Tearing Your Meniscus

When Kevin Yu arrived at the Travelers Championship in June, it marked his return to the PGA Tour after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus.

Yu stayed off the golf course for 20 weeks due to his surgery and recovery. “I went two months without hitting a ball,” he told GolfChannel.com. “But it changed my attitude. I wish I was healthy, but it taught me to be really thankful for what I have. It refreshed my mind.”

A torn meniscus is a common knee injury. The meniscus is cartilage that acts like a cushion between your shin bone and your thigh bone. Activities that cause you to twist or rotate your knee, such as golf, can cause your meniscus to tear. Wear and tear of the knee joint over time can also cause a torn meniscus. 

When you have a torn meniscus, you may experience the following symptoms:

• A popping sensation
• Swelling or stiffness
• Pain (especially when twisting or rotating your knee)
• Difficult straightening your knee
• Feeling like your knee is locked in place
• Persistent buckling or feeling like your knee is knee giving out 

“These symptoms might not present right away,” adds Dr. Lee Bloom, a Middlesex Health orthopedic surgeon. “Sometimes, it takes time — 24 hours or more — for any symptoms to appear when you tear your meniscus. When you do notice that there is pain and swelling, or if you can’t move your knee as you normally would, you should make a doctor’s appointment.”

Treatment

Dr. Bloom says rest, ice and anti-inflammatory medication may help relieve pain, allowing your meniscus time to heal. Physical therapy may also be beneficial, helping to strengthen the muscles around your knee and in your legs to stabilize and support the knee. 

If more conservative treatment does not work, surgery may be necessary. 

Sometimes, a meniscus can be repaired; other times the meniscus might need to be surgically trimmed through tiny incisions. After surgery, exercises help to increase the strength and stability of the knee. 

“Regardless of your treatment plan, you shouldn’t play golf until your injury heals and your doctor tells you that you can do so,” Dr. Bloom says. 

For more information about orthopedic services at Middlesex Health, click here.

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