Can a Meniscus Injury Heal on Its Own?

A meniscus injury is pretty common — it affects about a million people in the United States annually. You may even have a meniscus tear and not realize it until the problem gets worse.

But once you notice the issue, you just want to get your knee back to normal as soon as possible. If you visit Steven E. Nolan, MD, you have one question: Can your meniscus injury heal on its own, or will it require medical intervention?

The answer is: It depends. Here’s what we mean.

What is a meniscus injury?

A meniscus is a C-shaped piece of cartilage that acts as a shock absorber and stabilizer for your knee. You have two of them in each knee: the medial meniscus on the inside of the joint and the lateral meniscus on the outside. They help distribute stress throughout your knee and protect the cartilage on the ends of your femur and tibia.

An acute meniscus tear occurs when you experience a sudden injury or trauma to your knee. This can often happen during a sports event if your knee suddenly twists. In many cases, the injury includes damage to other structures in your knee, such as your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

A degenerative tear occurs slowly when cartilage and the meniscus deteriorate due to age and use.

Symptoms of a meniscus tear include knee pain, stiffness, and swelling. Your knee may lock, catch, or feel like it will give way as you walk.

Can it heal on its own?

A meniscus injury can indeed heal on its own, but that ability is limited. The tear may heal without surgery if it’s less than 1 cm long.

Your meniscus has a limited blood supply — only the outer third contains blood vessels that deliver the cells necessary for healing. If a tear reaches the inner two-thirds of the meniscus, there’s no blood supply, so your body can’t start the healing process on its own.

If the tear is small, Dr. Nolan may recommend rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medication, and an elastic bandage or brace to provide stability. Rehabilitation through physical therapy can also help the tear heal.

If your tear is more extensive, Dr. Nolan may need to perform surgery to repair the injury or even remove the damaged portion of the meniscus. After your recovery period, you’ll return to normal with no permanent effects.

A meniscus injury can disrupt your daily life, but Dr. Nolan and our team are here to restore your knee function as smoothly and quickly as possible. To get started, call our Sugar Land office at 281-720-6909 or use our easy online scheduler to choose your own appointment time.