Posted On October 4, 2017 Personal Injury

Meniscus and Knee Injury

Accidents can happen anywhere, and when you have been injured in one you know the profound effect it has on your life. This is especially true when it is an injury such as a torn meniscus. Our knees are the largest joints in our body and needless to say, are imperative to our mobility.

Injuries to the knee can result in a variety of ways including workplace accidents, sports-related accidents, car accidents, and slip-and-falls. If you have been injured in an accident and suffered a torn meniscus, a qualified accident attorney in New Jersey can inform you of your legal options.

About Meniscal Tears

Your knee is the meeting place of three bones that form the joint, your femur (thighbone), tibia (shinbone), and patella (knee cap). In between those bones are two c-shaped pieces of cartilage known as your meniscus. The menisci serve as your knees, shock absorbers, and a tear can inhibit your knee’s ability to function properly.

There are various types of tears; they are classified by their location and the look of the tear itself. It is also common for meniscal tears to occur alongside another knee injury, especially in sports-related accidents. Most times the tear will occur when the knee experiences sudden movement such as a twist.

Symptoms & Treatment

If you tear your meniscus you will most likely feel a pop, but in smaller tears you may not become aware of the injury until it becomes more severe and results in swelling. Some common symptoms that you have torn your meniscus include:

Pain in your knee
Knee stiffness and swelling
Your knee locks
Feeling that your knee is giving out
Unable to move in full range of motion.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should speak with your doctor immediately. Once your doctor has diagnosed your injury there are two routes of treatment. One is a nonsurgical approach known as RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. In addition to this method, your doctor may suggest taking aspirin or ibuprofen daily in order to help with pain and swelling.

If the RICE method does not help or if the tear is too severe then surgery may be the course of action. The surgery, known as knee arthroscopy, involves making small incisions in the knee and then inserting a camera and surgical tools through the incision. The camera allows the doctors a full, clear view of the surgery area while they repair the tear. Following the surgery your doctor may recommend physical therapy.

Get Help

If you or someone you love has sustained a torn meniscus meniscus and knee injury in an accident caused by someone else’s carelessness you may be entitled to compensation. The New Jersey injury lawyers at Console & Associates P.C. have been protecting the rights of accident victims for more than 17 years. Let us help you, call us today at (856) 778-5500 to set up your free consultation.

Meniscus and Knee Injury

About Meniscal Tears

Symptoms & Treatment

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