Meniscus Injuries - Benefits of Knee Braces & How They Can Help You
Introduction: One of the most common kinds of knee injuries that people suffer from is a meniscus injury. Tears to the meniscus of the knee are very common in those who play sports or are prone to knee injuries due to heredity or arthritic conditions. There are two meniscii in the knee area, one is referred to as the medial meniscus and the other is called the lateral meniscus. Both are able to be torn and can make it very difficult to get around and move the knee.
1.) Symptoms of Meniscus Problems
Some people who experience knee pain and discomfort may not be aware that they have a meniscus tear, and they can only really be detected by medical tests such as x-rays and MRIs. Arthroscopy is another method of seeing a meniscus tear. Often, those who experience meniscus injuries start out with pain and discomfort in the knee, swelling around the knee and have a difficult time straightening the knee. If you experience these kinds of symptoms that exist for more than a couple days, it is possible that you may have a meniscus tear.
2.) How Are Meniscus Tears Treated?
Usually, a doctor will have to perform medical tests to be able to pinpoint the area of the tear and determine how severe it is. Some minor tears are able to be treated with rest and compressions or ice. Other tears that are more severe may require a surgery to repair the torn meniscus and can take a while to heal. After surgery, knee braces need to be worn in order to stabilize the knee area and to help prevent further injury from occurring. Knee braces can be worn during athletic or sporting events and during whatever activities may aggravate the injury or possibly caused the injury to occur.
Meniscus tears can be treated and can heal, but it usually takes some time, and the sooner that you catch the injury the easier it is to treat it. If you think that you may have a meniscus tear, make sure that you explain all of your symptoms to your doctor. You will need to tell the doctor your activity level and family history to help rule out other kinds of knee injuries and to determine your risks for having meniscus injuries. Once the tear is repaired, you will have to exercise caution when returning to daily activities.
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