banner



Can You Wait 3 Months For Surgery To Repair A Torn Meniscus

Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

You may want to have a say in this determination, or yous may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either manner, this data will help yous understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.

Meniscus Tear: Should I Accept Surgery?

Get the facts

Your options

  • Have surgery to treat a meniscus tear.
  • Don't take surgery. Employ dwelling house treatment and concrete therapy to care for your knee.

Key points to recollect

  • Your determination about surgery for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your surgeon's feel and preference, besides as your age, health, and activity level, can besides touch your treatment options.
  • At that place are 2 kinds of surgery for a meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back together. The other kind removes office or all of the meniscus. In general, information technology'due south ameliorate to set up the meniscus than to remove it.
  • Some types of tears can't be fixed. For instance, radial tears sometimes tin exist fixed, but it depends on where they are. Just almost horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of clothing and tear—tin can't be stock-still. For these kinds of tears, you may need to have function or all of the meniscus removed.
  • You lot may want to accept surgery if your knee pain is too great or if y'all are unable to do daily activities.
  • Surgery may assist you lot reduce the risk of other joint problems, such equally osteoarthritis . At that place are no long-term studies to prove it, but many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the knee is protected from uneven forcefulness, there is a lower take chances of hereafter joint problems.
  • Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, you lot may try remainder, ice, compression, and propping upwardly your leg on a pillow when you sit or lie downward.

FAQs

A meniscus tear is a common knee injury. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. Each knee has two menisci (plural of meniscus) —one at the outer edge of the knee and one at the inner edge. The menisci keep your knee steady past balancing your weight across the human knee. A torn meniscus can prevent your knee from working correct.

A meniscus tear is usually caused by twisting or turning, oftentimes with the human foot planted while the knee joint is bent. These tears tin can occur when you lot lift something heavy or play sports. As you get older, your meniscus gets worn. This can make information technology tear more easily.

If yous are older, you may not know what you did to cause the tear. Or you may only remember feeling hurting after you got up from a squatting position, for case. Pain and slight swelling are often the merely symptoms.

In that location are three types of meniscus tears, each increasing in severity. The more than serious the tear, the more severe the symptoms.

With a pocket-sized tear, you may have slight hurting and swelling. This usually goes abroad in ii or 3 weeks.

With a moderate tear, y'all may experience pain at the side or center of your genu. Swelling slowly gets worse over 2 or 3 days. This may make your articulatio genus feel stiff and limit how well you can curve your genu. Unremarkably y'all are even so able to walk. You might feel a sharp pain when you twist your genu or squat. These symptoms go away but can come back if you twist or overuse your knee.

In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus tin move into the joint space. This can brand your knee catch, pop, or lock. You may not be able to straighten it. Your knee may feel "wobbly" or buckle without warning. It may swell and get stiff correct after the injury or inside 2 or iii days.

There are two bones types of treatment for a torn meniscus—nonsurgical handling and surgery.

  • With nonsurgical handling, you utilize rest, ice, compression, and elevation, and y'all have physical therapy. You lot may wear a knee caryatid for a short time.
  • With surgery, you can have one of the post-obit:
    • Surgical repair to sew the tear together.
    • Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the meniscus.
    • Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the unabridged meniscus. This surgery is not usually done, considering it increases the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee.

When possible, it's amend to gear up the meniscus than to remove it. If the meniscus can be fixed, you take a lower risk of future joint problems. footnote 1

Your doctor will likely suggest the handling that he or she thinks volition work best for you based on where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how large it is. Your age, your wellness, and your action level may likewise affect your treatment options. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when he or she can see how strong the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how big the tear is.

  • If yous accept a small tear at the outer edge of the meniscus (in what doctors call the blood-red zone ), you may desire to try dwelling treatment. These tears often heal with residual.
  • If you accept a moderate to large tear at the outer edge of the meniscus (red zone), you may want to think nigh surgery. These kinds of tears tend to heal well after surgery.
  • If you have a tear that spreads from the scarlet zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus (called the white zone ), your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not work. You may need a partial meniscectomy instead.
  • If you have a tear in the white zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not heal. But partial meniscectomy may be done if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and swelling.

