When one is subjected to a meniscal tear and the due diligence is performed to determine the type of meniscal tear and the severity of it. It is important for one to understand the treatment options for the type of meniscal tear that one might have. Generally speaking when one experiences a tear of the meniscal cartilage usually the first forms of action in terms of treatment are, rest, ice and elevation of the knee. It is critical that the knee is rested so that the individual reduces the swelling surrounding the knee as much as he or she can. This is critical so that an MRI or an XRAY can be performed to properly diagnose the type of meniscal tear. Rest also allows the knee to be stabilized without injuring it further or causing that further damage to the meniscal tissue. The role of ice is strictly to allow for the reduction of inflammation surrounding the knee and the knee joints. Usually with any type of a meniscal tear there will always be inflammation and ice helps reduce the swelling and allowing the knee to recover and sometimes also help with the reduction of pain that is usually associated with meniscal tears. It is important that when using ice to help reduce swelling of the knee, that the ice is not placed directly on the knee. Use a piece of cloth to wrap the ice and then place the ice on the knee. If the ice comes in direct contact with the knee, the cold temperature of the ice can burn the individuals' knee and further induce pain of the knee and its surrounding areas. Another important treatment that one should consider when a meniscal tear occurs is elevation. What do we mean by knee elevation? This requires the individual to physically place their knee above the normal resting position. A common method for elevation includes placing a couple of pillows and then placing the leg of the individual on top of the pillows which raises causes the knee to elevate. The main purpose of elevation is to increase blood flow to the knee, thus helping the individual to reduce swelling in the knee and its surrounding areas. Elevation has also shown to reduce pain when a meniscal tear occurs, the blood flow allows for proper circulation, thus assisting in recovering of the knee.

The other significant option for repairing a torn meniscal cartilage or tissue is to have a medical surgeon perform surgery of the knee to repair the torn meniscal cartilage. This option is usually recommended for individuals who are more active or younger in terms of age. The surgery will usually require the medical surgeon to either repair the torn area of the meniscal cartilage or remove the part of the meniscal tissue that has been torn. This will need to be discussed with your health care professional to determine the best course of action. The surgery is fairly invasive and usually includes arthroscopic surgery methods so that the surgery is less invasive and allows for quick recovery. It is important to note that once surgery has been performed and the meniscal cartilage has been repaired or removed, the patient will need to perform physical therapy to build the knee muscles once again to allow for full recovery. Physical therapy will allow the individual to regain confidence in their knee once again and ensure that the torn meniscal tissue is fully healed. Physical therapy also assists in gradually assisting the knee to get back to the form it was in before the surgical procedure.

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