Meniscus Tear : Not Just a Jock's Injury

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A common site of injury often seen in contact sports but affecting the common man as well ** the Meniscus Tear!

Yes, a meniscus tear is not just a jock's injury!meniscus is either of two specific parts of cartilage of the knee. The knee contains a lateral meniscus and a medial meniscus.

Did you know that the medial meniscus is more commonly affected than the lateral meniscus?

Have you had knee pain?  Do you think you have a meniscus tear?  How do you know if you have such a tear?

P.S. It's pretty cool to see that the picture of my knee post-arthroscopy has been featured on page 1 of both Google web searches and image searches -- thanks for the love, Google! I think Google rocks!

Meniscus Tear : Not Just a Jock's Injury was originally created on December 25, 2007. Statcounter

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Musculature of the Knee Area
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“I had arthroscopy in July 2007 to repair a torn medial meniscus.”

Post-op 6 months after Meniscus Tear surgery ~ Left knee 

Important!

Meniscus Tears may run in the family ...

It appears as though the tendency to have meniscus tears may indeed be in the genes. My mother has experienced similar issues, but actually had her meniscus removed!

Some great knee books -- Help with a Meniscus Tear!

Help deal with knee pain and figure out if you have a Meniscus Tear!

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Capsule of right knee-joint (distended) Posterior aspect -- Grays Anatomy 

Leg Pain

Leg Pain

Amazon Price: $47.96 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

This small volume is devoted to one of the most common patient complaints encountered by practitioners of adult medicine, and one that frequently presents the initial examining physician with a diagnostic conundrum. Few internists, primary care physicians, emergency room physicians, or medical or surgical subspecialists are thoroughly familiar with the neurologic, orthopedic, immunologic, and vascular causes of leg pain, and help from the literature requires access to multiple texts from diverse medical and surgical specialties.

Leg Pain brings together, in a compact and easily transportable volume, expertise from the fields of vascular surgery, neurology, orthopedics and rheumatology, to offer insights into the clinical signs and symptoms associated with leg pain of diverse origins.

Symptoms of meniscus tear

Knee pain.
Swelling of the knee.
Tenderness when pressing on the meniscus.
Popping or clicking within the knee.
Limited motion of the knee joint.

More about a Meniscus Tear

The pain of a Meniscus Tear is quite specific

In osteoarthritis, the meniscus is either torn or worn away from overuse, age, or injury. The joint will be in pain when in use, but when there is no load, the pain goes away.

A torn meniscus can be repaired through some surgery and the body's ability to heal itself. In addition, there are techniques under research which involve sutures and biological glues to enable healing. If the tear is far away from the meniscus' blood supply (the meniscus becomes avascular towards the unattached, thin interior edge), then repair is unlikely.

In these cases arthroscopic surgery allows for a meniscectomy, removing the torn tissue and allowing the knee to function with some of the meniscus missing. Usually younger patients are more resilient and react well to this treatment, while older, more sedentary patients do not have such rejuvenating ability.

In situations where the meniscus is torn beyond repair or partial removal, a total menisectomy and meniscus replacement may be the only option before a total knee replacement.

In sports and orthopedics, people will sometimes speak of "meniscus surgery" and a "torn meniscus" and be referring to an injury to one of the menisci. Tears in the meniscus may be assessed and measured via a minimally invasive test called meniscometry.

Diagnosing meniscus tear

X-rays and MRIs are the two tests commonly used in patients who have meniscus tears.

An x-ray can be used to determine if there is evidence of degenerative or arthritic changes to the knee joint.

The MRI is helpful at actually visualizing the meniscus.

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Injuries to the Meniscus

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Injuries to the Meniscus

Amazon Price: $24.94 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to injuries to the meniscus (also meniscus injury; meniscus tears; tear of the meniscus), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on injuries to the meniscus. Given patients' increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.

Meniscus repair

In order for the meniscus repair to heal, the tear must be near this outer edge in an area of good blood supply.

Arthroscopically placed tacks can be used, or the torn edges can be sutured or sometimes trimmed.

Both procedures function by reapproximating the torn edges of the meniscus to allow them to heal in their proper place.

Meniscus Tear videos

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The news on meniscus tears

In pieces...
White also sustained a slight meniscus tear. Combined, the injuries rule the midfielder-turned-striker...
O'Neal suffers bone bruise ... and is relieved
By Chris Forsberg BOSTON -- Celtics center Jermaine O'Neal said he underwent an MRI Saturday in fear...
Disaster for Kellie's Olympic dreams
Kellie ruptured her ACL in her knee whilst training and has a slight meniscus tear in the cartilage which...
CASTANEDA v. LEXICON, INC.
On November 25, 2008, appellant underwent surgery to repair an anterior horn radial meniscus tear to...

Physical Rehabilitation

My PT involved 4 weeks of 3 visits per week. Although PT was scheduled for the following week after arthroscopy, I waited an additional week to get started.