Some kinds of tears can't be stock-still. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. Nigh of the time, horizontal , long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. The older you are, the less likely it is that your tear tin can be repaired. For these kinds of tears, you lot may need to have part or all of the meniscus removed.

When possible, meniscus surgery is done using arthroscopy instead of open surgery. During arthroscopy, your physician puts a lighted tube with a tiny camera—called an arthroscope, or scope—and surgical tools through modest incisions.

In a young person, surgery to set the tear may exist the offset option, because it may restore use of the knee.

Surgery has risks, including infection, a blood clot in the leg, damage to fretfulness or blood vessels, and the risks of anesthesia. Later on surgery you lot may still have pain and joint stiffness.

Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. This ways that of 100 people who accept this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can apply their knee normally, while xv exercise not. footnote 2

Meniscus repair is most successful:

  • In younger people.
  • In knees that accept practiced stability.
  • In longitudinal tears or in radial tears that occur in the blood-red zone .
  • If the repair is washed in the first few weeks after the injury.

Surgery to remove role of the meniscus (meniscectomy) is meliorate at keeping your knee stable than surgery to remove all of the meniscus. Fractional removal also allows a quicker and more complete recovery than total removal.

Removing the whole meniscus typically reduces some symptoms. Simply losing the meniscus reduces the cushioning and stability of the joint. Most people, especially if they are young or agile, are non satisfied with a total meniscectomy. This is why surgeons effort to remove as trivial of the meniscus as possible.

Studies of fractional meniscectomy have shown that 78% to 88% of people take good results from partial meniscectomy. This means that 78 to 88 people out of 100 people who have this surgery have reduced symptoms and are able to return to nigh or all of their activities. footnote 2

Small tears constitute at the outer border of the meniscus frequently heal with remainder. Instead of surgery, you may endeavor rest, water ice, compression, and top. You may wear a articulatio genus brace. You tin attempt over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain and to reduce swelling.

If your symptoms go away, your doctor may propose exercises to build up your quadriceps and hamstring muscles and increase your flexibility. Information technology's important to follow your doc's guidelines so that you don't injure yourself again.

Your doctor may recommend surgery because:

  • You still accept pain later on trying other treatment, such as rest and concrete therapy.
  • Your knee "locks upward" instead of working normally.
  • Yous may be able to reduce the risk of future joint problems ( osteoarthritis ).
  • You are an active person and your tear is in the red-to-white zone . Surgery tin can help render your knee joint to normal.

Compare your options

Compare

What is usually involved?

What are the benefits?

What are the risks and side effects?

Accept surgery for a torn meniscus Have surgery for a torn meniscus

  • Yous have surgery to fix or remove the meniscus. In nearly cases, you will become home on the aforementioned twenty-four hours as the surgery.
  • Either type of surgery is followed by rehabilitation that includes rest, walking, and doing exercises until you lot accept full range of motility without hurting.
  • After surgery to fix your meniscus, you must limit movement for upwardly to 2 weeks. It may have weeks or months earlier you can go back to your daily activities after surgery.
  • Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 accept relief from hurting and can utilise their knee normally, while 15 exercise not. footnote 2
  • Surgery to repair tears may reduce the take a chance of long-term joint issues.
  • Out of 100 people who had surgery to remove part of the meniscus, 78 to 88 had relief from hurting and genu problems. footnote 2
  • You lot may all the same have pain and articulation stiffness after surgery.
  • Surgery has risks, such as:
    • Infection.
    • Damage to nerves or blood vessels around the genu.
    • Blood clots in the leg.
    • Damage to the articulation.
    • Risks from anesthesia.
  • Your age and your health can also affect your risk.

