Blog Post

At Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, we're known as the go-to orthopedic and sports medicine specialists in this part of Texas — and that means we see a lot of patients with meniscus tears. It might surprise you to know just how common meniscus tears are: As many as 14% of Americans experience them during their lifetime.

Our talented team of board-certified and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons provides comprehensive care for meniscus tears at our practice locations in Schertz, Live Oak, and San Antonio. The first step in getting the right treatment for your meniscus tear is recognizing the injury. Here are four telltale signs you can't ignore.

1. Persistent knee pain

Meniscus tears often cause knee pain that won't quit, even after resting your leg. The pain can vary, from a dreaded dull ache to a sharp, stinging pain.

If you hurt your knee recently and it's not feeling better as expected, it's unfortunately a strong possible indicator of a meniscus tear. Of course, other injuries, like a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), can cause knee pain, too.

Specific indicators of a meniscus-related problem include pain on one side of your knee, spiking pain when you rotate your knee, increased pain when standing or climbing stairs, or serious pain when you try to bend or straighten your leg.

2. Swelling

Swelling is a common response to a meniscus tear as your body tries to protect the injured area. After a meniscus tear, you may experience swelling immediately, or it could develop over a few days.

Due to swelling, your knee joint may feel tight or compressed. It may be difficult to move your knee, particularly bending and straightening.

The swelling may temporarily subside when you rest your leg but usually returns when you resume normal activities.

3. Catching or locking

Knee catching or locking is often a glaring sign of a torn meniscus. You might feel or even hear clicking when you extend and bend your knee, or your knee might feel stuck in one position.

This catching sensation usually happens alongside swelling and pain. In many cases, it also contributes to the next symptom: instability.

4. Knee instability

The feeling you can't depend on your knee to support your weight is a telltale sign of a meniscus tear or other problems in the knee joint. It's frustrating to experience knee instability. It can cause sudden knee buckling, difficulty maintaining your balance, or a feeling of severe weakness in the affected knee.

Get prompt, thorough care from our specialists

At Northeast Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, our team is here to guide you to relief. We take care of everything in-house, from diagnosis to conservative treatments to arthroscopic surgery and physical therapy. 

Call the office nearest you to book your appointment and start the healing.