What is a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus is an injury to your knee's cartilage, specifically, the C-shaped meniscus that serves as a shock absorber between the femur (thighbone) and tibia (shinbone).
When you walk or run, the meniscus transfers stress from bone to bone and helps stabilize your knee. A tear in the meniscus may happen due to an injury from playing sports or from natural wear and tear of the tissue that occurs with age. If the meniscus tears, you may develop pain, swelling and feelings of instability.
Anatomy of a knee
The knee is a complex joint consisting of three bones, including the femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone) and patella (kneecap). Four ligaments connect the femur and tibia. The meniscus is two C-shaped cartilage discs that act as a cushion and shock absorber between the femur and tibia, providing stability to the knee. Unfortunately, as the meniscus does not have a strong blood supply and is not a regenerative structure, if you experience a torn meniscus, it is unlikely to heal on its own and will not regrow over time.
Torn meniscus symptoms
Most symptoms will likely develop in the hours and days after the tear occurs. Signs and symptoms of a torn meniscus may include:
- Knee pain that worsens when you put pressure on the joint or when you walk
- Feeling a pop in the knee
- Mechanical locking and catching, when it feels like something is getting caught or stuck in your knee
- Knee stiffness
- Locking or catching of the knee
- Reduced range of motion in the knee
- Swelling of the knee that usually develops the day after the injury or increases during any activity
- A feeling that the affected knee won’t support you or is unstable
When to see a doctor
If you think you’ve torn your meniscus, you may not need to see a physician right away. A period of rest and caring for your knee at home may help symptoms improve. If torn meniscus symptoms stay the same or get worse after at-home care, you should see an orthopedic sports medicine physician. You should also see a physician if you can’t bend or straighten your knee or if it feels unstable.
What causes a torn meniscus?
A torn meniscus can occur from any activity that forces a sharp twist or rotation of the knee, like sudden stops, turns or pivoting. Even kneeling, deep squatting or lifting heavy objects can cause a tear.
Meniscus tears can also develop with increased age and with the development of arthritis. As you get older, the meniscus becomes more brittle and loses flexibility, which increases the risk of tearing.
Torn meniscus risk factors
A torn meniscus can happen to anyone, but certain factors can increase your risk. Playing sports, for example, demands a lot of your knees. You’re more likely to tear the meniscus if you play a sport involving running, jumping or quick changes of direction, or contact sports, such as soccer, football or basketball.
Additional risk factors for a meniscus tear include:
- Aging: Decades of use can wear down the meniscus as you get older, leaving it more vulnerable to tearing.
- Arthritis: Osteoarthritis—the most common type of arthritis—breaks down cartilage over time, putting the meniscus at risk of tearing.
Complications from a torn meniscus
A meniscus tear that doesn’t heal correctly can lead to ongoing knee pain and discomfort. Injuring your meniscus may also accelerate the breakdown of the cartilage in your knee and increase your risk for osteoarthritis in the future.
How is a torn meniscus diagnosed?
Finding relief from knee pain starts with an accurate diagnosis. Your physician may use a variety of methods to determine whether you have a torn meniscus. They’ll start by learning about your medical history and the circumstances of the injury. Then, your physician will examine your knee for signs and symptoms of a meniscus injury. They may also order an imaging test to look inside the knee for meniscus damage or other problems.
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Medical history and exam
First, your physician will discuss your medical history and ask about your injury. They will want to learn when the injury occurred, which symptoms you’re experiencing and when they started, and whether walking or other activities trigger your symptoms or make them worse.
Next, your physician will examine your knee for signs of a torn meniscus. They will look for swelling on each side of the kneecap and check for tenderness. They may also conduct one or two tests of your knee to check its range of motion.
- McMurray test: While you lie on your back, your physician will bend, rotate and straighten your knee. If this test causes pain or clicking, it could be a sign of a torn meniscus.
- Thessaly test: Your physician will support you while you stand only on the affected leg. You’ll twist your knee inward and outward three times. Discomfort or locking of the joint during this test may indicate a meniscus injury.
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Imaging and tests
After learning about the history of the injury and examining your knee, your physician may order imaging tests to see what the meniscus and other parts of the knee look like.
- X-ray: An X-ray is often the first imaging test your provider will use. This evaluates for any indication of arthritis, such as the narrowing of the joint space between the bones, which is a risk factor for the development of meniscus tears.
- MRI scan: If there is no evidence of arthritis on an X-ray and conservative treatments such as activity modification, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy and bracing have not improved symptoms, an MRI may be ordered to evaluate the soft tissues in your knee joint, including the meniscus and cartilage surfaces. An MRI is the preferred method to diagnose a meniscus tear.
