What kind of symptoms would I have if I damaged the meniscus?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms of a damaged meniscus are pain and catching, clicking, or locking during certain twisting knee activities. These mechanical sensations are very commonly felt by the patient. The knee can also have swelling. Generally, meniscus tears do not heal because they have a poor blood supply. However, they can occasionally become asymptomatic.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of surgery would I have if I damaged the meniscus?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Surgery for the common meniscus tear is an outpatient arthroscopic surgical procedure. A couple of portals (holes) are made in the knee so that an arthroscope and the trimming instrument(s) can be inserted. Often a motorized or radiofrequency (electro-thermal) device is used to help trim and contour the torn area of the meniscus to create a smooth surface.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I damaged the ACL?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms with a damaged ACL will be pain, swelling and a feeling of instability. Often times the knee can buckle underneath you and “give way.” If twisting, stopping, turning sports are attempted with a torn ACL, these buckling and “giving way” episodes will recur – a “trick knee.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I damaged the patella?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Generally, this pain can go away and heal on it’s own. Body mechanics and control of the femur from above with your hip muscles are important. Stretching and strengthening the quadriceps and hamstring muscles are also important.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I damaged these ligaments?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms include instability and “giving away.” Occasionally, you can feel the tibia slipping underneath the femur. The inside medial collateral ligament (MCL) can heal on its own and rarely requires surgery. Injury to the outside lateral collateral ligament (LCL) is different altogether. This usually requires surgery, but is a rare injury.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I damaged the PCL?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Feelings of instability with certain motions about the knee can occur with a damaged PCL. Occasionally, with a long standing injury, the knee cap can be painful.
Related QuestionsWhat are the most common symptoms of a meniscus tear?
FAQ Knee - Howard J Luks,MDMany adults have a tear and do not even know it. These are typically degenerative or attritional tears. Painful tears in adults are usually larger, "flap" tears. They will cause pain with kneeling, squatting, pivoting, going downstairs and occasionally they will even hurt at night when you roll over in bed.
Related QuestionsWhat is a meniscus?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe meniscus is a circular shaped disc of cartilage tissue. There are two menisci (plural of meniscus) in the knee – one on the inside, called the medial meniscus, and one on the outside, called the lateral meniscus. Their main function is to act as shock absorbers in the knee, helping to reduce wear and tear on the joint.
Related QuestionsHow can a meniscus be torn?
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe medial and lateral menisci are fixed between the two weight-bearing surfaces within the knee, and as such can become “pinched” by the other structures of the knee between the joint when an injury occurs. Typically, the injury involves twisting on a bent knee. When this happens the menisci can become torn (“torn cartilage”). Any form of physical movement can potentially cause a meniscal tear, although they tend to be associated with sporting activities.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of surgery would I have if I damaged the ACL?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....The damaged ACL cannot be sewn back together as it will not heal. A torn ACL will require a reconstructive procedure using transplantable tendons from your body (autografts) such as the hamstring, bone-patella-tendon-bone (BTB) or quadriceps tendons, to reconstruct this torn ligament. Allograft (tissue bank cadaver tissue) tissue is often used with less pain to you and earlier return to function. Both autograft and allograft tendons are acceptable to use for ACL reconstructions.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of surgery would I have if I damaged the patella?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Surgery about the knee cap can be controversial with no exact reason when to operate or consensus about the type of procedure that should be done.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of surgery would I have if I damaged the PCL?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Surgery for the PCL involves either an autograft or an allograft reconstruction of the ligament. Either a bone-tendon-bone, hamstring autograft, an achilles tendon or bone-tendon-bone allograft is used to reconstruct the posterior cruciate ligament.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I had adhesive capsulitis?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Patients with “frozen shoulder” have symptoms of pain and often times they cannot do simple everyday life activities such as combing their hair, reaching behind their back, or putting their hand in their back pocket, etc. Pain is usually increased with attempts to lift their hands overhead as this motion is limited. Generally studies show that “frozen shoulders” will “thaw” (tightness lessens), but this can take many months.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I have instability?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms of instability are pain and weakness in the shoulder in certain arm positions. Often times, specific positions are avoided as you, the patient, know when the shoulder will come out of socket. This is often present when the arm is raised up behind the ear in the throwing position. Generally speaking, shoulders with instability do not get better on their own.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I had a labrum tear?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms involve sensations of clicking and catching with certain motions in the shoulder. Often times they can become very painful. The labrum does not generally heal on its own. The mechanical symptoms can increase over time and can become painful.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I had impingement?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms are simply pain when you lift your arm. It is really when the arm goes overhead that pinching of the bursa is encountered. It often times can get better with good shoulder mechanics, proper exercises, and anti-inflammatory medicines. Physical therapy and occasionally cortisone injections can help. Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help reduce the “-itis” of this bursitis.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I had calcific tendonitis?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms of calcific tendonitis can involve painful bursitis and painful forward flexion impingement. Simple movements when using the shoulder can cause pain.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I have arthritis?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Symptoms of arthritis are stiffness, pain, and swelling of the joint. Morning stiffness is very common.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I have bursitis?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....Bursitis is an inflammation of the bursal tissue about the knee. There are several different bursas about the knee that can become inflamed from either trauma or repetitive activities. Generally these can heal on their own. Initial icing followed by heat can help. Anti-inflammatory drugs can help decrease the pain. Steroid injections can be given to help decrease the inflammation.