Don't have surgery Don't have surgery

  • You endeavour rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
  • You may wear a articulatio genus brace.
  • You effort over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen to assist with hurting and swelling.
  • You may practise exercises to build up your thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) and increase your flexibility.
  • You may be able to relieve pain and render your knee to normal.
  • You avoid surgery that you may not need if the tear heals on its own.
  • You avoid the risks of surgery.
  • You lot can nonetheless have surgery later on if your symptoms don't get improve.
  • Your tear may not heal on its ain, and so you may yet demand surgery.
  • You may still have pain, or your pain may get worse.
  • You lot may not have total employ of your knee.

I've had quite a fleck of pain on ane side of my knee for a couple of weeks, but my symptoms have decreased. My doctor thinks that my meniscus may exist healing on its ain. I'm still seeing my doctor, though, and I've started rehabilitation with a physical therapist. He's got me going through range-of-motion and knee strengthening exercises at domicile. I don't think I'll demand surgery.

Jose, age 41

A few months ago, I started having hurting in my right knee when I would motility it sure ways. My dr. examined my knee joint and asked me about my symptoms. He diagnosed a tear in my meniscus. A follow-up MRI confirmed it. I've been doing rehabilitation, but it'south been two months and I've notwithstanding got pain, particularly if I twist my knee at all. The orthopedic surgeon thinks that I may have a flap or piece of the torn meniscus moving in the articulatio genus, which is giving me a lot of problems with my knee locking. He's recommending surgical repair, and I am going to go ahead with the surgery.

Volition, age 63

I injured my knee virtually a calendar month ago in a tennis game. It didn't take my medico long to diagnose a meniscus tear, and I'm going to have an arthroscopic test to see just how much I've damaged the human knee. The surgeon says she tin do repairs in the same procedure. My mother has severe osteoarthritis, and I believe that my knee may develop early arthritis if I don't get this tear taken care of. The arthroscopic surgery makes sense to me.

Alondra, age 32

I am a serious athlete and this isn't my starting time injury. But this is the first time I've had to retrieve almost surgery. I've had bad pain in my human knee adequately constantly since I twisted it in the gym a few weeks ago. It's specially bad if I curve or flex my genu. The surgeon says that the MRI shows a large tear in the inner part of my meniscus, and that'southward the office that doesn't heal well. He'southward recommending a partial meniscectomy to remove the damaged tissue. He says that he'll only have to remove a small part of the meniscus and I'll still have stability in the knee, and no more than hurting! I'1000 going to have the surgery next week.

Marlon, age xxx

What matters most to you lot?

Your personal feelings are simply as important as the medical facts. Remember about what matters well-nigh to you in this conclusion, and show how you feel nearly the following statements.

Reasons to have surgery

Reasons not to take surgery

I want to do whatever I can to fix my knee.

I think my meniscus tear is minor. I want to await and run into if my human knee gets amend before I have surgery.

More important

Equally of import

More of import

I'm in a lot of hurting, and I want to have surgery so I tin start feeling better.

My pain isn't too bad.

More than important

Equally of import

More of import

I remember surgery may assistance me avert long-term joint problems.

I don't want to take surgery for whatever reason.

More important

Equally important

More of import

I take the risks of surgery.

I feel that surgery is besides risky for me.

More than important

Equally of import

More of import

My other of import reasons:

My other of import reasons:

More important

As important

More of import

Where are yous leaning now?

At present that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you lot stand up on this determination. Show which style you are leaning right now.

Having surgery

NOT having surgery

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

What else exercise you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

ane, My treatment for a torn meniscus volition depend on more than than but how I hurt my knee.
2, Surgery may non exist able to fix every tear.
3, Surgery may help me avoid long-term articulation bug.

Decide what's next

1, Practise yous understand the options available to you?
ii, Are yous clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you?
three, Do you accept plenty back up and advice from others to brand a pick?

Certainty

i. How sure practise you feel correct now well-nigh your decision?

Non sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2, Cheque what y'all demand to do before you make this conclusion.

Your Summary

Here's a record of your answers. You lot tin use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones almost your decision.

