Is meniscus tear surgery painful?
Arthroscopic meniscus repair is moderately painful. Because more soft tissue surgery is performed, it is more painful than a standard arthroscopy, but less painful than a ligament reconstruction or another procedure that requires drilling holes through the bone.
How long does it take to recover from a meniscus tear surgery?
If you sit at work, you may be able to go back in 1 to 2 weeks. But if you are on your feet at work, it may take 4 to 6 weeks. If you are very physically active in your job, it may take 3 to 6 months.
What happens if a torn meniscus goes untreated?
If not treated, part of the meniscus may come loose and slip into the joint. You may need surgery to restore full knee function. Untreated meniscus tears can increase in size and lead to complications, such as arthritis.
How much does it cost to repair a torn meniscus?
The knee surgery performed most commonly on seniors is repair of torn meniscus cartilage. It costs as much as $10,000, often paid by Medicare. New research suggests that in many cases the surgery is not effective.
Does a torn meniscus always require surgery?
Unfortunately, a torn meniscus is a fairly common injury among triathletes, but it doesn’t always have to mean surgery. Dr. Jordan Metzl explains. John is a 40-year-old triathlete who came in to see me with a painful knee and an MRI scan. “Doc”, he said, “my knee has been hurting for a few weeks, so I got an MRI from my primary care physician.
How long does it take to recover from meniscus surgery?
Though the surgery to repair a meniscus tear alone is not terribly long, the recovery time can last anywhere from three weeks to six months for a full return to activity. As with any injury, recovery time for meniscus surgery will depend on the severity of the surgery (full removal or repair, for example), location of the injury, as well as any other damage that was done to the knee.
Should I have a torn meniscus surgically repaired?
There are two kinds of surgery for a meniscus tear. One kind repairs the tear by sewing it back together. The other kind removes part or all of the meniscus. In general, it’s better to fix the meniscus than to remove it.