Torn meniscus treatment
The first step in treating a torn meniscus is trying nonsurgical options. This includes rest, avoiding activities that cause discomfort, using over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, wearing a brace, and doing at-home physical therapy exercises. If these don’t relieve your symptoms, a pain-relieving injection or outpatient physical therapy may help.
Many meniscus tears heal without surgery, but if pain or discomfort continues, surgery might be necessary. The goal is always to help you get back to the activities you enjoy.
At-home care and lifestyle changes
The best first-line treatment for meniscus tears includes the RICE method.
- Rest: Give your knee a break and stay off it as much as possible. In severe cases, using crutches when you walk can help prevent putting weight on the joint and help with stability.
- Ice: Wrap a cold pack in a towel and apply it to your knee for 20 minutes several times a day to reduce swelling. Never apply a cold pack or ice directly to the skin.
- Compression: Keep gentle pressure on your knee by wrapping it in an elastic compression bandage or compressive sleeve to help with swelling and stability
- Elevation: When staying off your knee, use pillows or cushions to raise it above the level of your heart.
Medication
In addition to the RICE method, your physician may recommend taking an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen. These medications help with pain and swelling and can help you have a smoother recovery.
Nonsurgical treatment
In addition to the RICE method and medication, your physician may recommend other nonsurgical treatments, especially if caring for yourself at home isn’t helping the injury as much as you hoped. Other options may include:
- Bracing: Wearing a brace on your knee can provide support and reduce pain.
- Corticosteroid injection: If you’re having a hard time controlling pain, a steroid injection may be utilized to help with swelling and pain.
- Physical therapy: Physical therapy for a torn meniscus can help you strengthen the muscles that support your knee, boost the joint’s range of motion and learn exercises you can perform at home to keep your knee healthy.
Surgery
Surgery is usually recommended when pain doesn’t improve with conservative treatments or if symptoms like locking, catching, or difficulty straightening the knee occur, which might mean a displaced meniscus fragment that could worsen if left untreated.
Meniscus surgery is minimally invasive, using small incisions. A camera is inserted to view the joint, and specialized instruments repair or remove the damaged meniscus based on the injury’s severity, location and blood supply. The outpatient procedure allows most people to go home the same day, often bearing weight with crutches for balance.
- Partial meniscectomy: The surgeon will remove the damaged area of the meniscus. This procedure is used when the tear is either degenerative or in an area that does not receive a good blood supply. The goal of this procedure is to remove the torn fragments of the meniscus to prevent further tearing and loss and further damage to the knee. You should be able to put weight on your knee and move it through the full range of motion soon after this procedure.
- Meniscus repair: Instead of removing the injured part of the meniscus, the surgeon can repair the tear. Your recovery time will be longer than with a meniscectomy because the repaired injury has to heal. This recovery is often lengthier, and it involves a brace and crutches for a longer period.
Locations
We offer several locations for your care, including orthopedic specialty centers in North and Central Texas.
AccentCare - Fort Worth
3880 Hulen St , Fort Worth, TX, 76107
AccentCare Home Health of Brenham
526 W Main St , Brenham, TX, 77833
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
119 Medical Park Lane Ste C, Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of College Station
1605 Rock Prairie Rd Ste 206, College Station, TX, 77845
AccentCare Home Health Of Denton
225 W. Mulberry St. Ste A, Denton, TX, 76201
AccentCare Home Health Of Desoto
911 York Drive Ste 203, DeSoto, TX, 75115
AccentCare Home Health Of Fort Worth (Arlington)
700 Highlander Blvd Ste 205, Arlington, TX, 76015
AccentCare Home Health of Huntsville
122 Medical Park Lane B , Huntsville, TX, 77340
AccentCare Home Health of Marble Falls
1100 Mission Hills Dr Ste 100, Marble Falls, TX, 78654
AccentCare Home Health Of McKinney
6800 Weiskopf Ave Ste 100, McKinney, TX, 75070
AccentCare Home Health Of Taylor (Hutto)
567 Chris Kelley Blvd Ste 201, Hutto, TX, 78634
AccentCare Home Health Of Temple
3809 S General Bruce Dr Ste 105B, Temple, TX, 76502
AccentCare Home Health Of Waco
8300 Central Park Dr Ste A, Waco, TX, 76712
AdventHealth Central Texas
2201 S Clear Creek Rd , Killeen, TX, 76549
Andrews Women's Hospital at Baylor Scott & White - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White - Hillcrest Infectious Disease Clinic
50 Hillcrest Medical Blvd MOB1, Ste 104, Waco, TX, 76712
Baylor Scott & White - Plano Brain and Spine Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 810, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute
900 Scott and White Dr , College Station, TX, 77845
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White - Texas Brain and Spine Institute - Huntsville
122 Medical Park Ln Ste A, Huntsville, TX, 77340
Baylor Scott & White - The Brenham Clinic
600 N Park St , Brenham, TX, 77833
- Monday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White 65+ Clinic
