Any tips for torn meniscus please?

[Goatblu]

I've been experiencing intermittent but excruciating pain in my knee. It's gradually becoming less intermittent and painful most of the time. I had it examined yesterday and I was told that the meniscus is torn (or partially torn) and some other ligament is strained too.

Occasionally I can walk relatively ok but if I so much as twist or move differently, the pain begins and it hurts a lot.

I was given crutches to use, a box of codeine and told to see my GP about physio.

I'm currently in the process of packing to move house and then have a holiday booked. I know there's no magic cure for an injury but can anyone please recommend a way to avoid this pain whilst on the waiting list for physio?

(It's not a runner's injury, I slipped and apparently age related changes can make it worse).

Big firm kneestrap, RICE, physio.

There's no magic cure unfortunately.

Sorry to hear this, How long is the waiting list? Could you afford private physiotherapy in the meantime?

Have you tried a support sleeve to limit the twisting motion?

Have you not been offered surgery? Mine was torn and they removed 30% of it. Much better now. Took a few months to recover after the op with daily physio.

Having had three meniscal tears (not at the same time!):

The first one I had surgery, took about twelve weeks to be back to normal.

The second and third were several years later and consultant said preferred approach now is to avoid surgery. Had physio for both and I don't think it really helped. What did help was continuing to exercise gently, no twisting moves or jumping obviously.

Strap it for security if you feel you need it.

Sports injuries clinic, get it taped up by them gave great relief and was lucky enough to be able to afford their physio till NHS appt. Still bothers me sometimes 6 years later but I do my exercises for a few weeks and gets better again.

I was also told surgery is last resort now, risk of leaving it more vulnerable as you age I think.

Buy yourself a support brace - you want it strapped up firmly so you can’t do any twisting motion at all.

Think of yourself as living on graph paper - you can only move in straight lines and 90° angles. Turning and moving in more fluid lines will only hurt.

It’s common for the NHS to leave it for up to 12 weeks to see if it heals when it’s an age related tear. If there’s no improvement at all after that they may operate. However, once there’s been a tear there are risks of more and they don’t want to be paring away at it as it doesn’t regrow.

I wouldn't recommend buying a support brace unless your medical team have suggested it. They can do more damage than good. I would see a private physio and follow their advice.

Go see an acupuncturist

In the past four years I have had age-related medial meniscus tears in both knees (fortunately not at same time!). Both have healed, more or less, with time although it did take over 12m in one case. I get some stiffness and discomfort occasionally, but I can kneel again, and no longer wake in agony unable to turn over in bed or yelp when my knee 'grates' while walking!

As others say, surgery is not recommended, especially for medial tears (which most age-related ones are, I think). It can increase risk of more tears and worsening of arthritis in the long term. A knee brace, RICE and physio aimed at strengthening the muscles that hold the knee in place are the main things to be doing. Look at YouTube for exercises you can be doing to help while you wait for physio. You may benefit from a biomechanical orthotic assessment of your feet/gait. I'm rather flat-footed and had some special insoles made to give better arch support. I believe they have helped my recovery. But be prepared for the long haul, I'm afraid.

Recovery and impact does depend on your age -

If it’s an option then consider private physio and private MRI scan then ask GP for referral to NHS depending on the results. DH is waiting for his to be fixed on the NHS (surgery advised); in the meantime he’s off sick from (ironically) an NHS job which he can’t do with a knee that doesn’t work.

In the meantime he’s finding non-twisting exercise is preventing things from getting too bad. He cycles, stretches, does strength stuff at the gym. But nothing is actually improving the situation.

Poor you. I suffered for a few years. A knee support will help, but you will probably need an op

Had private physio then mri as nhs list many months. When tear diagnosed had injection which stopped pain almost immediately. It’s lasted 2 years + so far. Back playing sport within a few weeks. I’m old so there was some wear too. Worth every penny.

I've had a few tears and I find the best way of stabilising the knee is to not wear a brace and to strengthen the quads. Straight leg raises a couple of times a day- with ankle weights when the acute injury has settled. I can now ski and run without it giving way. I do have some pain and creaking if I've overdone it - but I'm late 50s.

