Torn Meniscus

If your knee pain is affecting your quality of life, then minimally invasive regenerative treatments could help you enjoy your life the way you want to.

Each knee contains two crescent-shaped pieces of cartilage called menisci. They sit between the thigh and the shin bone. They act as shock absorbers, absorbing the impact between the upper and lower part of the knee.

A torn meniscus, or ‘torn knee cartilage’ as it is sometimes referred to, is one of the commonest knee injuries. It occurs when the menisci cartilage tears when exercising, playing sports or as a result of gradual wear and tear as you get older.

What treatments does Living Room Health Regenerative Treatments offer?

Our renowned medical team provides a range of treatments, from the traditional to the innovative:

This day case treatment is exclusively offered to our patients. It uses pioneering technology using your body’s own adipose (fat) cells to treat pain and inflammation with MFAT Injections. Injections using MFAT Injections are minimally invasive and are carried out under ultrasound guidance. Altogether the procedure takes about an hour to perform with a minimal recovery time. As well as being a potential alternative to surgery, MFAT Injections can also aid post-surgery recovery.

Read Angela’s story who had this treatment in her knees. She is now pain free and her life has changed completely.

BMAC Injections harness the natural healing abilities of your own mesenchymal stem cells, found in the bone marrow, to regenerate and reconstruct the musculoskeletal system by replacing cells and tissues damaged by degenerative diseases or trauma. BMAC Injections treat pain and inflammation by accelerating healing through the assistance of biological growth factors. This minimally invasive, day-case procedure is done under x-ray guidance and has a minimal recovery time. Our innovative BMAC Injections offer an alternative treatment plan to traditional invasive surgery.

Read more here.

This is an effective and well-researched procedure that’s a potential alternative to surgery. It takes advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to reduce pain and improve joint function. It uses a specially concentrated dosage of platelets prepared from your own blood to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscle and bone. Treatment is administered via an injection and depending on the injury two to six injections may be required, performed at weekly intervals. Patients usually see their symptoms improve within four to six weeks of having the injections. PRP is a safe treatment option which, because your own blood is used, carries no risk of allergic reaction. Read more clinical evidence supporting PRP here

Read Eddie’s Story. The British former professional strongman and World’s Strongest Man 2017 winner Eddie Hall recently received PRP Therapy.

What causes a torn meniscus?

A torn meniscus can occur at any age and it is caused by twisting of the knee. In younger people, it often happens during exercise or playing sports which involve kneeling, squatting or pivoting such as football, tennis or basketball. In older people, it can be caused by minor knee injuries or gradual wear and tear. This type of tear is known as degenerative tears. 

What are the symptoms of a torn meniscus?

A torn meniscus can lead you to experience some of the following symptoms in your knee: 

  • Pain when twisting or rotating the knee
  • Swelling – this usually occurs a few hours after the injury
  • A popping sensation
  • Pain when trying to straighten your knee
  • Stiffness, as though it is locked in place when you’re trying to move your knee
  • A feeling like our knee is loose as though it may give-way

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to get it checked out immediately to avoid further complications.

How is a torn meniscus diganosed?

If you are experiencing stiffness, pain or swelling in your knee a doctor will examine your knee and discuss your symptoms to understand what is causing it. They may also ask you to perform a range of exercises so you can pinpoint exactly where the pain is. 

The doctor may refer you to have an: 

  • X-ray – a torn meniscus is made up of cartilage and while this won’t show up on an X-ray, an X-ray can help to see if there any other problems which could be causing the pain
  • MRI – using a magnetic field and radio waves a detailed image of the hard and soft tissues is created
  • Arthroscopy – a pencil-thin telescope (arthroscope) which contains a light and a camera is passed through a tiny incision in the knee to relay back enlarged images of the inside of your knee

What are the non-surgical options for a torn meniscus?

Treatment for a torn meniscus aims to relieve symptoms and improve the function of the knee. 

Initial treatment may include medications such as analgesics which help reduce the pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – NSAIDS – which reduce the pain and inflammation and steroid injections which reduce inflammation and provide short-term relief.

In most cases a torn meniscus can be treated by resting the leg and avoiding playing sports that involve twisting, rotating or pivoting the knee. You can also help reduce the pain, inflammation and swelling by applying ice to the affected area for 15 minutes every 4 to 6 hours. If you do this, it’s important to place a cloth between the ice and your skin to prevent you getting an ice-burn. 

Compressing the affected area can also help reduce inflammation and pain and keeping the leg elevated will also aid recovery. 

Reducing the amount of alcohol you consume can also help with healing, as drinking alcohol can increase bleeding and swelling in the knee. 

A range of physiotherapy techniques can help when recovering from a torn meniscus. These include: 

  • Strengthening exercises – which strengthen the muscles that support your knees
  • Wearing knee braces or using crutches
  • Taping the knee to reduce the pain and to make it easier for you to exercise

Our expert team specialises in treating patellar tendinopathy using advanced non-surgical techniques including stromal cell therapy, and Micro-Fragmented Adipose Tissue (MFAT), Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).

What are the surgical options for a torn meniscus?

Surgery may be recommended if non-surgical treatment options aren’t improving your symptoms or if you have a large tear in the menisci cartilage. This involves passing tiny instruments through an arthroscope (a pencil-thin telescope) which are used to restore the damaged cartilage or in severe cases, remove the damaged cartilage. 

While the surgery is a routine procedure, it will involve a period of rehabilitation afterward. 

Why have a consultation at Living Room Health Regenerative Treatments?

Our experienced consultants will undertake a thorough examination exploring non-surgical and surgical treatments. They’ll also discuss your suitability for our state-of-the-art biological therapies. 

Who will my consultation be with?

Your consultation will be with one of our knee specialists and will last approximately 30 minutes. You may be asked to attend for an MRI scan, prior to your appointment. 

As well as undertaking an examination, our specialists will take details of your medical history and discuss your symptoms. They will also detail all your treatment options and cover their potential benefits and risks.

Our expert team comprises of well respected professors, highly experienced surgeons, sports medicine doctors and physiotherapists who are committed to delivering a high level of care and the correct treatment option so you can quickly get back to moving around.

What is the autologus biological approach and when should it be considered?

Autologous translates as ‘from the same person.’ In brief, it involves using your own cells to encourage healing. The major benefits are that there is no chance of rejection, infection or contamination as you are using cells from your own body rather than a donor. 

We offer a range therapies based on this principle which can be considered if traditional treatments including surgery aren’t relieving your pain. 

Clinical evidence

Biological treatments are pioneering procedures and we’re continuously monitoring and recording its effectiveness. Patients undertaking these treatments are asked to complete pre-operative and post-operative questionnaires. 

The information obtained from these questionnaires allows us to monitor your progress and it also contributes to our evidence-based database and other global studies on biological treatments. All information gathered is anonymised. 

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