How did the dr diagnose your meniscus tear?

EatWholeFoods

My dr says I have tendonitis and bursitis of the knee. She just pushed on places and had me bend my knee and push and pull. I could do everything and she said everything is in tact. However, she said rest 2 weeks and I rested 3. My pain is super bad sometimes. It is in the medial part of my knee inner thigh on the side of the knee but not the knee itself. It hurts when I go down a step or bend over like a sharp pain and sort of bruised. I am just wondering if anyone has a meniscus tear and how the doctor could tell? Could they tell before doing an mri?

Patttience

If its only a gp perhaps you should see a specialist. However while i don't know about meniscus in particular, usually with certain injuries there are things you can't do which can be diagnostic. Don't forget, MRIs are a relatively recent diagnostic tool.

and you might also google diagnose miniscus tear just to see what it says. I'd be googling a fair bit anyway.

I picked this up from the top of a google search.
"Your meniscal tear will commonly take up to six or eight weeks to fully heal. As mentioned previously, some meniscal tears will require surgery. Your physiotherapist will guide you as to what is most likely for your knee injury."

EatWholeFoods

I googled for hours and hours the past 3 weeks. Hoping for someone who had a meniscus tear. My dr didn't mention my meniscus. The same area is also the mcl.

_Terrapin_

When you get out of a car does your knee twinge?

spanderholic

I had physio for a year before they sent me to a specialist. The specialist moved my knee around a bit and made me tense my muscles while putting pressure on the joints. It took all of 10 mins. He then said he was sending me for an MRI because he suspected a medial miniscus tear. He was spot on. I ended up having 1/3 of it removed in an operation shortly after it was diagnosed. It never healed fully after my operation and 2 years on I'm still in pain >.< I possibly re injured it in a car accident that I had last year. Anyway, don't put it off because it could become more serious, consult your doctor and see f they can organise for you to see a specialist.

My symptoms were pain when walking and especially kneeling. Pretty much pain all the time but especially with movement. The area you describe sounds about right.

zoeysasha37

I had a MRI . and was sent to a sports medicine specialist. They also stuck needles in my knees ( yes I have it in both knees) but I can't remember what the needles where for.

zoeysasha37

Forgot to add, the pain never went away for me. I cry daily because of the pain but can't go for surgery right now so have to deal with It. ( I work a physical job and need to be in good physical condition to keep up so I can't have the surgery right now )

Azdak

General rule of thumb is: if the symptoms lessen with rest, it's more likely soft tissue/overuse related. If they don't it's more acute/structural.

A meniscus tear can present in different ways--there is no single symptom.

I know it's hard to deal with an injury-esp one that occurs in such a random fashion. There's a certain level of denial. Having had many myself, I have learned that the best outcomes occur when you get the appropriate treatment as early as possible.

frontjab

I had a diagnosed meniscus tear and knee scope some time ago, probably close to 10 years ago. I'm not normally one for obtaining medical advice from the internet, but I think it's fair to read about it if you keep in mind that what I say is my experience and it's particular to me. Your case could quite likely be different, but it never hurts to share experiences.

With that caveat, the symptoms you describe are very similar to my experience. I initially injured it trying to beat an infield ground ball to first base in a softball game. I knew I injured it immediately, and failed to beat the throw to boot. Afterwards, my knee was very sore, and I had a lot of difficulty with stairs just like you describe. On some occasions, I'd be walking along and my knee would just give out from under me.

My initial doctor visit was similar to yours. The doctor was pretty certain of his diagnosis, but did order the MRI and its results confirmed the torn meniscus. It was pretty straightforward, really. Did your doctor order an MRI? If so, I'd say to schedule it, and then hang out to learn the results and go from there.

I had the scope to trim off the torn portions. The surgery was successful, and my knee was much, much better.

With regard to my post-tear abilities and how it affected me in life:

I used to run a lot before the injury -- not sprints, longer runs up to 10 miles. Since the tear and surgery, my ability to do any kind of distance running with any frequency is mostly impossible. I've kept myself in good conditioning doing other activities like lifting, cardio conditioning, combatives, biking, etc. pretty much every day, and I can run a 5K or a 5 mile event with no problem. I don't have much trouble doing anything other than running long distances frequently. When I do squats or similar exercises, my knee makes a horrible popping noise that would concern me if I didn't know why. I do wear a knee brace when using any weights because it makes me nervous to not have the extra support. It's probably just a mental thing, but it works for me.

Last year, after running a few races, I thought I'd spend some time running and training specifically to run races. That only lasted about a week-and-a-half. After frequent runs, my knee felt like someone stuck a knife in the side of it and turned it. Big time pain and too tender to continue to run.

So, I keep doing the things I can, and run the occasional race. It really hasn't limited me all that much. However, if I did not have that surgery, I'm certain I would not be able to do the exercise I do. I know I would continue to re-aggravate the injury and continue to have to take time off. I know that I would not have been able to spend the time with my kids doing physical activities because I would have been limited.

That's my experience. It kind of stinks to have a meniscus tear, but as far as injuries and illnesses go, it hasn't been too bad.

