Knee Meniscus Tears

The meniscus is a piece of rubbery cartilage that helps to absorb shock in your knee. The meniscus can be torn during high-impact injuries or twists which can cause serious pain and discomfort.

A knee meniscus tear is one of the most common knee injuries. Unfortunately, depending on the type and severity of the injury, it may not heal on its own. While some knee meniscus tears are able to repair themselves, others can lead to long-term or even debilitating discomfort.

One of the most common treatments for serious knee meniscus tears is therapy. However, recent research is looking at the use of stem cell therapy for treating meniscus tears. Stem cell therapy is unique in that it is simpler and less expensive than surgery.

Causes of Knee Meniscus Tears

There are a number of things that can cause a knee meniscus tear.

• Knee meniscus tears can be caused by sudden pivoting or spontaneous motions
• You may tear your meniscus by squatting too spontaneously or suddenly
• Heavy lifting, especially at awkward angles, can cause knee meniscus tears

In other words, a knee meniscus tear can occur in any everyday activity. If you accidentally apply pressure or weight to your knee in a way that overwhelms the meniscus, it might tear.

Common Knee Meniscus Tear Treatments

At present, there are a number of things you can do to manage a knee meniscus tear.

• If the meniscus tear is to heal itself then you’ll need to stop using the joint.
• Ice can help fight swelling and pain.
• Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help reduce swelling and pain.
• If the tear is serious enough, surgery may be required.

Unfortunately, if the tear is serious enough, these things may not be enough to heal it completely. In this case, a more serious treatment like stem cell therapy might be required.

One study published in 2017 in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research revealed that the meniscus actually has its own set of stem cells called chondrogenic progenitor cells. These are cartilage cells that live in the area of the cartilage where blood is stored.

Stem Cell Therapy for Knee Meniscus Tears

Stem cell therapy has been used as a treatment for knee meniscus tears. Stem cells are able to help facilitate healing and recovery for damaged tissue.

Stem cell therapy is usually offered after patients have undergone standard treatment protocols such as physical therapy. If symptoms persist, stem cell therapy may be offered of which is generally recommended.

The use of stem cells, especially mesenchymal stem cells, is encouraging. Stem cells have the ability to take on the role of other cells. In the case of a knee meniscus tear, stem cells would be injected into the damaged region.

The study referenced above also looked at a process that involved using the meniscus’ own stem cells to accelerate healing. The process encourages the stem cells inherently present in the meniscus to ‘migrate’ across the meniscus to the injury site. There, they can facilitate healing.

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy has shown particular promise when combined with a form of therapy known as platelet-rich plasma therapy. This therapy involves separating the blood using a centrifuge and drawing out the platelets and growth hormones. These are then used to facilitate healing.

Once the stem cells are implanted, they begin to take on the role of other cartilage cells. This allows them to replace damaged or dysfunctional cells with new, healthy cells.

A knee meniscus tear can occur for a number of reasons. There are several treatment options for a knee meniscus tear, including stem cell therapy. Stem cell therapy shows promise because certain stem cells may actually be able to regenerate and repair damaged knee tissue.

Stem cell therapy for Knee Meniscus Tears is offered by R3 Stem Cell International in Pakistan. Contact us Today at +1 (888) 988-0515 for an Evaluation for stem cell treatment!