How serious the injury is depends on how much is torn and the. Causes of your symptoms. Cartilage doesn't show up well on. With a pillow under your knee.

The knee joint is very important in allowing people to go about performing almost any activity. The joint is made up of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), the tibia (shin bone), and the patella (knee cap). The surfaces of these bones within the joint are covered with a layer of cartilage. Free Driver License Test In Florida. This important surface allows the bones to smoothly glide against each other without causing damage to the bone.

The meniscus sits between the cartilage surfaces of the bone to distribute weight and to improve the stability of the joint. Overview The meniscus functions to distribute your body weight across the knee joint. Without the meniscus present, the weight of your body would be unevenly applied to the bones in your legs (the femur and tibia).

This uneven weight distribution would cause excessive forces in specific areas of bone leading to early. Therefore, the function of the meniscus is critical to the health of your knee. This presents a problem when there is an injury to the meniscus as the avascular areas tend not to heal.

Without the essential nutrients supplied by blood vessels, healing of the meniscus cannot take place. Types The two most common causes of a meniscus tear are due to traumatic injury (often seen in athletes) and degenerative processes (seen in older patients who have more brittle cartilage). It is not uncommon for the meniscus tear to occur along with other damage inside the knee. Injuries commonly occur to structures including the (ACL) and the (MCL).

When all three of these injuries occur together, they are known as the ',' an injury pattern seen in sports such as football when the player is hit on the outside of the knee. Both the covering of the bone within the joint and the meniscus are made of cartilage--however, they are different types of cartilage. People often say 'cartilage' to mean the meniscus (the wedges of cartilage between the bone) or to mean the joint surface (so-called articular cartilage which caps the ends of the bone).

When people talk about a cartilage tear, they are generally talking about a meniscus tear. When people talk about arthritis and worn cartilage, they are talking most often about the articular cartilage on the ends of the bone. Symptoms Individuals who experience a meniscus tear usually experience pain and swelling as their primary symptoms. Another common complaint is, or the inability to completely straighten the joint. This is due to the torn cartilage physically preventing the normal motion of the knee. The most common symptoms of a meniscus tear are: • Knee pain • • Tenderness when pressing on the meniscus • within the knee • Limited motion of the knee joint Diagnosis Any patient who has knee pain will be evaluated for a possible meniscus tear. A careful history and physical examination can help differentiate patients who have a meniscus tear from patients with knee pain from other conditions.

Specific tests can be performed by your doctor to detect meniscus tears. X-rays and are the two tests commonly used in patients who have meniscus tears. An x-ray can be used to determine if there is evidence of arthritis in the knee joint. The MRI is helpful to actually see the torn meniscus.

However, simply 'seeing' a torn meniscus on MRI does not necessarily mean a specific treatment is needed. Treatment of meniscus tears depends on several factors, as not all meniscus tears require surgery. Treatment of a meniscus tear depends on several factors including the type of tear, the activity level of the patient, and the response to simple treatment measures. When surgical treatment of a meniscus tear is required, the usual treatment is to, a procedure called a meniscectomy. And are also surgical treatment options.

Determining the most appropriate meniscus tear treatment is something you can discuss with your doctor. Source: Greis PE, et al.

Surg., May/June 2002; 10: 177 - 187.

Overview Cartilage damage is a relatively common type of injury. It often involves the knees, although joints such as the hips, ankles and elbows can also be affected. Cartilage is a tough, flexible tissue found throughout the body. It covers the surface of joints, acting as a shock absorber and allowing bones to slide over one another. It can become damaged as a result of a sudden injury, such as a, or gradual wear and tear. Download Mod Henshin Kamen Rider Gta Sa. Minor cartilage injuries may get better on their own within a few weeks, but more severe cartilage damage may eventually require surgery. Symptoms of cartilage damage Symptoms of cartilage damage in a joint include: • – this may continue even when resting and worsen when you put weight on the joint • swelling – this may not develop for a few hours or days • stiffness • a clicking or grinding sensation • the joint locking, catching, or giving way It can sometimes be difficult to tell a cartilage injury apart from other common joint injuries, such as, as the symptoms are similar.

When to get medical advice If you've injured your joint, it's a good idea to try self care measures first. Sprains and minor cartilage damage may get better on their own within a few days or weeks.

More severe cartilage damage probably won't improve on its own. If left untreated, it can eventually wear down the joint. Visit your GP or a if: • you can't move the joint properly • you can't control the pain with ordinary painkillers • you can't put any weight on the injured limb or it gives way when you try to use it • the injured area looks crooked or has unusual lumps or bumps (other than swelling) • you have numbness, discolouration, or coldness in any part of the injured area • your symptoms haven't started to improve within a few days of self-treatment Your GP may need to refer you for tests such as an,, or to find out if your cartilage is damaged. Treatments for cartilage damage Self care measures are usually recommended as the first treatment for minor joint injuries. For the first few days: • protect the affected area from further injury by using a support, such as a knee brace • rest the affected joint • elevate the affected limb and apply an ice pack to the joint regularly • take ordinary painkillers, such as or Get medical advice if your symptoms are severe or don't improve after a few days. You may need professional treatment, such as, or possibly surgery.

A number of surgical techniques can be used, including: • encouraging the growth of new cartilage by drilling small holes in the nearby bone • replacing the damaged cartilage with healthy cartilage taken from another part of the joint • replacing the entire joint with an artificial one, such as a or – this is usually only necessary in the most severe cases Read more about.