What is a meniscal tear?
The knee joints contain a C-shaped piece of cartilage called a meniscus, which is responsible for cushioning the joint between the thigh bone and shin bone. The primary responsibility of the meniscus is to protect the lower body against the shock of your body weight. Because the meniscus is located toward the back of the knee, pain in this area could point to a meniscus or meniscal tear. Meniscal tears are common knee injuries and associated with activities in which you twist or rotate your knee while exerting your body’s full weight on the leg. For instance, basketball, football or tennis.
Symptoms of a Meniscal Tear
Meniscal tears can be asymptomatic, meaning no pain or discomfort, although you may have trouble extending your knee, or have joint stiffness or inflammation. However, pain is commonly associated with a meniscal tear, especially if the tear was due to an acute injury, meaning it happened suddenly and not from overuse, which is more gradual. Some meniscal tears can heal on their own, although pain management treatments can help facilitate the healing process, while severe tears may require surgery. Either way, Midsouth Spine & Pain Associates (MSSP) offer minimally invasive treatments to alleviate knee pain associated with meniscal tears or post-surgical pain.
Treatment for Meniscal Tear
Treatment for meniscal tear pain varies and depends on the severity of your pain. MSSP offers various pain management treatments for meniscal tears, such as radiofrequency ablations (RFA) and steroid injections. RFA is minimally invasive and works by delivering energy through a needle that’s placed into the targeted tissue. The radiofrequency waves kill nearby cells, invoking the body’s immune system to remove the dead cells, and generate healthy cells in their place.
Steroid injections are more of a quick fix for pain relief, although relief typically is not expected to be long-term. However, if you suffer from chronic knee pain and need pain relief fast, a corticosteroid injection may be a good option for you so that you can begin rehabilitating your knee through physical therapy and light exercise. Steroid injections work by reducing inflammation, which helps increase blood flow and promote healing of damaged tissue.
The ideal treatment for your meniscal tear pain can be determined with a thorough examination by our pain management specialists in Corinth. You may also undergo diagnostic imaging such as an MRI so that the doctor can determine the exact degree of your injury and recommend the most effective pain management treatment for you.
Treating Pain Related to Meniscal Tears in Southwest Tennessee and North Mississippi, including Tupelo, MS and Jackson, TN
Meniscal tears are common among athletes but also individuals that participate in activities like tennis. If you suffer from chronic knee pain associated with a meniscal tear, contact Midsouth Spine & Pain Associates to find out which pain relieving treatments are best for you. To learn more or schedule a consultation, please call MSSP at (662) 284-8565.