Diagnosed With A Meniscus Tear in the Knee? It’s NOT the Reason You’re Having Knee Pain

Patients diagnosed with a meniscus tear in the knee often think that it’s the meniscus tear that is causing them to be in pain.  So they often undergo arthroscopic knee surgery to have the tear removed. Many times patients are disappointed after the surgery because the pain hasn’t completely gone away. Why?  This is because a meniscus tear is often blamed for knee pain when it really isn’t the cause.  Tears in the meniscus don’t actually cause pain because there are no nerve endings in meniscus tissue.  Instead, the pain is coming from the tissue and the lining around the joint (synovium) that is also irritated and inflamed and does have a nerve supply. In fact, YOU WON’T EXPERIENCE ANY KNEE PAIN EVEN WITH A MENISCUS TEAR if the nerves in the tissue or the lining around the joint aren’t inflamed or irritated.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported in September 2008 that meniscus tears on MRI’s are incidental findings and are very common in the “general population and increase with increasing age.”  Furthermore, 61% OF THE SUBJECTS IN THE STUDY HAD MENISCUS TEARS ON MRI BUT NONE OF THEM HAD PAIN, STIFFNESS OR ACHES.  THEY WERE SYMPTOM-FREE.  This study proves that MENISCUS TEARS DON’T CAUSE KNEE PAIN.  There are certain types of meniscus tears that may cause the knee to lock up and create problems with range of motion.  However, meniscus tissue has NO NERVE ENDINGS SO IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE KNEE PAIN DIRECTLY FROM THE TEAR ITSELF.

I’ve treated hundreds of individuals diagnosed with knee pain from meniscus tears and I’ve been able to alleviate the pain, help them avoid arthroscopic knee surgery and keep them that way- even with the meniscus tear still there.  Initially individuals with a meniscus tear come into my office complaining of knee pain. The pain is often described as sharp and shooting (especially if they turn a certain way) or it can be deep, dull and achy.  In severe cases the pain prevents them from sleeping and walking for any length of time.  Under my care, a typical patient with a meniscus tear will complete a series of cold laser treatments along with physiotherapy modalities.  Usually after a few weeks of treatments they leave my office pain-free and the muscles around the joint are stronger.

What does my Cold Laser Knee Program do for patients with meniscus tears?  It relieves the pain and reduces swelling by eliminating nerve irritation and inflammation to the synovium (joint lining) and surrounding tissues. Cold lasers don’t CUT OUT OR REMOVE THE MENISCUS like arthroscopes (the tool used in arthroscopic surgery).  Why would you want to remove cartilage or meniscus if that’s not what’s causing your knee pain?  It won’t grow back if it’s removed and the area becomes a breeding ground for arthritis. At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we don’t want you to have to undergo unnecessary knee surgery.  Instead we want to use cold laser therapy to work on a cellular level to eliminate pain, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, increase energy production of the cell, and, as a result, speed up the healing process.  In addition, to cold laser therapy we also want to strengthen the muscles around your knee joint so that it becomes more stable and your condition doesn’t reoccur.  Most patients who complete our Cold Laser Knee Program have sustainable results, and unless they reinjure their knee never have to see us for treatments in the future.

Mr. James S. is a classic example of a patient diagnosed with a medial meniscus tear.  He did not want arthroscopic knee surgery because it made sense to him that if he had the meniscus cut out it would NEVER grow back.  He also came into my office because he had educated himself about the meniscus.  He learned that the meniscus did not have a nerve supply so it was impossible for the pain to be coming from the tear. He also deduced that if he had arthroscopic knee surgery to remove the tear it would do nothing to reduce the irritation and inflammation for the tissue in the knee actually causing the pain.

The following is what Mr. James S. wrote about his knee before and after completing Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program “My knee pain was severe and I felt pain in the front and back of the knee. I couldn’t sleep because of the pain and I couldn’t stand for long.  Since completing Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program my knee is 90% better then it was and the best part is I can stand, walk and sleep through the night without experiencing knee pain.”

If you live in Dallas-Fort Worth or the surrounding areas and you have a meniscus tear and are suffering from knee pain and you want to experience pain relief and hope to avoid knee surgery then call the DFW Spine & Joint Center at 214-596-1051.  Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program combines cold laser therapy, non-weight bearing exercises, along with other modalities to help eliminate knee pain and strengthen the knee.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief!

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Doctor for the Non-Surgical Treatment of Knee Pain in the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“ Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program -Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain Avoid Knee Surgery in the Dallas, Fort Worth and surrounding areas since 2001.”

Meniscus Tear May Not Be The Reason For Knee Pain | Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Cold Laser Doctor Alexandra Schnee, D.C. shares information on what causes knee pain from meniscus tears and how to avoid knee surgery.