Next steps

Which manner yous're leaning

How sure you are

Your comments

Key concepts that you understood

Central concepts that may need review

Patient choices

Credits

Writer Healthwise Staff
Main Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Chief Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito Medico - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrick J. McMahon Md - Orthopedic Surgery

References

Citations

  1. McMahon PJ, et al. (2014). Sports medicine. In HB Skinner, PJ McMahon, eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopedics, fifth ed., pp. 88–155. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Beynnon BD, et al. (2010). Meniscal injuries. In JC DeLee et al., eds., DeLee and Drez'south Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice, 3rd ed., vol. 2, pp. 1596–1623. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

You may want to have a say in this decision, or yous may just want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information volition help you understand what your choices are and so that you can talk to your medico virtually them.

Meniscus Tear: Should I Have Surgery?

Here'due south a record of your answers. You lot tin can use information technology to talk with your doctor or loved ones well-nigh your decision.

  1. Become the facts
  2. Compare your options
  3. What matters well-nigh to you?
  4. Where are you leaning at present?
  5. What else do you need to make your decision?

one. Get the Facts

Your options

  • Have surgery to care for a meniscus tear.
  • Don't take surgery. Use home treatment and physical therapy to treat your human knee.

Key points to remember

  • Your conclusion about surgery for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your surgeon's experience and preference, besides every bit your age, health, and activity level, can besides affect your treatment options.
  • There are two kinds of surgery for a meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear past sewing it back together. The other kind removes part or all of the meniscus. In general, information technology's improve to set the meniscus than to remove information technology.
  • Some types of tears tin't be fixed. For example, radial tears sometimes can be fixed, but it depends on where they are. But most horizontal, long-standing, and degenerative tears—those acquired past years of wear and tear—can't be fixed. For these kinds of tears, you may need to take part or all of the meniscus removed.
  • You may want to accept surgery if your genu pain is too corking or if you are unable to do daily activities.
  • Surgery may assist you reduce the risk of other joint problems, such as osteoarthritis . There are no long-term studies to prove it, simply many doctors believe that successful meniscus repair helps to evenly spread the stress placed on the knee joint. If the genu is protected from uneven force, in that location is a lower run a risk of future joint problems.
  • Some kinds of tears heal on their own. Instead of surgery, yous may try rest, ice, compression, and propping up your leg on a pillow when y'all sit down or lie downwardly.

FAQs

What is a meniscus tear?

A meniscus tear is a common knee injury. The meniscus is a rubbery, C-shaped disc that cushions your knee. Each knee has ii menisci (plural of meniscus) —one at the outer border of the knee and one at the inner edge. The menisci keep your knee steady by balancing your weight beyond the knee. A torn meniscus tin preclude your knee from working right.

How is a meniscus injured or torn?

A meniscus tear is normally caused by twisting or turning, often with the foot planted while the human knee is aptitude. These tears can occur when you elevator something heavy or play sports. Equally you get older, your meniscus gets worn. This can get in tear more easily.

If y'all are older, y'all may not know what y'all did to cause the tear. Or you may only remember feeling pain after you got up from a squatting position, for instance. Pain and slight swelling are often the only symptoms.

What are the types of meniscus tears?

There are three types of meniscus tears, each increasing in severity. The more serious the tear, the more severe the symptoms.

With a minor tear, you may have slight hurting and swelling. This usually goes away in two or 3 weeks.

With a moderate tear, y'all may feel pain at the side or eye of your genu. Swelling slowly gets worse over ii or three days. This may make your knee feel strong and limit how well you can bend your knee. Commonly you are still able to walk. You lot might feel a sharp pain when you twist your knee joint or squat. These symptoms go abroad just can come back if you twist or overuse your knee.

In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus can move into the articulation space. This can make your knee catch, popular, or lock. Y'all may non exist able to straighten it. Your knee may feel "wobbly" or buckle without warning. It may bully and become potent right after the injury or within 2 or 3 days.

How is a torn meniscus treated?

There are ii basic types of treatment for a torn meniscus—nonsurgical treatment and surgery.