Related QuestionsHow are the meniscus tears diagnosed ?
Frequently Asked QuestionsMeniscus tears are suspected from the history given by the patient and diagnosed by careful clinical examination. In cases of doubt, an MRI scan can give diagnosis.
Related QuestionsWhat are the recent advances in meniscus surgery?
Frequently Asked QuestionsPreserving the meniscus has become a priority. Stable tears are left alone. If most of the meniscus is torn and deficient, Meniscus transplantation is carried out in few centers. In this procedure the entire meniscus harvested from cadaver knees are used to transplant into the recipient. In addition cellular and molecular biology researches aim to improve the healing potential of the meniscus.
Related QuestionsWhat is a meniscus and how does it tear?
FAQ Knee - Howard J Luks,MDA meniscus is a"C" shaped structure in your knee that is made of fibro-cartilage. It acts as a cushion for the knee when weight bearing. Most meniscal tears in adults are attritional. That is the meniscus simply wears out from years of use. Most adult patients do not recall the moment they tore their meniscus. The presentation is usually quite different in children or adolescents. Their tears are usually traumatic in nature and will usually arise from a non-contact twisting injury.
Related QuestionsDo all meniscus tears require surgery?
FAQ Knee - Howard J Luks,MDNo. Many degenerative or attritional tears can be managed non-operatively and allow you to return to your "normal" lifestyle.
Related QuestionsCATSCLEM GEZONDHEID en ZIEKTE - HEALTH and DISEASEHealth Library at MerckSource: Meniscus Meniscus of acromioclavicular joint, meniscus articula˘ris, converging meniscus, discoid meniscus, discoid lateral meniscus, diverging meniscus, meniscus of inferior radioulnar joint, joint meniscus, Kuhnt's meniscus, meniscus latera˘lis articulatio˘nis ge˘nus, meniscus media˘lis articulatio˘nis ge˘nus, negative meniscus, positive meniscus, meniscus of sternoclavicular joint, meniscus tac˘tus, meniscus of temporomandibular joint Menke Disease - Support Pro.Related Questions
How does the meniscus get injured?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....The meniscus is a tough fibrocartilage structure and can be injured with twisting, stopping, and turning motions of the knee. Meniscus tears are usually traumatic in origin. However, as we age, hydration decreases in this tissue and tears can happen with twisting motions that pinch and tear or shear the meniscus between the end of the femur and the tibia bone.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have if I had a rotator cuff tear?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....The main symptom is pain, especially pain that prevents you from sleeping or wakes you from sleeping at night. Other symptoms are general weakness and inability to use the shoulder, especially in the overhead position. Rotator cuff tears do not heal on their own. However, symptoms of pain can decrease and the function of the shoulder can improve with physical therapy such that surgery may not be necessary.
Related QuestionsWhat kind of symptoms would I have with AC joint problems?
Frequently Asked Questions -- C. Thomas Vangsness, Jr., M.D....A painful AC joint is usually caused by a stress or strain of the AC joint or arthritis in this joint. Occasionally, impingement and bursitis can mimic this pain. Lifting your arm across your body can increase this pain. This can heal on its own. However, if arthritis is involved the AC joint can continue to be painful in everyday activities.
Related QuestionsFor what kind of symptoms is Bowtrol most appropriate?
IBS Relief Questions Irritable Bowel Syndrome TreatmentBowtrol was developed to aid IBS patients to regain bowel movement regularity and eliminate excessive feelings of urgency and diarrhea or constipation. Bowtrol consists of separate components that can be separately combined to address your own individual problems; If your IBS symptoms are mainly combined with constipation, then the recommended treatment is a combination of Lactospore Probiotic & Colon and Parasite Cleanser.
Related Questions