This type of intervention requires a long period of rehabilitation of the patient and healing of the peri-tissue membranes.
Possible adverse effects after knee meniscus surgery:
- clot formation;
- bleeding;
- nerve damage;
- infection;
- duration of postoperative recovery;
- arthroscopy.
The operation is characterized by complete or partial removal. This impact is carried out as follows:
- Pain medications are administered to relieve pain.
- An arthroscopic device is inserted through a small hole.
- The meniscus is being removed with modern microsurgical instruments.
- Decontamination and washing of the operated area.
- Sewing fabrics.
This type of operation is the most gentle for the patient, which contributes to the rapid recovery and healing of the operatedfabrics.
The advantage of using this method is:
- in a thorough preliminary examination of the nature of the damage;
- a small amount of bleeding;
- minimal damage to the skin and periarticular tissues.
Possible complications after the intervention:
- tissue swelling;
- clot formation;
- knee weakness;
- pain;
- increased body temperature;
- allergic reactions to anesthesia.
It should be noted that in order to prevent complications after surgery, it is necessary to follow a special regimen, which consists in the exclusion of unhe althy habits, a balanced diet and the use of the necessary drugs.
It should also be said that there are some contraindications to these types of exposure:
- Presence of cancer.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- The advanced age of the patient.
- Tuberculosis at the stage when it is dangerous for othershepatitis.
Operation
The operation of the meniscus is not used every time (for example, a crack can heal itself). It is necessary if the patient has displacements, crushing and separations, there has been a hemorrhage in the joint cavity. Usually, specialists use arthroscopy (a small operation). Even if it is a very complex injury, it is done without destroying the integrity of the joint capsule.
In the process of surgical intervention, only the injured person is removedsection of the meniscus, but the defect remains.
Surgery has the following advantages:
- small notch size;
- easy to use (leg does not need to be fixed);
- quickly discharged from a medical facility (within one to three days);
- not a long rehabilitation period;
The operation is needed to repair the meniscus or transplant it.
The first type of surgery is recommended for patients who are actively involved in sports.
In this case, the injured part is not removed: integrity is restored through stitching or fastening inside the joint. With this method, the meniscus heals quickly.
Transplantation is a rare and expensive type of operation. It should be done if an injury interferes with recovery.
Treatment of the meniscus with folk remedies
The most common knee injury is a meniscus tear. And there is a whole list of remedies to eliminate this ailment:
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- massage;
- arthroscopic surgery.
Of course, each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. But it should be borne in mind that it is not always possible to use them, and then you have to resort to the help of traditional medicine.
And in her arsenal there is an extremely extensive range of recipes. The most popular are listed below.
Burdock compress
Cope with pain will helpcrushed burdock leaves soaked in hot water. The compress should be kept on the injured leg for up to three hours a day.
Cabbage compress
A cabbage leaf has a similar effect. It is smeared with a thin layer of honey and a compress is made.
Pine bath
No less effective is a coniferous bath. In order to prepare it, you need to grind half a kilogram of needles and pour two liters of water. It is necessary to boil the resulting mass in a water bath for thirty minutes.
Also a well-known way to eliminate pain is a mixture of dried birch leaves, violets from nettles, mixed in equal proportions. Two tablespoons of the mixture must be poured with two glasses of boiled water and let it brew in a thermos for thirty minutes. The resulting infusion should be consumed four times a day, two tablespoons each.
Mud packs
We must not forget about the mud compresses, which have a healing effect. For the treatment of a damaged meniscus, mud taken from the Dead Sea is most suitable. It is applied to the knee, preheated to thirty-seven - forty degrees, and fixed on top with a warm scarf. After three hours, the mass must be washed off with warm water. Typically ten to twelve treatments are required.
Mashed onion with sugar
It will not be superfluous to put a mass of crushed onion and sugar on the knee - it will noticeably quench the pain.
Honey and alcohol. It is necessary to mix both ingredients in equal proportions, heat in a water bath. Don't bring it to a boilso as not to cause any discomfort to the knee in the future. Next, spread the mixture on the damaged area, secure with a scarf and a scarf on top. It is recommended to keep up to three hours.
