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Suggest Remedies For Knee Pain Post A Meniscus Repair Surgery
Question: I am a 64 year old female, slightly overweight (15lbs). I had meniscus surgery on my right knee, but even after physical therapy I am still having pain on the inside of my knee. It is worse with any activity that is weight bearing. My doctor thinks it is arthritis, but I am not so sure. Could it be anything else?
Brief Answer:
? Chondrodysplasia associated with meniscus injury
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Before we go into what the diagnosis is, let me provide you with some information. The meniscus prevents the friction between the bone of the thigh and the bone from the leg.
When the meniscus is injured or torn or worn out, the friction increases ultimately resulting in a condition called chondromalacia which has 4 grades. As the condition progress and reaches the 3rd and/or 4th grade, the friction increases so much which results in the bone ends getting irritated, which can result in arthritis.
A diagnosis can be made in a more accurate manner using an arthroscopy which is invasive (but a very small procedure), but an MRI also can be used (although an arthroscopy could be more accurate).
Please also note that the pain can even be due to the chondrodysplasia (more common from grade 2 and above, but there is still a chance of this being arthritis as your doctor suspected).
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I'm always here to help.
Best wishes.
? Chondrodysplasia associated with meniscus injury
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Before we go into what the diagnosis is, let me provide you with some information. The meniscus prevents the friction between the bone of the thigh and the bone from the leg.
When the meniscus is injured or torn or worn out, the friction increases ultimately resulting in a condition called chondromalacia which has 4 grades. As the condition progress and reaches the 3rd and/or 4th grade, the friction increases so much which results in the bone ends getting irritated, which can result in arthritis.
A diagnosis can be made in a more accurate manner using an arthroscopy which is invasive (but a very small procedure), but an MRI also can be used (although an arthroscopy could be more accurate).
Please also note that the pain can even be due to the chondrodysplasia (more common from grade 2 and above, but there is still a chance of this being arthritis as your doctor suspected).
I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I'm always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
What would your recommendation be for my next step. The pain feels like a hot knife going into the tissue on the inside of my right knee, but only when weight bearing. The Physical Therapy exercises do not hurt unless I am doing something in a standing position. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Recommend arthroscopy --- then HLA injections into the knee
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I understand, and am sorry to hear about the pain you are enduring. I would recommend an arthroscopy (only if it has never been done before), this procedure is both diagnostic and therapeutic because it will help in removing any loose meniscal tissue which can cause an increased amount of pain when left in place.
After the tissue has been removed with the help of an arthroscopy, we can inject hyaluronic acid into your knee which will provide a cushion like effect (primary function of the meniscus) and prevent the friction that is occurring, and also prevent both progression of the arthritis and the pain.
I hope you find relief at the earliest, but in the meantime please do not hesitate to write to me for anything, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Recommend arthroscopy --- then HLA injections into the knee
Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.
I understand, and am sorry to hear about the pain you are enduring. I would recommend an arthroscopy (only if it has never been done before), this procedure is both diagnostic and therapeutic because it will help in removing any loose meniscal tissue which can cause an increased amount of pain when left in place.
After the tissue has been removed with the help of an arthroscopy, we can inject hyaluronic acid into your knee which will provide a cushion like effect (primary function of the meniscus) and prevent the friction that is occurring, and also prevent both progression of the arthritis and the pain.
I hope you find relief at the earliest, but in the meantime please do not hesitate to write to me for anything, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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