West Chester is one of the many townships you will find in Ohio. West Chester has one of the most respected orthopedic services for knee pain. A common knee injury that many people face is a meniscus tear. Your doctor will probably refer you to an orthopedic surgeon if you have a meniscus tear in West Chester. A meniscus tear is a tear in a cartilage pad. If a knee meniscus tear acts up, you will face the following problems:
- knee pain that suddenly occurred
- locking or catching of the knee
- swelling around the affected area
- limited range of motion in your knee
Meniscus tears are most common with an injury, but they can lead to further knee issues if left untreated.
The first step is to visit an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knees. The doctor will perform a physical examination of your knee and run some tests on the knee for any other damage. If you have a meniscus tear, they will recommend the following treatment options:
Physical Therapy
An orthopedic specialist may recommend physical therapy if you have a meniscus tear. Physical therapy is done to strengthen the muscles around the knee area. The doctor will give you exercises to do at home that will help eliminate some of your knee pain and help to improve your knee strength. Some exercises you may perform are hamstring curls and leg extensions. Physical therapy is beneficial because you will strengthen your muscles even while the meniscus tear is healing.
Heat and Ice Therapy
Heat therapy can be applied using various heating pads, hot water bottles, or gel packs. These are helpful because they help relax the muscles around your knees and make them feel better. The heat will also increase blood flow to the area. Instant ice packs are also used on the skin, which helps decrease swelling and pain caused by meniscus tears. Both therapies are recommended to reduce pain and help the knee heal faster.
Medication
If you have a meniscus tear, your doctor will also prescribe medication to make the knee feel better. Medication for pain is prescribed if the medicines do not work, it may become potentially dangerous. If you continue to experience severe pain, you should speak to your doctor about it. You can take ibuprofen, aspirin, or acetaminophen for the pain.
Surgery
If physical therapy does not relieve your knee pain, surgery may be a good option. It would be best to discuss the decision between surgery or therapy with your doctor, who can give you more information about what they recommend and why. If you choose to go with surgery, it is done through an outpatient surgical center. The benefits of surgery are that it relieves pain and can restore function almost immediately within a couple of weeks after the procedure.
Steroid Injections
If physical therapy or medication is not helping your knee pain, steroid injections may be an appropriate treatment. The doctor will inject the steroid into a specific point to decrease inflammation and relieve your pain for up to a few months.
If you have a meniscus tear, it can be treated with physical therapy, medication, or steroid injections. If the pain is not relieved after trying several methods, your doctor may recommend surgery. Please consult an orthopedic specialist if you are experiencing knee pain.