  • With nonsurgical treatment, y'all use rest, water ice, compression, and elevation, and you accept concrete therapy. You lot may wear a genu caryatid for a curt fourth dimension.
  • With surgery, you can accept one of the post-obit:
    • Surgical repair to sew the tear together.
    • Partial meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the torn section of the meniscus.
    • Total meniscectomy, which is surgery to remove the entire meniscus. This surgery is not commonly done, because it increases the risk of osteoarthritis in the knee joint.

When possible, it's better to fix the meniscus than to remove it. If the meniscus can be fixed, you have a lower risk of hereafter joint bug. i

Your physician volition likely suggest the handling that he or she thinks volition work best for you based on where the tear is, the pattern of the tear, and how big it is. Your age, your health, and your action level may also affect your treatment options. In some cases, the surgeon makes the final decision during surgery, when he or she tin see how stiff the meniscus is, where the tear is, and how large the tear is.

  • If you have a small tear at the outer edge of the meniscus (in what doctors call the red zone ), yous may want to effort home treatment. These tears oftentimes heal with rest.
  • If you have a moderate to big tear at the outer border of the meniscus (ruby zone), you may desire to think about surgery. These kinds of tears tend to heal well after surgery.
  • If you accept a tear that spreads from the crimson zone into the inner two-thirds of the meniscus (called the white zone ), your decision is harder. Surgery to repair these kinds of tears may not work. Yous may demand a partial meniscectomy instead.
  • If you have a tear in the white zone of the meniscus, repair surgery usually isn't done, because the meniscus may not heal. But fractional meniscectomy may be washed if torn pieces of meniscus are causing pain and swelling.

Some kinds of tears can't be stock-still. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, simply it depends on where they are. Almost of the time, horizontal , long-standing, and degenerative tears—those caused by years of wear and tear—tin't exist stock-still. The older you are, the less likely information technology is that your tear can exist repaired. For these kinds of tears, y'all may demand to have office or all of the meniscus removed.

When possible, meniscus surgery is done using arthroscopy instead of open surgery. During arthroscopy, your doctor puts a lighted tube with a tiny camera—called an arthroscope, or telescopic—and surgical tools through small incisions.

In a young person, surgery to fix the tear may be the first choice, because information technology may restore use of the knee.

Surgery has risks, including infection, a blood clot in the leg, impairment to nerves or blood vessels, and the risks of anesthesia. Later on surgery you lot may still take hurting and joint stiffness.

How well does surgery work?

Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. This means that of 100 people who accept this surgery, 85 have relief from hurting and can use their knee normally, while 15 do not. two

Meniscus repair is most successful:

  • In younger people.
  • In knees that take good stability.
  • In longitudinal tears or in radial tears that occur in the red zone .
  • If the repair is washed in the first few weeks after the injury.

Surgery to remove part of the meniscus (meniscectomy) is better at keeping your articulatio genus stable than surgery to remove all of the meniscus. Partial removal likewise allows a quicker and more than complete recovery than total removal.

Removing the whole meniscus typically reduces some symptoms. But losing the meniscus reduces the cushioning and stability of the articulation. Most people, specially if they are immature or active, are not satisfied with a total meniscectomy. This is why surgeons try to remove as fiddling of the meniscus equally possible.

Studies of partial meniscectomy have shown that 78% to 88% of people have adept results from partial meniscectomy. This means that 78 to 88 people out of 100 people who have this surgery take reduced symptoms and are able to return to almost or all of their activities. 2

What can you exercise instead of surgery for a torn meniscus?

Small tears institute at the outer edge of the meniscus often heal with residuum. Instead of surgery, you may try rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may wear a human knee caryatid. You lot tin endeavour over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen to help with hurting and to reduce swelling.

If your symptoms become away, your doctor may suggest exercises to build up your quadriceps and hamstring muscles and increase your flexibility. Information technology'southward of import to follow your dr.'s guidelines so that you don't hurt yourself once more.

Why might your doctor recommend surgery?

