Symptoms and treatment of a damaged knee joint meniscus depend on the cause. Diseases are more susceptible to men aged 18 to 40 years. Two types of meniscus are distinguished: internal and external. The first is more often injured, because of less mobile.
Causes of meniscus damage
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, however, before listing the grounds, it should be mentioned that the meniscus rupture is classified into the following categories:
- degenerative rupture;
- traumatic rupture.
Degenerative rupture of the meniscus of the knee joint is usually characteristic of the elderly. It is very likely that rheumatism was the basis for the injury, since the disease can negatively affect large joints. Also, gout can become the cause - crystals of uric acid, once in the joint, provoke its inflammation. In turn, with inflammation, uric acid crystals can harm the meniscus.
Most often, a traumatic rupture occurs in adolescents or a mature part of the population. Based on the name, the motive behind the gap becomes clear.
The list of causes of a traumatic rupture is as follows:
- Blow directly to the joint.
- 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 ailment. Painful sensations when injuring lateral and medial menisci differ among themselves. If the anterior cartilage is damaged, there will be a sensation of acute pain when bending and flexing the knee. The injured area swells and enlarges.
Symptoms of a lateral-looking knee joint meniscus are simply determined “by eye”: the knee joint swells instantly if a person tries to walk, feels cutting pain, and the femoral muscle weakens.
If the medial cartilage is injured, then the sensations of a person can be completely different. Pain is present, but it is not possible to do anything with the knee joint, as if it is fixed in a single state, the thigh muscles weaken.
Diagnosis at home is not necessary. As soon as the first signs of pain appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. Only through examination can you determine the degree of violation.
If it is not possible to go to a specialist, then you need to reduce any movement in the knee joint. The diseased leg should be fixed in a straightened state thanks to an elastic bandage or tire and cold compresses should be applied every fifteen to twenty minutes. Such an action will reduce tissue swelling, and stimulation of lymph flow to the knee joint will begin.
Meniscus diagnosis
If there is suspicion of a meniscus rupture, then a detailed examination by an orthopedic surgeon is necessary. At the reception, you need to thoroughly talk about how you got injured and what symptoms. The orthopedist will conduct an examination during which he will compare both knees in order to understand what the lesion is.
According to the steps of the doctor:
- In the event that a fluid is found in the joint that makes diagnosis difficult, a joint cavity will be punctured and anesthetized. This procedure will allow you to continue the diagnosis, as the swelling will pass.
- After 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 allows you to omit doubts about bone fracture.
- Then, if necessary, MRI is prescribed in order to obtain accurate images of the meniscus area and to understand how badly it is damaged.
- Also, the right moment is arthroscopy - this is an examination of the knee from the inside using a special tool in which the camera and flashlight are built-in. This procedure will determine the degree of meniscus damage.
- After that, the doctors will fully examine the joint and take measures to restore the meniscus.
Delete
The removal of the meniscus of the knee joint is used when a large volume of cartilaginous membranes is damaged or tissue breaks.
Indications for the surgical type of intervention:
- Violation of the integrity of tissues with their transverse or longitudinal rupture.
- Multiple bundles.
- Pinched tissue 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 replacing them with artificial prostheses. This type of intervention requires a long period of rehabilitation of the patient and the healing of peri-tissue membranes.
Possible adverse effects after surgery on the meniscus of the knee joint:
- blood clots;
- bleeding;
- damage to nerve endings;
- infection
- the duration of postoperative recovery;
- arthroscopy.
The operation is characterized by complete or partial removal. This effect is carried out as follows:
- Painkillers are introduced to relieve pain.
- An arthroscopic instrument is inserted through a small hole.
- The meniscus is removed with modern microsurgical instruments.
- Disinfection and washing of the operated area.
- Sewing fabrics.
This type of operation is the most sparing for the patient, which contributes to the rapid restoration and healing of the operated tissues.
The advantage of using this method is:
- in a thorough preliminary examination of the nature of the damage;
- a small amount of bleeding;
- minimization of damage to the integument of the skin and periarticular tissues.
Possible complications after the intervention:
- swelling of tissues;
- blood clots;
- weakness of the knee joint;
- painful sensations;
- increase in body temperature;
- allergic reactions to anesthesia.
It should be noted that to prevent complications after surgery, it is necessary to observe a special regimen, which consists in eliminating unhealthy habits, a balanced diet and the use of necessary drugs.
It is also worth saying that there are some contraindications to these types of exposure:
- The presence of cancer.
- Diseases of the cardiovascular system.
- The old age of the patient.
- Tuberculosis is at the stage when it is dangerous for others. Hepatitis.
Operation
The meniscus operation is not used every time (for example, a crack can heal itself). It is necessary if the patient has displacements, crushing and tearing, hemorrhage in the joint cavity has occurred. Usually, specialists use arthroscopy (a small operation). If even a very complex damage, it is done without destroying the integrity of the joint bag.
During the surgical procedure, only the injured meniscus is removed, and 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 institution (within one to three days);
- not a long rehabilitation period;
The operation is needed to restore the meniscus or its transplantation.
The first type of surgical intervention is recommended for patients who are actively involved in sports.