Vitamin D Deficiency Contributes To Cartilage Loss and Knee Pain

A simple blood test to determine Vitamin D levels may give the insight needed to determine whether a total knee replacement is in an individual’s future.   Cartilage loss or the term ‘bone on bone’ is the hallmark of osteoarthritis. However, “achieving vitamin D sufficiency in osteoarthritis patients could significantly delay total knee replacement,” said Dr.Ding, at the Menzies Research Institute in Australia. 

Researchers found that patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis that have sufficient levels of vitamin D  have approximately 1.5 percent less loss of knee cartilage per year than patients with vitamin D deficiency. 

The investigators measured levels of vitamin D in blood samples and knee cartilage volume on X-rays from 880 men and women who were 51 to 79 years old. Researchers then took similar measurements again almost 3 years later among 353 of the study participants.

Overall, 58 percent of these subjects that had Vitamin D deficiency showed changes in knee cartilage indicating worsening osteoarthritis between the first and second measurements, and half reported knee pain.

The study concluded that vitamin D deficiency contributed to lower knee cartilage volume and patients were more likely to experience knee pain.

Besides contributing to cartilage loss or osteoarthritis of the knee, Vitamin D deficiency is known to cause many other health problems.  It is worth getting your blood levels tested for Vitamin D, and fixing any deficiency in order to delay the progression of osteoarthritis and the need for total knee replacements.

If you suffer from knee pain due to cartilage loss, ‘bone on bone’, or osteoarthritis of the knee and you want to avoid a total knee replacement or you cannot undergo a total knee replacement due to other health problems then Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program may be the answer to your knee problem. Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is considered a complete treatment protocol that combines low-level laser treatments (cold laser treatments), and other modalities that promote rehabilitation of the knee.  Every patient’s program is unique depending on whether they suffer from knee pain due to arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, meniscus tears, bursitis of the knee, tendonitis of the knee, Baker’s Cyst, post surgical arthroscopic knee pain, or a combination of the listed conditions.  If you live in the Dallas – Fort Worth area call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Or if you would like more information about Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you entitled, Amazing Cold Laser Therapy the Missing Link to Knee Pain Relief! or visit http://www.helpmykneepain.com to get your FREE report mailed to you today.

At the DFW Spine & Joint Center we also have multiple programs available that can help most musculoskeletal conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, sciatica, disc and nerve problems, hip, ankle foot, hand and wrist pain, etc…

Dr. Robert Hanson, D.C. a Dallas Cold Laser Chiropractor, is an associate at the DFW Spine & Joint Center, offers various non-surgical cold laser programs that help treat back and neck pain from herniated, bulging, degenerated discs, stenosis, and pinched nerves in the lower back and neck.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Dallas Cold Laser Chiropractor for the treatment of knee pain in the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area Since 2001.”

Note:

Sources:
Mercola.com. June 16, 2009. Can Vitamin D Deficiency Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?
Reuters May 29, 2009.  Low levels of vitamin D are associated with the loss of cartilage in the knee joint of older individuals, researchers in Australia report.
Arthritis and Rheumatism May 2009; 60(5):1381-9

Knee Pain And Cartilage Loss Due to Vitamin D Deficiency | Dallas-Fort Worth

Dallas Cold Laser Chiropractor Dr. Schnee, shares facts and information on Vitamin D levels and how it is associated with Knee pain and cartilage loss

Avid Cyclist and Fitness Enthusiast Diagnosed with Cartilage Tear

“Before I started treatments with Dr. Schnee it was hard to walk or run without pain in my left knee. I knew that my next step would have to be arthroscopic surgery.

Now that I’ve almost completed with my Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Program, I am pleased with my overall experience and results. At this point in my care I am 80% better then I was before starting care. The swelling in my knee is down and it is easier to walk.”

If you suffer from knee pain and swelling due to arthritis, ‘bone on bone’, a meniscus or cartilage tear, Baker’s Cyst, tendonitis, bursitis, a knee injury, or knee surgery, and live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area call our office at 214- 596-1051 to find out if you’re a candidate for Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program.

Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program combines specific cold laser treatment protocols with multiple cold lasers, and other therapies so can enjoy life again without your knee pain stopping you!

Visit http://www.helpmykneepain.com or if you would like more information about my Cold Laser Knee Program fill out the form on the right side of this screen to get your FREE report mailed to you today!

Ron S., Garland TX

This patient gave Dr. Alexandra Schnee,D.C. permission to use his unsolicited testimonial for marketing purposes.

Dr. Alexandra K. Schnee, B.S.,D.C.,-Your Cold Laser Professional for the Non-Surgical Treatment of Knee Pain for the Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas Area-“ Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program Has Been Helping People with Knee Pain and Joint Pain in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area since 2001.”

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Dr.Schnee,D.C. of Dallas Texas,shares testimonial from a Cold Laser patient with a cartilage tear in his knee,who can now get back to riding his bike