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(913) 642-0200
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(913) 319-7600
Find Your Location
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(913) 642-0200
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(913) 319-7600
Comprehensive treatment to treat your knee pain.
Understanding the Basics Behind Meniscus Injury Management
What is Meniscus Injury Management?
Knee pain is one of the most common symptoms orthopedic physicians treat in this country.
Whether you’re an athlete or just performing your basic day-to-day tasks, all of the bending, straightening and twisting movements your knee performs can leave you at risk of injury to your meniscus. Meniscus injuries can occur through overuse, arthritis from long-term degeneration, or even from sudden forceful twist or rotation.
The Meniscus (plural “menisci”) is a rubbery cartilage disc that provides cushion, support and stability to the knee. Ligaments are structures that hold the four bones of the knee together (patella, femur, tibia, and fibula) and allow it to function properly. Common injuries include meniscus tears (e.g. bucket handle tears), patellar (knee cap) dislocations, and sprains and/or tears of ligaments like the ACL, PCL, LCL, PLC, MCL, and MPFL.
Choosing meniscus injury management treatments in Kansas City is a decision that typically involves guidance from your primary care doctor and orthopedic physician.
When you choose Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance, one of our highly-trained orthopedic knee specialists will conduct an initial evaluation to better understand your condition. After a complete review of your results, your provider will then discuss what treatments might be the best option for you.
Common signs of a meniscus injury include:
Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance Knee & Leg Injuries Assessment
Assessing the Injury
Determining the proper treatment process for knee and leg injuries starts with an assessment from one of our experienced providers.
You can think of knee pain as a spectrum, with some instances being more severe than others. The KCOA orthopedic specialists always focus on each individual patient and their concerns before creating a treatment plan.
Therefore, during your initial appointment, we will often ask questions such as:
From there, we can decide what treatment option will align best with your needs and lifestyle goals. Once we’ve completed a proper assessment, your provider will often begin with a physical examination to help determine the origin point of your pain. In some cases, advanced testing may be required for a full diagnosis.
Examination
X-Ray
Also called radiographs, an X-ray captures a picture of the ankle, heel, or lower leg. Orthopedic physicians may order an X-ray to rule out the possibility of a fracture (broken bone), osteoarthritis, or other bone-related conditions.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI captures images of muscles, bones, intervertebral discs, and tendons to help provide information other tests can’t detail. During an MRI, you will lie on a table that slides into a tube-shaped scanner. The machine creates a magnetic field around you, using pulsed radio waves to form the MRI images.
Symptoms
Common Signs and Symptoms of Knee & Leg Injuries
With so many different structures working together in your knees, there are many potential causes of pain. And each of those causes has a unique set of symptoms.
Proper meniscus injury management techniques can help treat your issues. Though you can treat many knee issues with conservative measures and non-surgical options, sometimes surgery may be necessary if the patient’s knee doesn’t respond to these treatments. Knee injuries can also degenerate based on certain risk factors, such as age, activity level, weight, and more.
Causes
Causes of Knee Pain
The body has different kinds of joints, and they all face different challenges. The severity of your knee and leg pain can vary based on a number of factors, including the location and the source of the issue. The knee is a very vulnerable joint in your body that’s susceptible to injury from a forceful motion, as well as the wear and tear that builds up over the years.
Your knee relies on a number of structures to function, including bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. As the years go on, many people struggle with the effects of repeated movements, such as walking, running, or jumping. This can result in meniscus injuries that require treatment from an orthopedic specialist in Kansas City.
Treatment Alternatives
Non-Surgical Treatment
In most cases, surgery is not the first option for treatment at Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance. If we can treat your meniscus issues with more conservative treatments, we’ll choose those options. We typically exhaust all non-surgical options prior to recommending surgery. Many meniscus injuries do not require surgery, and our providers at KCOA can help improve your function and alleviate symptoms with a number of non-invasive treatments. Non-surgical treatments for meniscus injuries include:
Medications – Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Advil) or prescription medications. Especially with NSAIDs, you should always talk to your doctor to ensure they are the right treatment for you.
Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance is here to help.
Our care is personal. Our team is knowledgeable. And we’re more available than ever.
With access to board-certified specialists across Kansas City, we have the tools to meet almost every musculoskeletal condition.
Our Locations
Overland Park, Kansas
10777 Nall Ave Suite 300 Overland Park, KS 66211Leawood, Kansas
3651 College Blvd. Leawood, KS 66211Kansas City, Missouri
Saint Luke's Medical Plaza #1 4320 Wornall Rd., Ste. 610 Kansas City, MO 64111Belton, Missouri
Belton Regional Campus 17067 S Outer Rd #301 Belton, MO 64012