Some people with meniscus tears don’t even realize it because they don’t have any pain. Depending on the type and severity of the tear, many meniscus injuries can be treated without surgery. The main goal of non-surgical treatment is to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation, while also improving knee stability and function.

Rest and Activity Modification

Right after the injury, it’s important to rest your knee and avoid activities that make the pain worse. This does not mean you have to avoid activity, being active helps with recovery. We just want you to avoid the specific activities that make you have more pain or swelling.

Medications

Over-the-counter pain relievers like Advil, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen (NSAIDs) can help manage pain and reduce swelling.

Ice and Compression

Applying ice packs can help with swelling. Be sure to use a cloth between the ice pack and your skin to avoid skin irritation or damage. Compression can also help reduce swelling.

Physical Therapy

A physical therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen the muscles around your knee, such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluts, and calf muscles. Doing these exercises can improve knee function and support your recovery. It’s important to follow any exercises recommended by your therapist.

Injections

Sometimes, injections like cortisone, or hyaluronic acid (a gel) are used to manage pain and inflammation in the knee. However, these injections won’t heal the torn meniscus but can help with symptoms.

Knee Brace

An unloader brace can help by reducing stress on the knee. If you have a medial meniscus tear (on the inner side of the knee), a medial unloader brace might be used. For a lateral meniscus tear (on the outer side), a lateral unloader brace may be used. These braces provide support and help with knee stability.