Your doctor may recommend surgery because:

  • You still accept hurting afterwards trying other treatment, such every bit rest and concrete therapy.
  • Your genu "locks upwardly" instead of working commonly.
  • You may be able to reduce the take chances of future joint problems ( osteoarthritis ).
  • You are an agile person and your tear is in the red-to-white zone . Surgery can assist return your human knee to normal.

two. Compare your options

Accept surgery for a torn meniscus Don't have surgery
What is usually involved?
  • You have surgery to fix or remove the meniscus. In most cases, yous will go habitation on the same twenty-four hour period every bit the surgery.
  • Either type of surgery is followed past rehabilitation that includes balance, walking, and doing exercises until you have full range of movement without pain.
  • After surgery to set your meniscus, you must limit movement for up to 2 weeks. It may take weeks or months before y'all can go dorsum to your daily activities afterwards surgery.
  • You endeavour residue, ice, pinch, and elevation.
  • You may wear a knee brace.
  • You try over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain and swelling.
  • You may do exercises to build up your thigh muscles (quadriceps and hamstrings) and increase your flexibility.
What are the benefits?
  • Surgery to repair tears in the meniscus relieves symptoms 85% of the time. That means that of 100 people who have this surgery, 85 have relief from pain and can utilize their knee normally, while fifteen do not. 2
  • Surgery to repair tears may reduce the run a risk of long-term joint problems.
  • Out of 100 people who had surgery to remove part of the meniscus, 78 to 88 had relief from pain and genu bug. 2
  • You may be able to relieve pain and return your knee to normal.
  • You avoid surgery that you may non need if the tear heals on its ain.
  • Y'all avoid the risks of surgery.
  • You can still have surgery later if your symptoms don't get meliorate.
What are the risks and side effects?
  • You may still have pain and joint stiffness later surgery.
  • Surgery has risks, such every bit:
    • Infection.
    • Damage to nerves or blood vessels effectually the human knee.
    • Blood clots in the leg.
    • Damage to the joint.
    • Risks from anesthesia.
  • Your age and your health can as well affect your risk.
  • Your tear may not heal on its own, so yous may still need surgery.
  • You may nevertheless have pain, or your pain may get worse.
  • You may not have total use of your human knee.

Personal stories

Personal stories about meniscus tear surgery

These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you lot make important health decisions.

"I've had quite a bit of hurting on one side of my knee for a couple of weeks, but my symptoms have decreased. My doctor thinks that my meniscus may be healing on its own. I'm all the same seeing my doctor, though, and I've started rehabilitation with a physical therapist. He's got me going through range-of-motion and knee strengthening exercises at home. I don't recollect I'll need surgery."

— Jose, historic period 41

"A few months ago, I started having pain in my right knee when I would move it sure ways. My doctor examined my knee and asked me almost my symptoms. He diagnosed a tear in my meniscus. A follow-up MRI confirmed it. I've been doing rehabilitation, but it's been 2 months and I've still got pain, particularly if I twist my knee at all. The orthopedic surgeon thinks that I may have a flap or piece of the torn meniscus moving in the knee, which is giving me a lot of problems with my knee locking. He's recommending surgical repair, and I am going to go ahead with the surgery."

— Will, historic period 63

"I injured my knee about a month agone in a tennis game. It didn't take my doctor long to diagnose a meniscus tear, and I'm going to have an arthroscopic test to see just how much I've damaged the knee. The surgeon says she can practise repairs in the same procedure. My mother has severe osteoarthritis, and I believe that my knee may develop early on arthritis if I don't get this tear taken intendance of. The arthroscopic surgery makes sense to me."

— Alondra, age 32

"I am a serious athlete and this isn't my first injury. Just this is the offset time I've had to call back virtually surgery. I've had bad pain in my knee fairly constantly since I twisted it in the gym a few weeks ago. Information technology'south particularly bad if I curve or flex my human knee. The surgeon says that the MRI shows a big tear in the inner part of my meniscus, and that'southward the part that doesn't heal well. He's recommending a partial meniscectomy to remove the damaged tissue. He says that he'll only take to remove a small part of the meniscus and I'll still have stability in the knee joint, and no more than pain! I'm going to accept the surgery next week."

