Meniscus Tear

What is a Meniscus Tear?

Meniscal tears are often referred to as cartilage tears, and are one of the most common injuries in the knee. Each knee has two c-shaped, tough, rubbery menisci.  They are located between the shinbone and thigh bone. One meniscus sits on the inside of the knee joint and is referred to as the medial meniscus.  The other meniscus rests on the outer part and is referred to as the lateral meniscus.  The menisci act as shock absorbers and help equally distribute body weight across the knee joint.  Without the menisci the knee joint would wear down unevenly.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a torn meniscus vary depending on the size and location of the tear.  The most common symptoms are the following:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Catching or locking of the knee
• Range of motion may be limited

Causes

• Injury- This usually occurs if there is sudden twisting or turning of the foot while it is planted and the knee is bent.  Meniscal tears can also occur with heavy lifting, squatting, or in contact sports.
• Degenerative or Arthritic Knees- A meniscal tear may occur in a person over 40 who has dry, thin or weak cartilage.  As the cartilage weakens it becomes more brittle and can easily tear.  It is not uncommon for an individual with arthritis or degenerative knee joints to tear meniscus simply by getting up from a chair or climbing the stairs.

Treatment Options

The treatment for a meniscus tear is determined by the size, location of the tear, and the activity level of the patient.  Some people respond well to non-invasive treatments while others have to have surgery.  The location of the tear is one of the most important factors because that will determine how well the tear will heal.

• Outer Edge (Red Zone)

The outer one third of the meniscus has its own blood supply. Tears in this area tend to heal well. Small and moderate sized tears tend to respond well to non- invasive treatment options.  For example, cold laser therapy is a possible treatment to help stimulate the healing and repair process by increasing and stimulating blood flow and nutrients to the injured area.

• Inner Meniscus (White Zone)

The inner two thirds of the meniscus lacks its own blood supply, so it does not heal.  Even arthroscopic surgery, which is often suggested, may not work well due to the lack of healing ability in this part of the meniscus.  Recovery may be difficult especially for older patients.

Why Choose Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program?

The reason patients travel from around the world to undergo Dr. Schnee’s Cold Laser Knee Program is due to her extensive knowledge and experience in treating knee problems using non-invasive Cold Laser Therapy to help avoid surgery. Her office has performed over 18,000 Cold Laser treatments for people suffering from various knee conditions. Patients and doctors seek her advice and care if they want to avoid knee surgery or if their knee surgery was unsuccessful. She has treated patients suffering from mild to severe arthritis, bursitis, Baker’s cyst, meniscal tears, tendonitis, chondromalacia patella, failed arthroscopic surgery or knee replacement surgery, and the list goes on.
In 2001, Dr. Alexandra Schnee graduated Summa Cum Laude and was Valedictorian of her class from Parker College of Chiropractic. She is a Texas Board Certified Chiropractor, and holds a Bachelors of Science in Anatomy. Moreover, in 2007 due to Dr. Schnee’s experience in treating knee pain with cold lasers she was invited to join the renowned Medical Advisory Board for ML830 Cold Lasers. In addition she is a member of NAALT (North American Association of Laser Therapy), and is a published and peer reviewed author on the topic of Cold Laser Therapy.  In April 2009 she was chosen as Doctor of the Month on Spine-health.com for her work with Cold lasers.