There was a similar thread yesterday which I'll link if I find it.

I had a meniscal tear when I was about 38. No specific fall/injury etc, just wear and tear apparently. Sometimes, it would give way and if I twisted, it was excruciating. I had physio and lost 10kg. Several months later, I had another MRI which showed the meniscus had worn away and I now had osteo arthritis! The pain ran down the inside of my knee.

Eventually I was given an off loader knee brace by the physio team. The strapping pulls your knee over and opens the area that is rubbing and moves your weight to the other side. Strapping tape can have a similar action, but much less effective in my case. The brace was a game changer for me. I could work again, walk, shop and basically live again. I paid for extra, private physio when I was working abroad too. I lost more weight, so the elastic brace they initially gave me no longer fit, so they gave me another which was larger and worn over clothes. I agree, you shouldn't just go a buy these, without knowing if it will help YOUR injury. I read that the meniscus has very poor blood flow, so often don't repair themselves.

The physio advised that I wean myself off the brace- which I did. I'm now about 4yrs on. Despite putting weight on, I don't need a brace, no current physio and barely any pain. I do the odd exercises, but weekly at most. I do get the odd twinge if I twist, but nothing like it was all those years ago. I have no idea if my muscles are just stronger as can't explain osteo getting better?

Cortisone injections can be a temporary measure for some, but I never had one.

Not exactly the same as yourself OP, but some advice might be useful.
Knee pain - any point trying GP? | Mumsnet

Thank you for the suggestions. I was told yesterday that surgery and braces were no longer recommended. I suppose my age is an issue (mid 50s) as there's probably some degeneration of the joint too.

I don't know how long the wait will be for NHS physio so I think I'll have to find a private one as it's really limiting what I can do - great timing with the house move.

Does it need to be a sports physiotherapist or will any physio be able to help?

Also, are travel crutches a 'thing'? Holiday is 3 weeks away so I might be ok by then (ever the optimist ) but if it flares up again whilst I'm away, I'd need support. I was given crutches yesterday but I'm wondering if there are some that will fold and fit into luggage that I can buy?

The journey is usually one of the toughest parts of a holiday so I would keep your crutches to hand!

I'm not necessarily adding up to date info here.

I've had 2 x right medial meniscus repair surgeries in the 00's as a result of sports injury (1st) and poor footwear choice/vanity (2nd). As I consequence I have been generally 'precious' regarding my knee but still stuck my head in the sand for many years.

I went to a private physio for a review about a year ago (£50) and he got my long term bent right leg almost straight (wow that was painful). I did the exercises diligently for the first month or two...And I'm still good but nowhere near perfect and considering going back for a 'top up'.

He did say that the original surgery wouldn't be done nowadays just a decade+ later though which is where you are at.

I've long been aware I'd probably need knee replacement surgery eventually.

Doesn't need to be a sports physio - I've had both private and NHS treatment from regular physiotherapists.
I didn't use a full brace but found an elasticated knee sleeve helped stabilise the joint and prevent twisting when walking.

I would avoid surgery if at all possible. A small tear will be OK if supported by physio and recuperation.

I had a colleague who had both knees done and ended up with an infection and ended up crippled. So last resort for me.

Thanks Froniga for the suggestion, I had acupuncture for several sessions but it didn’t help unfortunately, it is only very occasionally and I think physio was really successful, regained pretty much full function, can’t really run now but was rubbish before anyway 😂

Do you know what type of tear? When the MRI showed that I had a buckle handle tear, I was offered surgery quite quickly, they were quite dismissive until the MRI. This was during covid so not sure the surgery advice has changed recently. I know a friend has been told has a meniscus tear but has not been offered an MRI so not sure how they know. Surgery was very successful

I haven't been offered an MRI @Jubileetime, just given codeine, crutches and told to arrange physio.

It felt ok at one point today but something must have twisted or got stuck again and the pain is making me nauseous now if I try to walk - even with the crutches.

Did the private physio give you the elastic brace @JC03745? I wish I could prevent whatever movement it is that suddenly causes it whilst I work on building up the muscles.