Meniscus Injury (Non-Surgical)

South Coast Sports and Spine Medicine

Tariq Hilal, DO

Sports and Spine Physician located in Orange and Los Angeles County, Los Alamitos, CA & Upland, CA

Meniscus injuries, namely meniscus tears, are one of the most common knee injuries today. This injury can be serious enough to cause pain and knee instability, so it can be quite dangerous if you don’t seek treatment. At South Coast Spine & Sports in Los Alamitos, California, Tariq Hilal, DO, uses his years of experience to help restore your meniscus to full function so you can walk, run, jump, and trust your knees again. If you suspect you have a meniscus injury, call South Coast Spine & Sports or request an appointment online today.

Meniscus Injury Q&A

What is the meniscus?

Your meniscus is the semicircle of rubberlike cartilage between your thigh bone and shin bone. Your knees have two menisci each. The menisci cushion and protect your bones, so if they’re damaged, it can lead to pain and range-of-motion issues.

Meniscus tears are one of the most common knee injuries today.

What are the symptoms of a meniscus injury?

If you injure your meniscus, you might experience the following sensations:

A popping feeling
Knee swelling
Knee stiffness
Pain that grows worse when you move your knee
Inability to extend your leg comfortably

Symptoms often start suddenly, such as after you’ve been running or otherwise physically active. But they can also begin more gradually.

How do meniscus injuries happen?

A meniscus injury can happen any time you make an extreme knee motion. This includes twisting, pivoting sharply, kneeling, or jumping. Sometimes, meniscus injuries happen because of normal, age-related knee tissue degeneration, so trauma might not always precede a meniscus tear.

How is an injured meniscus treated?

An injured meniscus is a very treatable condition. Dr. Hilal offers regenerative medicine treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, prolotherapy, and stem cell therapy to help you make new meniscus cartilage. PRP and stem cell therapy can reduce pain and accelerate your body’s natural healing process, too.

If you need surgical meniscus repair, Dr. Hilal can provide a referral.

Regardless of which meniscus repair treatment you have, you typically need physical therapy to recover fully. During physical therapy, you steadily regain strength and movement in your knee while you learn some important safety and injury prevention tips for the future.

For meniscus tear help, call South Coast Spine & Sports or request an appointment online today.

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