In this case, the injured part is not removed: integrity is restored through suturing or fastening inside the joint. Using this method, the meniscus heals quickly.
Transplantation is a rare and expensive type of operation. It must be done if the injury interferes with recovery.
Meniscus treatment with folk remedies
The most common knee injury is meniscus rupture. And there is a whole list of tools to eliminate this ailment:
- physiotherapy;
- physiotherapy;
- massage;
- arthroscopic surgery.
Of course, each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. But it is worth considering that it is not always possible to use them, and then you have to resort to traditional medicine.
And in her arsenal there is an extremely extensive range of recipes. The most popular are listed below.
Burdock compress
Shredded leaves of burdock soaked in hot water will help to cope with the pain. The compress should be kept on the injured leg for up to three hours a day.
Cabbage Compress
A similar effect has a leaf of cabbage. It is lubricated with a thin layer of honey and a compress is made.
Pine bath
No less effective is the coniferous bath. In order to cook 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 allowed to infuse in a thermos for thirty minutes. The resulting infusion is used four times a day, two tablespoons.
Mud packs
We must not forget about mud compresses that have a healing effect. For the treatment of damaged meniscus, dirt taken from the Dead Sea is most suitable. It is applied to the knee, preheating to thirty-seven to 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.
Pounded onion with sugar
It will not be superfluous to put a mass of mashed 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. It is not necessary to bring to a boil, so as not to cause any discomfort to the knee in the future. Next, smear the mixture on the damaged area, fix it on top with a scarf and scarf. Keep recommended up to three hours.
Good compresses result from grated horseradish. To do this, steam the root of the plant on low heat. Place the mass on the knee and secure with a gauze bandage. It is worth keeping until burning is tolerable.
Medical bile
A fairly effective remedy is medical bile. Warm up the medicine in a water bath and wipe off the sore knee with it, then cover with a gauze bandage. The compress must be kept for two hours.
Ground wormwood
Half a teaspoon of chopped and dried wormwood is dipped in boiled water and infused for about one hour. A gauze dressing should be soaked in a solution and applied to an injured knee. About an hour.
However, it is worth considering that you should not be limited only to the above tips. In any case, traditional medicine must be considered, first of all, as an adjuvant, but in no way as a treatment. The help of a qualified specialist will certainly be much more effective. Moreover, in such a difficult issue as a knee injury.
Medication treatment
Pinching or partial tears of the meniscus are much more common than other injuries - tears. Such injuries are easy to cure and, basically, patients do not need surgery.
Apply drugs such as:
Anesthetic (analgesic) - is 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, normalizing metabolism in the cartilage and connective tissue, improve the property of internal joint fluid. A dose of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate is recommended at a thousand milligrams per day.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug - reduces pain, relieves swelling in the area of injury. In order to cure the meniscus, topical medications are recommended:
Vitamin (A, C, E), a biological active supplement (for example, "Collagen Ultra") - helps restore meniscus tissue.
Before you begin to be treated with drugs, you should remove the main factor of pain and swelling - clamp.
Meniscus massage
The goal of meniscus massage is to improve blood circulation and lymph flow in the knee joint. The procedure should be performed by an orthopedic surgeon. It has the following effect:
- relieves pain in the joint;
- reduces swelling;
- reduces the risk of hemorrhage inside the joint.
A meniscus massage is performed no earlier than the second day after the injury, as follows:
- stroking is done;
- transition to grindings of a circular and spiral nature;
- it is also necessary to stretch the 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.
Meniscus Magnetotherapy
Magnetotherapy is used during rehabilitation in the postoperative period, the effect is achieved by the influence of a magnetic field on the body. For the treatment of the meniscus of the knee, a local magnetotherapy is prescribed.
What effect does magnetotherapy have:
- decrease in tissue swelling;
- acceleration of scar healing;
- improving the functioning of nerve fibers;
- acceleration of regeneration (due to improved metabolism);
- reduction in inflammation.
The procedure has contraindications:
- hypertension;
- hemophilia;
- malignant tumors;
- joint endoprostheses;
- purulent processes;
- implanted pacemaker;
- pregnancy.
Also, magnetotherapy during menstruation and exacerbation of infectious diseases is not recommended.
Meniscus laser therapy
The use of laser in medical institutions began in the second half of the twentieth century, just when the surgeon began to use not a scalpel, but a radiator. Now it is a simple procedure that is widely used in the treatment of meniscus rupture of the knee joint. It was founded back in the late nineteenth century, when professors concluded that light beams of a specific intensity can have a therapeutic effect on tissue. Use optical radiation in the infrared or red ranges, where there is pulse generation.
Physical exercise
Gymnastics with such an injury is the main condition for a quick recovery. But exercises for varying degrees of injury vary. They are recommended only by the doctor who treats you. Doing exercise is necessary under the watchful eye of a doctor. Gymnastics is selected individually and after some time, under the supervision of a doctor, you can proceed to such exercises at home. But if the pain returned, then classes should be stopped immediately. The patient should be constantly monitored by his doctor so that he can analyze the restoration of health.
Treatment or surgery of the meniscus of the knee - only select the patient. But you should always listen to the doctor’s recommendations.