Meniscal (Knee) Injury | Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand | Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty
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Meniscal (Knee) Injury

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What has happened?

  • It is likely you have injured the meniscus in your knee
  • This is a small disc like cartilage tissue which acts as a shock absorber for the knee

What should I expect?

  • It is common to have pain and swelling in your knee, and to have difficulty walking
  • Usually it takes 6-8 weeks to recover from this injury

What should I do?

  • Initially you should rest (and possibly use crutches for 24-48hrs), use ice and elevate the leg
  • You may require simple pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
  • You can start gently bending the knee right away
  • You should make an appointment with a physio to help you recover from this injury - take your ACC form/number with you

What should I not do?

  • You should avoid causing further injury by only participating in 'gentle' sports (eg. cycling) for the first few weeks

Will I be followed up?

  • No, most of these injuries heal without difficulty and do not require you to return to hospital

What if I have concerns/questions?

  • If your injury is not settling or you have other concerns, you should see your GP or physio first - take your ACC form/number with you
  • Further specialist assessment may be needed in some cases