How long does it take for a slightly torn meniscus to heal without surgery?
Meniscus tears are the most frequently treated knee injuries. Recovery will take about 6 to 8 weeks if your meniscus tear is treated conservatively, without surgery.
How do you heal a torn meniscus naturally?
To speed the recovery, you can:
- Rest the knee.
- Ice your knee to reduce pain and swelling.
- Compress your knee.
- Elevate your knee with a pillow under your heel when you’re sitting or lying down.
- Take anti-inflammatory medications.
- Use stretching and strengthening exercises to help reduce stress to your knee.
Can a meniscus tear get worse if not treated?
A meniscus tear can get worse when left untreated. For example, you might have trouble managing the pain and swelling in your knee, or your knee may continue feeling like it’s catching or locking. If you feel your symptoms are getting worse instead of better, it could be a sign that your tear isn’t healing quite right.
What is the best exercise for a torn meniscus?
Once you have your doctor’s approval to begin exercising, try some of these exercises to enhance your strength and stability following a meniscus tear.
- Quadriceps setting.
- Mini-squats.
- Straight leg raise.
- Hamstring heel digs.
- Leg extensions.
- Standing heel raises.
- Clams.
- Hamstring curls.
Should you stay off a torn meniscus?
Rest. You should stay off your feet until your meniscus tear is healed. Don’t walk, run, or play sports because this can make your injury worse.
What foods help heal a torn meniscus?
7 Foods that Help Rebuild Cartilage
- Legumes. For optimal joint function, it is important to beat inflammation wherever possible—inflammation is the primary source of collagen and, by extension, cartilage breakdown.
- Oranges.
- Pomegranates.
- Green Tea.
- Brown Rice.
- Nuts.
- Brussel Sprouts.
Can you further damage a torn meniscus?
In serious cases, it can develop into long-term knee problems, like arthritis. In addition moving around with a torn meniscus could pull fragments of the cartilage into the joint causing larger knee issues which could requiring more significant surgery in the future.
How to heal a torn meniscus naturally?
Meniscus Tear First Step. Fruits and vegetables, especially those high in antioxidants and good Omega-3 fats like avocados work to reduce inflammation in the body. If you feed your body with the proper fuel it needs, it can begin to heal it’s own wounds, leaving not only your knee, but your entire body feeling healthier.
What are the best exercises for a meniscus tear?
Heel raises
What happens if you leave a torn meniscus untreated?
Left untreated, a torn meniscus tear can cause even more damage, accelerate the onset of osteoarthritis, and result in a myriad of other undesirable symptoms. Treatment for a torn meniscus typically starts conservatively. Your doctor might recommend rest, ice, over the counter pain relievers, or physical therapy.
Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?
Walking usually won’t make the tear worse, but it can. Twisting it’s more stress on the meniscus. However, this all depends on the location , pattern and size of the tear.