LKArgh

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

My dr says I have tendonitis and bursitis of the knee. She just pushed on places and had me bend my knee and push and pull. I could do everything and she said everything is in tact. However, she said rest 2 weeks and I rested 3. My pain is super bad sometimes. It is in the medial part of my knee inner thigh on the side of the knee but not the knee itself. It hurts when I go down a step or bend over like a sharp pain and sort of bruised. I am just wondering if anyone has a meniscus tear and how the doctor could tell? Could they tell before doing an mri?

If she told you it is a tendon and that it would go away in 2 weeks, then you need a new dr. A tendonitis often take months to heal.
I had a tendon overuse injury last November. After several weeks of complete rest, then completely changing my exercise routine to not put stress on the tendon and several weeks of physiotherapy, I am nto still completely healed (as in, if I overdo it, I get again symptoms). The sports dr told me that with the specific tendon I had hurt (behind ankle) he was surprised I was even able to put weight on this leg after a few weeks without screaming and he considered this healing fast
I was injured during volleyball practice many years ago, again tendonitis. It took several weeks of not using the injured arm, and then about half a year, maybe more, of not being able to lift anything heavier than a few lbs with this arm - I mean not even a bag of groceries with more than a couple of bottles of milk inside - without a relapse.

GiddyupTim

It sounds like she did the two, physical-exam tests that they do. They feel along the joint line for tenderness, and then they do the McMurray test, where they bend your knee first, then straighten it and rotate it a bit as it straightens. If you have a torn meniscus, your knee clicks when they do this.
Short of an MRI, that is as good as physical exam gets.
The most telltale sign of a meniscus tear is that your knee "catches" sometimes, when you are taking a step or getting up, etc.
If you are not happy with your doc or your recovery so far, by all means, push for the MRI until they give in and get you one. But, if you don't have any of those signs.......? I know that when you hurt a big joint, and it is VERY swollen, it can feel like the injury must be really serious, and that the joint is unstable. But, then the swelling goes away and, suddenly, it is stable again and functional....and fine.
Good luck. I hope you don't have a tear.

EatWholeFoods

Thanks good info! It locks up sometimes and buckles forward and I told the dr that. It isn't visibly swollen.

EatWholeFoods

When I drive it sometimes hurts pushing the gas pedal or moving to the brake but seems to be better than in the beginning. Just the pain moving up or down a step isn't getting better like if I jump its a stabbing pain on the inner thigh by the knee. So probably should see a sports medicine dr.

SonyaCele

i had mine diagnosed with oroscopic surgery

jurple132

I tore my cartilage in my knee about ten years ago. I did it when I landed on it weirdly after going over a vault in gymnastics. It was painful upon landing but I kept vaulting and didn't rest or ice it and that night it became very swollen and was still sore. I went to the doctor in the next few days and she said I had torn a tendon and that it would heal in a few weeks maximum. It was still painful in the few weeks following so I went back to a different doctor who suggested it might be a tear in the cartilage. I underwent some physio which didn't help.

About a month later I was referred to a different doctor who, after performing a physical examination, agreed with the diagnosis of torn cartilage and so they referred me to a specialist. The specialist told me to wait a few months to see if it would heal itself as I was still quite young (13). I was told to avoid anything which could aggrevate the injury (so I had to take a break from soccer, horse-riding, gymnastics, netball etc). The next appointment with the specialist was the same story; wait a few months, see if it heals etc. It was the most frustrating thing.

On one occasion sometime between appointments I was on my knees lighting a fire and when I went to stand up my knee was excruciatingly painful. For the next week I could hardly bare any weight on my knee and underwent physio almost daily. The physiotherapist got me riding a stationary bicycle during an appointment and when I hopped off I could bare my weight again - it was like magic! Unfortunately it only lasted for about 5 minutes at first but in time I was able to walk properly again. In the next appointment with the specialist he ordered an MRI and the results showed a tear in the meniscus.

A year after the injury I finally had an arthroscopy where some of the cartilage was removed. I still have it somewhere sitting in a jar =P The surgeon came to see me immediately following the surgery and told me that the tear was much worse than the MRI had shown.

After the surgery I had a week of bed rest but now my knee is completely fine. I try my best to balance my exercise routine with weightless exercises like swimming and biking, I never want to go through that again.

I didn't have any noises from my knee at any point but the pain was very sharp and specific to the joint. It was extremely painful whenever anyone pushed on the inside of the knee joint- quite deep in. When I couldn't bare weight on it, it definitely felt like something had 'caught' - as described by other people in the above posts.

I wish you all the best with your recovery; make sure you rest up and if possible try gently biking, swimming or aqua-jogging. A second opinion from another doctor is never a bad idea either.

kozykondition1

For me, it was intermittent pain, followed by MRI, followed by arthroscopic surgery.