Good results bring a compress of grated horseradish. To do this, steam the root of the plant over low heat. Put the mass on the knee and secure with a gauze bandage. Worth keeping as long as the burning sensation is tolerable.
Medical bile
Quite an effective remedy is medical bile. Heat the medicine in a water bath and wipe the sore knee with it, then cover with a gauze bandage. The compress must be kept for two hours.
Crushed wormwood
Half a teaspoon of crushed and dried wormwood is dipped in boiled water and infused for about one hour. The gauze bandage should be soaked in the solution and applied to the injured knee. About an hour.
However, it should be borne in mind that you should not be limited to the above tips. In any case, traditional medicine must be considered, first of all, as an aid, but in no way as a treatment. The help of a qualified specialist will certainly be much more effective. Especially in such a complex issue as a knee injury.
Medicated treatment
Pinchs or partial tears of the meniscus are much more common than other damage to it - detachments. Such injuries are easy to heal and,in general, patients do not need surgery.
Use medicines such as:
Painkiller (analgesic) - prescribed at a critical stage of the disease.
Can appoint:
- "Diclofenac";
- "Ibuprofen";
- "Meloxicam".
Glucosamines and condroitin sulfates, which are contained in the components of drugs of this group, normalize metabolism in cartilage and connective tissue, improve the property of the internal joint fluid. Recommend thousands of milligrams of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate throughout the day.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug - reduces pain, relieves swelling in the area of injury. In order to heal the meniscus, topical medications are recommended:
- gel;
- cream;
- ointment.
Vitamin (A, C, E), biologically active supplement (for example, "Collagen Ultra") - helps restore meniscus tissue.
Before you start to be treated with drugs, you should remove the main factor of pain and swelling - the clamp.
Meniscus massage
The purpose of meniscus massage is to improve blood circulation and lymph flow in the knee joint. The procedure must be carried out by an orthopedic surgeon. Has the following effect:
- relieves pain in the joint;
- reduces puffiness;
- reduces the risk of bleeding inside the joint.
Meniscus massage is performed no earlier than the second day after the injury, as follows:
- strokes are made;
- transition to circular and spiral rubbing;
- You also need to stretch your thigh muscles.
Session time does not exceed 15 minutes. The massage technique is selected by a specialist, in accordance with the specific type of injury.
Magnetotherapy of the meniscus
Magnetotherapy is used for rehabilitation in the postoperative period, the effect is achieved by exposure to a magnetic field on the body. Local magnetic therapy is prescribed for the treatment of the meniscus of the knee joint.
What is the effect of magnetotherapy:
- decrease in tissue swelling;
- acceleration of scar healing;
- improving the functioning of nerve fibers;
- acceleration of regeneration (due to improved metabolism);
- inflammation reduction.
The procedure has contraindications:
- hypertension;
- hemophilia;
- malignant tumors;
- joint endoprostheses;
- purulent processes;
- implanted pacemaker;
- pregnancy.
Also, magnetic therapy is not recommended during menstruation and exacerbation of infectious diseases.
Laser therapy for the meniscus
The use of a laser in medical institutions began in the second half of the twentieth century, just when the surgeon began to use not a scalpel, but an emitter. Now it is a simple procedure that is widely used in the treatment of a torn meniscus of the knee. Founded at the endnineteenth century, when professors concluded that beams of light of a specific intensity could have a therapeutic effect on tissue. They use optical radiation of infrared or red ranges, where there is a pulse generation.
Physical exercise
Gymnastics with such an injury is the main condition for a quick recovery. But exercises for varying degrees of injury are different. They are recommended only by the doctor who treats you. It is necessary to do therapeutic exercises under the watchful supervision of a doctor. Gymnastics is selected individually and after some time, under the supervision of a doctor, you can start similar exercises at home. But if the pain returned, then classes should be stopped immediately. The patient must be constantly monitored by his doctor so that he can analyze the restoration of he alth.
Treatment or operation of the meniscus of the knee joint - choose only the patient. But you should always listen to the doctor's recommendations.
