About Me

My name is Lilith Maclin and if you suffer from a digestive disorder, you can find a wealth of information about this type of medical condition in my blog. Three years ago, my husband was having severe stomach cramps and his doctor told him that he had a digestive disorder called ulcerative colitis. After my husband was diagnosed, I did thorough research to learn how to control and manage this disorder. We kept track of everything that my husband ate and when a certain food caused a flare-up of his condition, he eliminated that food from his diet. By learning all we could about this digestive disorder, my husband has been able to live pain free. If you want more information about this disorder and how to manage it, you can find it here by reading my blog.

Managing Digestive Disorders

Arthroscopic Knee Surgery For A Torn Meniscus

11 February 2016

Louella Davidson

Using your knees to perform your job on a regular basis, such as having to bend to lift heavy objects, can lead to you experiencing painful complications. If you have knee pain that is hard to cope with, it might stem from the knee having a torn meniscus. This article will give you more insight about having a torn meniscus and getting it treated through arthroscopic surgery.

What is a Torn Meniscus in the Knee?

Basically, a torn meniscus in the knee means that the cartilage between the joints has been injured. The cartilage can tear when you bend down a lot, especially if you have to place a lot of pressure on your knees when lifting heavy objects. A torn meniscus can be considered a minor injury if it is not to the point where surgery is necessary, as it can heal on its own by keeping pressure off of your knees. However, arthroscopic surgery might be necessary to repair the torn meniscus. The surgeon will decide whether to do the procedure based on where the tear is located in your knee, the size of it, your age and overall health. Knee arthroscopy is most ideal for large tears that are on the outer edge of the cartilage.

What is Arthroscopic Knee Surgery?

Arthroscopic knee surgery can be used for diagnosing and treating a torn meniscus. A surgeon will have to make a small incision in your knee that will allow an arthroscope to be inserted. An arthroscope is a thin tube that has a light and camera on it that will give the surgeon a good look at the cartilage in your knee. He or she will be able to determine if the meniscus can be repaired through arthroscopic surgery or not. If surgery is ideal, the procedure can be performed within the same incision. The surgeon will simply insert other tools through the arthroscope to repair the injured cartilage with anchors or stitches.

What Does Healing Involve After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery?

You will likely be ordered to allow your knee to rest for a few weeks after surgery is performed. It might be necessary for you to stay home from work for a while after surgery. You will also have to undergo physical therapy to speed up the healing process so you can start actively using your knee again. Speak to a surgeon, such as Framingham Orthopedic Associates, about your knee pain to find out if arthroscopy is right for you.

Share