The surgery was such a relief that I didn't need any pain medication after it. (Including the day and night of the surgery).

zoeysasha37

tufel wrote: »

It sounds like she did the two, physical-exam tests that they do. They feel along the joint line for tenderness, and then they do the McMurray test, where they bend your knee first, then straighten it and rotate it a bit as it straightens. If you have a torn meniscus, your knee clicks when they do this.
Short of an MRI, that is as good as physical exam gets.
The most telltale sign of a meniscus tear is that your knee "catches" sometimes, when you are taking a step or getting up, etc.
If you are not happy with your doc or your recovery so far, by all means, push for the MRI until they give in and get you one. But, if you don't have any of those signs.......? I know that when you hurt a big joint, and it is VERY swollen, it can feel like the injury must be really serious, and that the joint is unstable. But, then the swelling goes away and, suddenly, it is stable again and functional....and fine.
Good luck. I hope you don't have a tear.

I totally forgot about that one ! Yes they straightened my leg and bent it several times and each time it clicked.

_Terrapin_

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

When I drive it sometimes hurts pushing the gas pedal or moving to the brake but seems to be better than in the beginning. Just the pain moving up or down a step isn't getting better like if I jump its a stabbing pain on the inner thigh by the knee. So probably should see a sports medicine dr.

Okay, so if you twist and turn, or jump and have pain it may be a partial or full meniscus tear. When you move your hips in a car seat, and then push off with a leg to get out and have pain this is another indicator. I had a partial tear from repetitive movement(volleyball) took 4-6 month of rehab, avoided surgery, and was playing doubles in grass sooner then expected. The knee is frustrating in terms of rehab, many simple exercises to provide strength and stability. The knee has poor circulation so you'll need to ice and heat often. Be patient and seek and a good PT who is knowledgeable with the injury. Good luck.

Becca_250

Please delete this post - double submitted sorry

Becca_250

I "tweaked" my knee standing on a ball during a field hockey game. Was very swollen and sore but not bad enough for hospital that day but the next day I couldn't get down the stairs. The doctor did the same tests as you described and told me just to rest for six weeks. After that time most of the pain had gone away but my knee would randomly give way at times when I walked. It would also lock out and very painful if sitting on haunches (or completely bent down). After about a year it gave way quite badly in the house and I went back, they did a MIR, turns out I had been walking without an ACL the whole time, so that was completely snapped and I had also torn my miniscus/messed up cartilage from having spent so long without it. My advice would be to get a second opinion if it doesn't feel right pretty soon afterwards.

Becca_250

Sorry for the double post, silly phone

EatWholeFoods

Thanks everyone! Wow some of you have been through a lot of waiting and a lot of pain. Good news is it is finally starting to feel better. It does worry me because the pain happens from twisting or jumping. I know some meniscus tears heal on their own. I do not want to cause damage ever again though. I will get a second opinion if it isn't getting much better than this soon or if it gets worse. I can't bike. I tried swimming. I can walk now without pain. I do heat then stretches and some exercises for it then stretch again which is helping and I increased my vitamin c intake and that is when I finally noticed an improvement about 3 days after extra vitamin c.

jeremywm1977

EatWholeFoods wrote: »

Thanks good info! It locks up sometimes and buckles forward and I told the dr that. It isn't visibly swollen.

The locking and buckling may be a sign of torn meniscus, or at least that was the case with me and I just recently had my 3rd surgery on my left knee back in April (my left knee has given me problems since age 15.....i'm 38 now, and probably on my way to a knee replacement before I hit 50). The locking is from the floating cartilage "wedging" itself in the knee joint.......put a pencil in a door hinge and try closing the door for an example of what's going on. I believe the buckling is caused by the same problem, only the loose cartilage is throwing your joint out of alignment and throwing off the joint's stability, causing the buckling. (Please note that I am paraphrasing information that I partially understood from the expert explaining it to me, so please don't rip me to shreds if this is somewhat inaccurate)

Sometimes an x-ray can pick up on whether or not your meniscus may be torn.......cartilage is not easy to see on an x-ray, but there are some telltale signs in an x-ray that can at least steer a good orthopedic specialist in the right direction. I've been shown my x-rays, and it was pretty obvious even to my untrained eye. Yes, an MRI can be even more help if an x-ray isn't obvious, for instance, if your damage isn't that bad (my knee was tore up all kinds of bad).

EatWholeFoods

Thank you, it is getting better but what looks weird is I did a lunge in the mirror and see a dark colored "band" moving on my knee area. The healthy knee doesn't do that. What the heck is that lol. I can carry heavy things. Things seem better but can't jump without the bad pain and twisting causes it. The bad pain has reduced to a 5 and was like a 9 when it occured while running. I thought it would rupture when it first happened.

jeremywm1977

In researching "dark colored 'band'", I see information that says it could either be bruising from damaged cartilage or a torn ACL or MCL. I'm not trying to worry you, I don't think anything will rupture, but you may want to get an orthopedic specialist to look at it, ask for an x-ray and if the x-ray turns up nothing, ask for an MRI.

Don't give up until you get an answer.

EatWholeFoods

Thanks so much. I went back to the dr and I am getting an mri soon. Now the dr thinks I have a torn meniscus. What is bad is the dark band like you said. Theres a longer bruise now...looks like frayed blue lines or something and then the dark band I see in the mirror if I do a lunge. So something could be torn and bruised...maybe my meniscus slipped out of place? I can straighten my leg and bend but it randomly bends and buckles and I fell from it on Monday.