Healing & Treatment Options for Torn Cartilage

A tear in any of the fibro-cartilage, strips the knee and is often referred to as a torn cartilage and happens because of an injury, especially sports but it can also happen while walking or exercising vigorously. Rapid or traumatic motion like twisting the knee can also lead to such injuries. In older people, there can be even degenerative injuries to this cartilage, in turn causing a torn cartilage.

Primary symptoms of a torn or a damaged cartilage include pain, swelling, the knee popping and giving way. These symptoms, depending on the seriousness of the tear, can make it very difficult to walk or move.

Treatment options for a torn cartilage depending on the intensity of the tear and the seriousness of the injury. The treatment can range from surgery, to physical therapy or even just rest and observation of the injured knee. The most frequent and effective treatment is RICE or Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. These remedies can help keep the pain at bay and help the knee through the worst phase of the injury. Icing the knee (or any muscular injury for that matter) can keep help the injury from getting worse till proper treatment is made available.

Once you have rested your knee and the pain is bearable, you should get a professional opinion on the damage. As the damage is assessed, the treatment option and recovery time will get clear. Immediate treatment options include icing the joint, resting it and taking over-the-counter painkillers to manage the pain.

Depending on how badly torn the cartilage is, the doctor might suggest physiotherapy to strengthen the supporting muscles. You might also be provided with orthotic support like an insole or arch supports to take pressure off the injured knee.

Surgery is usually the last resort as far as torn cartilage is concerned. Sometimes sports persons choose surgery because it is a quicker treatment for torn cartilage. There is no guarantee that the torn cartilage will heal completely and correctly even with surgery.

The recovery time of the healing of the torn cartilage depends on the intensity of the injury along with the age of the patient and the rest during the healing process. The healing needs to be monitored because if the healing is not done correctly, you might be stuck with a damaged cartilage all your life.

Reference:

answered by G M

Advice on torn cartilage-

Rest is mandatory.
Wrap with a bandage and firmly support the cartilage.
Take 1 cup of hot milk with 2 pinches of ginger powder and 1/4 tsp of turmeric for 5 days daily in the morning.
Take a hot and cold formentation alternately on the part.
Take a homeopathic remedies like Arnica Montana 200 and Rhus tox 200 5 pills alternately every 6 hours for 5 days.

answered by D M K

What is good for torn cartilage?