— Marlon, historic period 30

3. What matters most to you lot?

Your personal feelings are just equally important as the medical facts. Think well-nigh what matters most to you in this determination, and show how you feel most the post-obit statements.

Reasons to accept surgery

Reasons not to have surgery

I want to do whatever I can to fix my knee.

I remember my meniscus tear is pocket-sized. I want to wait and see if my knee gets meliorate before I have surgery.

More than of import

Equally important

More of import

I'm in a lot of hurting, and I want to have surgery so I can start feeling better.

My pain isn't also bad.

More important

Equally important

More important

I recollect surgery may help me avoid long-term joint problems.

I don't want to have surgery for any reason.

More important

Every bit important

More important

I accept the risks of surgery.

I feel that surgery is as well risky for me.

More of import

Equally important

More than of import

My other of import reasons:

My other important reasons:

More important

Equally important

More important

4. Where are you leaning now?

Now that you've thought almost the facts and your feelings, yous may accept a general idea of where y'all stand on this decision. Bear witness which way yous are leaning right at present.

Having surgery

Not having surgery

Leaning toward

Undecided

Leaning toward

5. What else practice you need to make your decision?

Check the facts

1. My treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on more just how I hurt my knee joint.

  • True
  • False
  • I'yard non sure

You lot're right. Your treatment for a torn meniscus will depend on where the tear is located, the pattern of the tear, and how large it is. Your historic period, wellness, and activity level tin likewise affect your treatment options.

2. Surgery may not be able to fix every tear.

  • Truthful
  • Simulated
  • I'm non sure

You're right. Some kinds of tears tin't be fixed. Radial tears sometimes can be fixed, simply it depends on where they are. Most of the time, horizontal tears and tears caused by years of wear and tear can't be stock-still.

3. Surgery may help me avoid long-term articulation problems.

  • True
  • Simulated
  • I'm not sure

You're right. Surgery may be able to foreclose long-term articulation problems, such equally osteoarthritis.

Decide what'south next

1. Do you understand the options bachelor to you?

two. Are you lot clear about which benefits and side furnishings matter almost to you?

3. Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice?

Certainty

one. How sure do you feel right now well-nigh your decision?

Not sure at all

Somewhat sure

Very sure

2. Bank check what y'all need to do before you brand this decision.

  • I'm ready to have activeness.
  • I want to talk over the options with others.
  • I want to learn more near my options.

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Master Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd Jr. MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Adam Husney Doctor - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito MD - Family unit Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer Patrick J. McMahon MD - Orthopedic Surgery

References

Citations

  1. McMahon PJ, et al. (2014). Sports medicine. In HB Skinner, PJ McMahon, eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopedics, 5th ed., pp. 88–155. New York: McGraw-Hill.
  2. Beynnon BD, et al. (2010). Meniscal injuries. In JC DeLee et al., eds., DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice, tertiary ed., vol. 2, pp. 1596–1623. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

Annotation: The "printer friendly" document will not incorporate all the data bachelor in the online document some Information (e.m. cantankerous-references to other topics, definitions or medical illustrations) is only available in the online version.

  • Peak of the page

McMahon PJ, et al. (2014). Sports medicine. In HB Skinner, PJ McMahon, eds., Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Orthopedics, 5th ed., pp. 88-155. New York: McGraw-Colina.

Beynnon BD, et al. (2010). Meniscal injuries. In JC DeLee et al., eds., DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Do, third ed., vol. 2, pp. 1596-1623. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier.

Search the
Healthwise Knowledgebase

Help
Healthwise Index

Source: https://wa.kaiserpermanente.org/kbase/topic.jhtml?docId=te7366

Posted by: marlermuscom1994.blogspot.com

0 Response to "Can You Wait 3 Months For Surgery To Repair A Torn Meniscus"

Post a Comment

Iklan Atas Artikel

Iklan Tengah Artikel 1

Iklan Tengah Artikel 2

Iklan Bawah Artikel