Techniques in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Techniques in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation

Amazon Price: $310.98 (as of 02/16/2012)Buy Now

* Provides the physical therapy student or practitioner with a comprehensive to the design implementation, and supervision of rehabilitation programs for orthopedic injuries and disorders
* Three sections cover achieving the goals of rehabilitation, using the proper tools, and detailing specific techniques
* Lavishly illustrated and chock full of tables, summaries and suggestions for further study

Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Provides the physical therapist with a comprehensive guide to the design, implementation, and supervision of rehabilitation programs for musculoskeletal injuries. For students and practitioners.

The buzz on torn meniscus arthroscopy

NASCAR: Kasey Kahne expects full recovery and other NASCAR notes
On Thursday, an MRI of Kahne's swollen left knee showed a torn meniscus. It was treated on Friday...
Montreal RW Blunden out 4-to-6 weeks following knee surgery
The Montreal Canadiens announced Wednesday that right winger Michael Blunden underwent arthroscopic knee...
NASCAR Notebook: Points swap gives Cassill a ride
Another repair: Kahne has now undergone surgery in both knees, involving the meniscus in each case. On...
Bethesda Doctor Specializes in Shoulder and Knee Arthroscopic Surgery - Named ...
Dr. Christopher Raffo is a board certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialists, with a...

Great books on leg exercises

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More information on meniscus

Some cool books

Heal Your Meniscus in 3 Easy Steps by MendMeShop

Heal Your Meniscus in 3 Easy Steps by MendMeShop

In the US alone, nearly 61 out of every 100,000 people more...0 points

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Injuries to the Meniscus

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Injuries to the Meniscus

This book has been created for patients who have d more...0 points

Beneath the Meniscus by Phil Jones

Beneath the Meniscus by Phil Jones

A 50-Year History, How To, and Resource Guide To Success more...0 points

The Meniscus

The Meniscus

This clinical guide provides a special focus on the more...0 points

Books on Knee Pain -- How to alleviate knee pain

Treat Your Own Knees: Simple Exercises to Build Strength, Flexibility, Responsiveness and Endurance by Jim Johnson

Treat Your Own Knees: Simple Exercises to Build Strength, Flexibility, Responsiveness and Endurance by Jim Johnson

Treat Your Own Knees shows how to reduce or end kn more...0 points

Knee Pain: The Self-Help Guide by John Garrett, Bob Reznik

Knee Pain: The Self-Help Guide by John Garrett, Bob Reznik

Cowritten by one of the nation's most prominent kn more...0 points

No More Knee Pain: A Woman's Guide to Natural Prevention and Relief by George J. Kessler, Colleen J. Kapklein

No More Knee Pain: A Woman's Guide to Natural Prevention and Relief by George J. Kessler, Colleen J. Kapklein

How women's hormones can affect their knees-and a natural, more...0 points

Knee Pain and Disability (Pain Series) by Rene Cailliet

Knee Pain and Disability (Pain Series) by Rene Cailliet

...contains detailed information on injuries to th more...0 points

Say Goodbye to Knee Pain by Marian Betancourt, Jo Hannafin

Say Goodbye to Knee Pain by Marian Betancourt, Jo Hannafin

WHY DO YOUR KNEES HURT?WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?Going more...0 points

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Knee Pain and Surgery : Learn The Truth About MRIs And Common Misdiagnoses--And Avoid Unnecessary Surgery by Ronald P. Grelsamer M.D.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Knee Pain and Surgery : Learn The Truth About MRIs And Common Misdiagnoses--And Avoid Unnecessary Surgery by Ronald P. Grelsamer M.D.

Non-surgical solutions for dealing with knee pain, more...0 points

The Knee Crisis Handbook: Understanding Pain, Preventing Trauma, Recovering from Knee Injury, and Building Healthy Knees for Life by Brian Halpern

The Knee Crisis Handbook: Understanding Pain, Preventing Trauma, Recovering from Knee Injury, and Building Healthy Knees for Life by Brian Halpern

Ever sustained a knee injury? Want to prevent one? more...0 points

The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness) by M.D. Grant Cooper

The Arthritis Handbook: Improve Your Health and Manage the Pain of Osteoarthritis (A DiaMedica Guide to Optimum Wellness) by M.D. Grant Cooper

According to conventional wisdom, arthritis pain i more...0 points

You might also like to read about related injuries to that meniscus tear!

Sports-related and otherwise

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Let's talk about that Meniscus Tear shall we?

Have you or someone you know torn a meniscus? Had or contemplating surgery? I'd love to hear from you.



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About the Author, JaguarJulie

Yes, that is really JaguarJulie's knee!

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Meniscus Tear : Not Just a Jock's Injury was originally created on December 25, 2007.
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Treat Your Own Knees: Simple Exercises to Build Strength, Flexibility, Responsiveness and Endurance 

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