Synonyms in a broader sense
Cartilage disc, anterior horn, pars intermedia, posterior horn, inner meniscus, outer meniscus,
Sports injury or degeneration
Pain in a meniscus can have various triggers. Most often, these are caused either by long-term wear (degeneration) or by an injury, typically during sports. In the case of a sports injury, a false, jerky movement, often combined with a rotation in the knee joint (often when stopping or changing direction, for example when playing soccer or even skiing) or a direct violent impact (for example from a fall or the kick of a teammate) leads to a sudden, sharp pain in the area of the knee joint.
This pain is often caused by damage to the outer meniscus or, more frequently, the inner meniscus, usually in the form of a torn meniscus. In the case of degenerative changes in the knee joint (usually caused by arthrosis, which is the result of wear and tear of the cartilage tissue of which the menisci are made), the pain develops over a longer period of time and does not appear as acute. Often they are hardly noticed at first, so that an exact beginning of the pain cannot be determined afterwards. In the course of time, however, the pain increases and at some point severely limits the person affected. This form of pain occurs mainly in older patients.
Symptoms
In addition to pain, other symptoms are sometimes observed in the damaged meniscus. These have their origin also where the pain originates, at the knee. Other symptoms include swelling of the knee joint (knee joint effusion) and restrictions in mobility.
The effusion is caused by a tear in the meniscus, which initiates inflammatory processes and leads to overproduction where the synovial fluid is formed. The joint and surrounding tissue swell significantly. If a Baker’s cyst develops, in some cases tingling or numb sensations may occur if nerves have been pinched by it.
These occur where the nerve has its innervation area, i.e. at the front of the lower leg or in the calf. The movement restrictions that can occur as further symptoms where a meniscus is torn are caused by a combination of pain, swelling and possible nerve damage. More severe symptoms occur when parts of the meniscus tear off completely and float freely in the joint.
These parts can impede processes in the joint. One example is the inhibition of stretching, where stretching of the leg is no longer possible. Sometimes you can hear a clacking or snapping sound in the joint, where torn off parts lead to blockages. Normally, however, pain is the main symptom of a meniscus lesion.
