Does anyone know if there's an alternative to fixing a torn meniscus, other than arthroscopic surgery? I mean like therapy!

I have an old football injured knee and probably have a slight tear in a medial meniscus. Never had any arthoscopic diagnosis.
Knee joing swells on occassion. Get fluid drawn off and injected with steroids. About twice in the past 40 years. Periodically re-injure it dancing the twist. HA!
Obviously years ago before the endoscopic a lot of torn cartilages of a minor degree scarred down and healed some. You can't really sew it back up like the ACL. If it is not re-injured it might heal in 6 months to a year. Cartilage is a slow healing body part.
Indication for Scop would be persistent recurrent major swelling requiring aspiration of fluid. A constant clicking sound in conjunction with this also helps as an indication for surgery. Of course persistent pain would be another indication for surgery.

Thanks scapel. Getting fluid drawn off and injected with steroids sound almost as scary as the scope. LOL

Strange thing, this is second time for a torn meniscus in same knee. First one, 6 years ago, had bad outcome due to blood clots. Scared of second one. Thanks again.

honilov,
I had it and I didn't even feel the needle go in. I used to use some local anesthetic to inject the knee. This doctor didn't and it didn't hurt. I couldn't believe it. I think he went between the sensory skin nerves. HA!
The swelling will limit the knee motion and could over a long period of time cauce some knee immobility. Don't let it stay swollen too long.

Scapel, can you describe the procedure of the fluid being drawn off your knee? Was it an in-office procedure where it was sprayed with that cold spray to numb it, or was it more serious?

Would the procedure be the same if it was a clump of blood that need to be drawn off instead of fluid? Thanks.

Are you 24 years or older?

If you are younger then the meniscus will heal IF you have a bit of surgery to sew it together.

If you are older than 24 it will never heal on its own.

I have had both knees done - I tore the medial (inside knee) meniscus in both knees. Both had to be shaped and trimmed through surgery.

IF you wait too long you could very well wake up one day with your knee locked and "forcing" it could really rip the meniscus further.

The Surgery now days is out patient - you will be walking (ok limping) the very next day. It takes about 2 weeks before you can fully squat. However you will be walking the very same day.

If you get it done early you will not suffer from extended immobility post-operation - if you are stupid like me and put it off and put it off to where the muscles and ligaments adjust to a busted knee then you will suffer for months afterward as your muscles and ligaments readjust to a "fixed" knee.

Due to my "waiting" and trying a lot of "alternative" fixes I ended up being on a cane for a few weeks after both operations. Due to "limping" for so long before actually getting it fixed I caused atrophy (weakening and shortening) of ligaments and muscles in an extended attempt to place less strain on a hurting knee. My Bad - which I paid for.

Injections into the knee are bad, bad, bad - trust me I have the three shot Synvisc program - all was great until the last shot when the so called "doctor" (a fill in for the real doctor) rushed the injection hitting a nerve leaving permanent nerve damage in my right leg.

If you have a torn meniscus and they want to operate to fix it get it done ASAP - its really worth it and will save you a lot of pain in the long run.

If you are healthy, in shape and do not have any other attending ills that affect joints (like RA/OA) you can expect to be fully mobile in 6 months tops - meaning if you were in the habit of jumping out of planes prior to the injury you can now jump out of planes again. If you played football (very rough sport) you will be able to play football again.

Thanks David. Luckily, it's not a tear like the Radiologists thought. When the Orthopedic doc read the MRI, he said the image 'looked' like a tear, but it was actually the image of the meniscus tear that I had fixed 6 years ago. However, there is a big clump of blood there that might need to be drained. He said my body is supposed to heal it but sometimes they do have to drain. It's really getting better (let me knock on wood).

By the way, I am older than 24.