Lleft knee injury, MRI showing myxoid degeneration in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus - Online Doctor Chats
Answered by
Practicing since : 2004
Answered : 1777 Questions
User : Two months ago, I injured my left knee playing tennis. The most significant symptom is that it hurts on the outside of the knee when I squat or go down a flight of stairs. Also, when I'm going downhill. According to my orthopedist (who saw the MRI but not the radiologist reading), I have a lateral meniscus tear. I got an MRI and the reading says the following. The problem is that my lateral meniscus is intact. The x-rays are also negative. So where is the pain coming from? IMPRESSION: 1. Moderate size joint effusion with small subchondral irregularity of the posterior and superior patella. Correlate clinically. 2. Oblique tear of posterior horn medial meniscus with sprain of the ACL. 3, myxoid degeneration in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus. The reason I don't go to the ortho again is because he suggested arthroscopic surgery without actually being certain of what I have. Plus, he said I had a tear in the lateral meniscus, but that meniscus is fine. Since my lateral meniscus is fine, what can the problem be?
I don't have any symptoms of an injury in the medial meniscus.
Doctor : hi.
please let me read what you have typed.
User : Hi. What is your specialty?
Doctor : I am a General Practitioner, I can help you within my expertise and If required I shall recommend a specialist.
Doctor : your problem of having symptoms on the lateral side could be due to myxoid degeneration in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, and the Oblique tear of posterior horn medial meniscus with sprain of the ACL causing more strain on the lateral side
Doctor : which could be the reason why you have pain and discomfort on the outside of the knee.
Doctor : so an arthroscopy done will be to fix these problems
User : Pain on the outside of the leg is not a symptom of the medial meniscus.
Doctor : it is not a symptom of medial meniscus, i agree, but due to the myxoid degeneration of the lateral meniscus, the symptom will be on the lateral side.
User : So the pain comes from the myxoid degeneration and not the medial meniscus?
Doctor : yes, likely to be due to the degeneration. i will explain the mechanism for you to understand better.
User : ok. Please remember that I've been researching this for several weeks now.
Doctor : when there is any injury inside teh knee joint like the cruciate ligaments and the meniscus, the uninjured side tries to take over the weight bearing and not allow the impact on the injured side.
Doctor : so when there already damaged normal side, the impact falling on that will cause the pain.
Doctor : I would recommend you to go ahead with the arthroscopy, it will help to drain the effusion also
User : That's the problem. I do not want the arthroscopy.
Doctor : if still in doubt, you can take a second opinion form another orthopedician
Doctor : and then proceed further with your treatment.
Doctor : you can opt for consulting our panel orthopedician if needed
User : How much would that be?
User : Is there one available now?
Doctor : visit this link for consulting them, their services are available via e-mail and phone call
User : So what are the symptoms of a tear in the medial meniscus?
Doctor : symptoms of medial meniscus tear include: is joint locking, or the inability to completely straighten the joint,
Doctor : knee pain, swelling of joint, Tenderness when pressing on the meniscus, popping or clicking within the knee, limited joint motion.
Doctor : do you have any of these other symptoms?
User : What would you suggest for the myxoid degeneration?
Doctor : myxoid degeneration treatment will depend on th extent of it
Doctor : if the extent is more than 50% of the normal, a replacement surgery is preferred
I don't have any symptoms of an injury in the medial meniscus.
Doctor : hi.
please let me read what you have typed.
User : Hi. What is your specialty?
Doctor : I am a General Practitioner, I can help you within my expertise and If required I shall recommend a specialist.
Doctor : your problem of having symptoms on the lateral side could be due to myxoid degeneration in the posterior horn of the lateral meniscus, and the Oblique tear of posterior horn medial meniscus with sprain of the ACL causing more strain on the lateral side
Doctor : which could be the reason why you have pain and discomfort on the outside of the knee.
Doctor : so an arthroscopy done will be to fix these problems
User : Pain on the outside of the leg is not a symptom of the medial meniscus.
Doctor : it is not a symptom of medial meniscus, i agree, but due to the myxoid degeneration of the lateral meniscus, the symptom will be on the lateral side.
User : So the pain comes from the myxoid degeneration and not the medial meniscus?
Doctor : yes, likely to be due to the degeneration. i will explain the mechanism for you to understand better.
User : ok. Please remember that I've been researching this for several weeks now.
Doctor : when there is any injury inside teh knee joint like the cruciate ligaments and the meniscus, the uninjured side tries to take over the weight bearing and not allow the impact on the injured side.
Doctor : so when there already damaged normal side, the impact falling on that will cause the pain.
Doctor : I would recommend you to go ahead with the arthroscopy, it will help to drain the effusion also
User : That's the problem. I do not want the arthroscopy.
Doctor : if still in doubt, you can take a second opinion form another orthopedician
Doctor : and then proceed further with your treatment.
Doctor : you can opt for consulting our panel orthopedician if needed
User : How much would that be?
User : Is there one available now?
Doctor : visit this link for consulting them, their services are available via e-mail and phone call
User : So what are the symptoms of a tear in the medial meniscus?
Doctor : symptoms of medial meniscus tear include: is joint locking, or the inability to completely straighten the joint,
Doctor : knee pain, swelling of joint, Tenderness when pressing on the meniscus, popping or clicking within the knee, limited joint motion.
Doctor : do you have any of these other symptoms?
User : What would you suggest for the myxoid degeneration?
Doctor : myxoid degeneration treatment will depend on th extent of it
Doctor : if the extent is more than 50% of the normal, a replacement surgery is preferred
Related questions you may be interested in
Other doctor chats you may be interested in
Recent questions on
