A torn ligament in your knee leads to excruciating pain and the inability to participate in the activities you enjoy or need to do for your job. Called a meniscus tear, the symptoms associated with the knee injury mimic other types of knee pain, so consult a joint expert for a firm diagnosis and meniscus tear treatment. For the best care and service, call on the experienced knee pain team at the Spine & Rehab Group, with offices in New York City and northern New Jersey.
Is a Meniscus Tear Serious?
A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. Sudden twisting of your knee can tear the meniscus cartilage, causing pain and other incapacitating symptoms. The knee joint has two wedge-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage, called menisci, that provide cushioning and stability to this crucial joint.
The debilitating knee pain caused by a meniscus tear affects your ability to walk and do other ordinary activities. If left untreated, the pain gets worse, and you can cause further damage to your knee. You’re also at risk for long-term knee problems such as arthritis.
With a torn meniscus, you have problems walking, standing, and making any movements that stress the knee. This knee problem requires immediate attention. For a same-day or next-day appointment when you’ve experienced a knee injury, visit Dr. Amr Hosny and his talented team of knee experts at the Spine & Rehab Group in New York City or New Jersey. The practice has eight locations.
Knee pain is common, and many knee ailments share the same symptoms. Only a spine specialist who understands how your knee pain connects to the rest of your body can determine if the cause is a meniscus tear. Symptoms that point to a meniscus tear include:
Stiffness and swelling at the knee
Swelling around the outside of the knee
Pain on the inside of your knee, if you’ve suffered a medial meniscus tear
Pain on the outside, if you have a lateral meniscus tear
Pain at the back of the knee
Locking or catching when you bend your knee
A sensation that feels as if your knee is about to give way
A decreased range of motion around the knee
Limping
Visit the experienced diagnostic experts at the Spine & Rehab Group to get the appropriate treatment and follow-up care. Conditions that also cause knee pain include:
Your doctors at the NYC and New Jersey spine clinics use the latest technology to diagnose and treat a torn meniscus for the first time. Don’t wait; the sooner you seek treatment, the sooner you can get out of pain.
What Can Cause a Torn Meniscus?
Sports injuries are the most common cause of medial meniscus tears and lateral meniscus tears. Because your knees are so versatile and you rely on them regularly for everyday tasks, as well as in most sports and exercise routines, the primary causes of a torn meniscus typically include:
Forceful twisting and rotation of your knee
Sudden stops and turns in sports such as football, basketball, soccer, and tennis
Kneeling on a regular basis for long periods of time
Extreme exercises, such as deep squatting or heavy lifting
The doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group have dealt with knee injuries for years. They leverage the latest medical equipment to diagnose and treat meniscus tears. Treatment is interventional and starts with a review to identify the cause of the injury to help design an individualized treatment plan.
Who’s At Risk of Tearing a Meniscus?
Both adults and children are at risk of sustaining this injury, but while anyone can tear a meniscus, there are factors that make you more prone to this injury, including:
Advanced age
Osteoarthritis
Work-related kneeling and squatting
Climbing stairs of more than 30 flights
Taking part in contact sports such as soccer and rugby
Activities that involve pivoting, such as tennis or basketball
Delayed treatment for an anterior cruciate ligament injury increases the risk of a medial meniscal tear
Your spine specialist advises you of the risks and provides alternatives and suggestions for torn ligament prevention. Learning these risk factors helps you stay safe if you’re in sports or occupations where the risk is enhanced. Protecting yourself from knee injury guarantees better quality of life and prevents recurrent injuries.
patient TESTIMONIALS★★★★★
Excellent care with concrete results! I have visited Carolita for 2 separate issues within 3 years! She helped me to recover from a nasty knee injury and a back pain. Now I’m doing heavy squats/deadlifts and am running half-marathons. The overall care shown has been tremendous from the entire team! They have pushed me to recover and work on my problems.
Vardges A.★★★★★
Dr. Hosny and Dr. Mehta were wonderful. So pleasant during my consult and my procedure was totally painless. The office is so well organized and the staff is terrific- very friendly and they make you feel very comfortable. I would recommend this office to anyone with knee pain looking for options other than surgery.
What’s the Best Treatment for a Meniscus Tear in New Jersey?
Medial or lateral meniscus tear treatment depends on your age, medical history, and severity of the meniscus damage. Imaging tests, such as an x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), help your doctor confirm the diagnosis and provide the information required for effective meniscus tear treatment. At the Spine & Rehab Group, doctors always begin treatment with the least invasive procedures. Meniscus tear treatment options include:
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) protocol
Surgical options, as a last resort, such as knee arthroscopy, partial meniscectomy, and meniscus repair
Your knee joints are complex, so your doctor seeks to identify the exact cause of the pain with a thorough health history, evaluation of the knee itself, and imaging tests. The results form the basis of a personalized treatment plan.
If you experience sharp knee pain during extreme activities, contact the spine doctors at the Spine & Rehab Group. This first step can prevent permanent knee damage and restore full function to your knee.Page Updated on Dec 9, 2024 by Dr. Hosny (Interventional Spine Specialist) of The Spine & Rehab Group
Dr. Hosny is a distinguished physician, educator, and healthcare leader with a commitment to advancing health equity and accessibility in the rapidly evolving landscape of modern healthcare. After completing his residency at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, affiliated with Columbia University in New York City, he pursued an Interventional Spine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, part of Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA.
Dr. Hosny has held prominent roles in academic medicine, including serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at New York Medical College and as the Interventional Spine Fellowship Program Director. These positions reflect his dedication to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing the field of interventional spine care.
CONTENT DISCLAIMER The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as definitive treatment advice. It's essential to consult a board-certified pain specialist regarding any questions or concerns. Always seek a thorough evaluation for an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan. To schedule a consultation, please contact our office directly.
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A meniscus tear is a common knee injury that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. Sudden twisting of your knee can tear the meniscus cartilage, causing pain and other incapacitating symptoms. The knee joint has two wedge-shaped pieces of fibrocartilage, called menisci, that provide cushioning and stability to this crucial joint.
The debilitating knee pain caused by a meniscus tear affects your ability to walk and do other ordinary activities. If left untreated, the pain gets worse, and you can cause further damage to your knee. You’re also at risk for long-term knee problems such as arthritis.
With a torn meniscus, you have problems walking, standing, and making any movements that stress the knee. This knee problem requires immediate attention. For a same-day or next-day appointment when you’ve experienced a knee injury, visit Dr. Amr Hosny and his talented team of knee experts at the Spine & Rehab Group in New York City or New Jersey. The practice has eight locations.
Amr Hosny, MD, MBA, FASA
David Chu, MD, FAAPMR
Vivek Mehta, MD, FAAPMR
Deepali Gupta, MD, DABA, DABPM
