What Symptoms Will You Have?

Symptoms you can look for or that may occur are:

• Popping sensations
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Pain while twisting or rotating your knee
• Difficulty fully straightening your knee

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should be seen by your doctor for further testing. If you do go to the doctor most likely your doctor will take x-rays of your knee or perform an MRI to see the extent of the damage done to your knee joints. Your doctor may need to go into your knee for further examination; this is done with an arthroscope. An arthroscope is inserted through a tiny incision near your knee. It contains a small camera and tiny light so the doctor can view your injury better on an enlarged screen.

If you are diagnosed with a torn meniscus treatment options for this type of injury are commonly non-surgical, they include resting and avoiding any activities that may cause you more pain or worsen your symptoms. Icing the injured area can help reduce any swelling or pain you may be having. You can always use over the counter pain relievers to help as well.

Physical therapy can help to strengthen and stabilize muscles around your knee or you can use arch supports or other inserts in your shoe to help decrease the stress put on your knee when you walk. Surgery is an option if your knee remains sore, stiff, or locked. It’s not always possible to completely repair a torn meniscus; if it can’t be repaired the doctor will trim it this type of surgery is also performed with an arthroscope. Open-knee surgery is also an option, but the recovery time is a lot longer than having arthroscopic surgery performed.


Non-surgical treatment can include anti-inflammatory medicine, ice on the knee, cortisone shots and physical therapy. In some cases surgery may be required for a meniscus tear.

The 3 types of surgical treatment for a meniscus tear include: 

  • Arthroscopic meniscectomy - removes torn portion, leaving a healthy portion to heal.
  • Meniscus repair - damaged meniscus is repaired.
  • Meniscus transplantation - transplanting someone else's meniscus in cases where the entire meniscus has been removed and pain continues.  


A meniscus tear may result in you seeking Iowa Workers' Compensation. If so, then you may want to speak immediately with a Des Moines Workers' Compensation attorney in order to determine what benefits you have coming. 

Contacting an Iowa Workers' Compensation Attorney

The Iowa Workers' Compensation attorney team at Walker, Billingsley & Bair know the importance of protecting your injury claim from the get-go. Learn more by calling 641-792-3595.

Erik D. Bair
Over 22 years of legal experience.
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