Definition of internal meniscus lesion
An inner meniscus lesion is an injury to the inner meniscus. This is located in the knee joint gap and serves to lubricate the knee joint. A distinction is made between an inner and an outer meniscus. Both menisci can be injured by accidents or degenerative changes (wear and tear).
Forms of the inner meniscus lesion
The injury to the inner meniscus can be traumatic (due to an accident) or degenerative (due to wear and tear). Approximately from the age of 40 onwards, degenerative changes occur due to the great strain on the knee joint. This can lead to spontaneous meniscus tears or even to tears caused by external force.
Traumatic meniscal lesions, on the other hand, particularly affect young people. They are usually caused by sports injuries and thus affect young men in particular. Due to the reduced mobility, the inner meniscus is affected by injuries much more frequently than the outer meniscus.
If, in addition to the inner meniscus, the inner ligament and the anterior cruciate ligament are also ruptured, one speaks of an “unhappy triad”. In the case of an acute meniscus lesion, sudden pain in the joint space occurs, which increases especially when walking. Possibly a snap over the joint space is possible.
If the meniscus flap is caught in the joint gap, this can lead to a joint blockage. As a rule, the ability to bend and stretch is then eliminated. In addition, any bending stress on the knee and rotational movements are usually particularly painful.
These are also the movements that are most likely to cause a meniscus lesion. A rotation of the foot outwards with the knee joint bent is particularly stressful for the inner meniscus. This movement pattern is also used as a diagnostic test when a meniscus lesion appears likely.
Lateral pressure on the stretched leg to the inside can also increase the pain. Other patterns of movement can also be painful depending on where the lesion is located. If a meniscus lesion has existed for a longer period of time, the character of the pain can change significantly: On the one hand, the pain is usually duller in this case, whereby further acute pain sensations can occur under stress.
On the other hand, the pain is usually less attributable to a specific side. This is due to the fact that in this case an inflammation as well as a knee joint effusion has often already formed in the entire knee. If the pain persists for a longer period of time, it often leads to the formation of relieving postures or a reduced load on the affected knee.
However, this shift in weight can then also overload the other knee and lead to damage there. For all symptoms it is important to have the inner meniscus lesion examined and to determine whether surgery is necessary or not. To treat the pain itself, it may help to cool and elevate the knee several times a day.
Taking freely available painkillers, such as ibuprofen or diclofenac, helps to relieve the pain. On the other hand, it also leads to a reduction of inflammation in the joint. However, you should make sure that knees that are immobilized by the painkillers do not put too much strain on them once the pain has gone.
Taking painkillers is also important after an operation. The main point here is that the pain should not stand in the way of adequate physiotherapy and thus hinder healing. The development of a so-called pain memory should also be prevented in any case. In this respect, in the case of knee pain, one should not wait too long before seeing a doctor and starting therapy.
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