4716 Alliance Blvd Ste 500, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiac Imaging Specialists
1100 Allied Dr , Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Cardiovascular and Imaging Consultants
4708 Alliance Blvd Ste 450, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Digestive Care
3434 Swiss Ave Ste 200, Dallas, TX, 75204
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart and Lung Disease Center - Fort Worth
1420 8th Ave Ste 103, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Anna
450 N Standridge Blvd , Anna, TX, 75409
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Decatur
2401 S FM 51 Ste 200, Decatur, TX, 76234
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Denton
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Idabel, OK
4 SE Avenue A , Idabel, OK, 74745
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Keller (Satellite)
3124 N Tarrant Pkwy Ste 204, Keller, TX, 76177
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - McKinney (Satellite)
5236 W University Dr Ste 4450, McKinney, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Mt Pleasant (Satellite)
1011 N Jefferson Ave , Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Paris
875 S Collegiate Dr , Paris, TX, 75462
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Plano
4716 Dexter Dr Ste 100, Plano, TX, 75093
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sherman Sycamore (Satellite)
203 E Sycamore St , Sherman, TX, 75090
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care - Sulphur Springs
601 Airport Rd Ste 110, Sulphur Springs, TX, 75482
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Care – Sherman Highland (Satellite)
300 N Highland Ave , Sherman, TX, 75092
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Irving
2001 N MacArthur Blvd Bldg 1, Ste 360, Irving, TX, 75061
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Abilene
1219 E South 11th St Ste B2, Abilene, TX, 79602
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Amarillo
1901 Medi Park Dr Ste 2051, Amarillo, TX, 79106
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Longview
906 Judson Rd , Longview, TX, 75601
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Lubbock
3711 22nd St Ste B, Lubbock, TX, 79410
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Midland/Odessa
420 E 6th St Ste 102, Odessa, TX, 79761
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Tyler
1321 S Beckham Ave , Tyler, TX, 75701
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Clinic - Waxahachie
2360 N Interstate 35E MOB 2, Ste 310, Waxahachie, TX, 75165
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Heart Failure Specialists - Fort Worth
1250 8th Ave Ste 200, Fort Worth, TX, 76104
- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Advanced Lung Disease Specialists - Dallas
3410 Worth St Ste 250, Dallas, TX, 75246
- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center - Fort Worth
1400 8th Ave , Fort Worth, TX, 76104
Baylor Scott & White Ambulatory Endoscopy Center
4708 Alliance Blvd Pavilion I, Ste 210, Plano, TX, 75093
- Monday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Tuesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Wednesday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Thursday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
- Friday: 7:00 am - 3:00 pm
Frequently asked questions
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What does a torn meniscus feel like?
A meniscus tear can be painful, but the pain level varies from person to person. The inside of your knee may hurt as soon as the injury happens or after a day or two. The discomfort may come and go. Your knee may also become swollen, stiff and weak. There may also be mechanical symptoms associated with the locking and catching of the knee.
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What does a torn meniscus look like on the outside?
You can’t always spot a torn meniscus by looking at your knee, even if the joint hurts. One key visible clue, however, is swelling. Swelling on either side of the knee may be a sign of a meniscus tear.
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Can I exercise with a torn meniscus?
The best rule is to listen to your body. If you were able to return to your normal activities with minimal to no pain, it is likely okay to exercise. Sharp, severe pain or worsening swelling may indicate the need to be seen by a doctor for further evaluation.
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Can a torn meniscus heal on its own?
The meniscus does not have a great blood supply and does not regenerate over time. The ability to heal depends on the location of the tear as well as your age and health. In some cases, a small tear of the meniscus may heal on its own and relieve pain. In cases with bigger tears of the meniscus or displaced fragments, surgery for treatment may be the best option.
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How long does a torn meniscus take to heal?
Recovery time depends on the tear type, if you are living with arthritis and your treatment plan. Nonsurgical recovery may take weeks, but further evaluation and surgical interventions may be necessary if there is no improvement. Meniscectomy recovery typically takes 3–6 weeks, while full recovery from a meniscus repair can take 3–6 months.
How we reviewed this page
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November 20, 2024
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Medically reviewed by:
Sheena Black, MD