What are Some Treatments for Torn Cartilage?

I'm 36 and female. I twisted my knee exactly 3 1/2 months ago. I've been to two different docs. I've had an MRI and they told me my ligament is torn and stretched out and I also tore my cartilage.

I've taken anti-inflammatory meds and some other medication that helps repair cartilage damage. Anyhow, is it normal to still feel stiffness, pain and slight instability in my knee 3 1/2 months after the injury?

I've had the cartilage in both knees injured/torn at different periods in my life and in both cases therapy with yogic lotus posture has done wonders, returning mobility from about 50-60 percent to about 95-98 percent.

Both injuries have not healed completely, and are still prone to pain sometimes, but the improvement in mobility is obvious. Also, when the pain aggravates (due to joint use mostly) leg stretching (especially back of the knee) in combination with lotus posture fixes it most of the time.

after feeling like i would never walk normally again, i finally had a MRI scan on my knee and they found a torn cartilage, and now six months of waiting for an operation which is due in January. i have no pain. i can't do the lotus position as it hurts. but want to know does the knee cartilage mend itself.

I'm 16 years old. I play basketball, softball, and i run track, and i tore my cartilage, and i broke a bone in my ankle. Will i ever be able to play either again?

I was in a race about two months ago and thought I just had a knee sprain. I had an x ray and an mri and found out that I have torn cartilage. I don't want to have surgery. Is there another way to get this repaired. --ALB

I am 16 years old and have recently undergone surgery to repair torn meniscus cartilage in my knee. I tore the cartilage doing long jump. I was able to limp only for a week after and after about a month i was able to walk without any discomfort. However i couldn't run.

Going to an orthopedic surgeon is the best option in this case. He was able to repair the tear but its still a 50-50 chance that it will actually heal. The younger you get this done the better the chances. So if you think you have torn cartilage, get it checked out as soon as possible.

I'm a 44 year old woman who took a hard fall six weeks ago. I didn't see the doctor but now my husband is sure it is torn cartilage and that i probably need surgery. The problem is i just got a great job offer, a once in a lifetime thing and the guy will hire someone else for sure if i have surgery. can i postpone this if that's what it is, for like a year or more?

If a 12 year old, turning 13 girl was playing lacrosse at a camp (at a college) and then rolled both of her ankles on the first day and didn't do anything about it (kept running and walking on it) then a year later finds out she might have a torn cartilage. What are possible treatments?

I am 20 years old, and about five months ago i fell awkwardly on my left knee when changing direction while playing soccer. I had an x ray done and an MRI scan both seemed OK. After the injury i was able to limp and a month later walk, but with some discomfort.

The doctor said to rest and it's just a knee sprain; it should be OK. But it now been five months and my knee still hurts when i try to straighten it or bend it completely and every time i try to do so there is some weird clicking sound.

I haven't played any physical sports since the injury and it's really depressing me. Can anyone please tell me what i can do to recover or what exactly is wrong with my knee? Please help. ridhwan 13

I am an 18 year old female, and June 2010 will be three years since I have injured my ankle. I was playing church softball one night, and when I was running, I stopped to turn the other direction when my ankle turned.

I went to the doctor the next day and I found out that I had torn one of the ligaments in my ankle. I went through four months of physical therapy, and I had little/no change. I then was sent to an orthopedist who recommended an MRI. After that she said that I needed arthroscopic surgery.

At that time she didn't know I had torn cartilage, she actually thought something else was wrong. It wasn't until during the surgery that she found out that I had torn ligaments and torn cartilage. I went through many months of physical therapy to rehab it back. I even got back to playing tennis.

My problem is that even two-years plus after surgery, my ankle still hurts. My physical therapist recently diagnosed me as having arthritis starting to develop in it now. Now I am 18 years old and I am worried that as I get older the ankle problems and pain will only worsen. Is there anybody that can relate to me? Thanks!

lauraMMMMM: I can tell you that people who do get the surgery usually have to retire from running. I use DMSO and aloe cream applied topically and changed to vibram 5 fingers running shoes, and I can still run despite having had bad knees for year, including cartilage issues.

This is laurammm - I posted my torn cartilage question over a year ago, and opted not to do surgery. I am running and exercising again and am having no problems! Not that this is good for everyone, but glad I didn't go through with it.

It seems that knee surgeries are like potato chips -- you can't just have one! Anyway, good luck everyone!

to laurammm: I am waiting for my torn cartilage to repair itself,don't know if it can, but after two months my knee is getting better.

The doc said for me to have it fixed, but I would rather not have the OP! I have no pain except the swelling and stiffness. Does anyone out there think I am only delaying the inevitable OP?

I have a torn cartilage in my knee. It has gotten better with time,i have had one injection and doing okay. I'm going to wait it out because it is better than five months ago. I have ordered an ultrasound hand held machine approved by the fda. It has helped me and also a warm knee wrap from my mend shop. Check it out on the internet.

My son was just diagnosed with crushed cartilage in his foot from an injury several months back. The doctor does not recommend surgery and only offered an anti-inflammatory drug for pain.

Has anyone heard of this and do you know why this can't be repaired? Help please.

a few months ago i badly twisted my ankle while i was walking and had a huge swollen ankle for up to two or three weeks, and black and blue for most of the time. it has been almost four months since then and even now if i stand on my feet for a few hours or even an hour, the same ankle tends to swell up ( not as big as when i twisted it) but almost as big and sometimes a little bruised. it caused me a lot of pain when I'm on my feet for work for long hours and sometimes when I'm standing still, my ankle feels like it pops when i move it slightly to the side. Does anyone know what this could be? the doctor told me when i twisted it that it was probably just a stretched tendon but its still bothering me four months later. Help!

I'm a fifteen year old girl. I tore the cartilage in my ankle and slightly damaged my achilles tendon.It's the second time I've done this in the same area. I also happen to be quite a developed ballerina. The doctor recommended surgery. Would that have the best outcome for my dancing?

I wanted to reply to laura. My doc advised me not to have surgery (on my foot). I've gotten new orthotics from a specialist and wear them indoors in flat runners with a square heel. (no heels) I build up tolerance by adding more time in them daily. I am also slowly building up time on a treadmill on a flat position. (i was told every where else isn't flat and this is the best way to go). I have a couple of strengthening exercises to do daily as well. All of it is a very slow process. My doc (soft tissue specialist) said that surgery doesn't guarantee it all better, it can make it worse and there's also scar tissue which can cause new problems. I use a bench in the bath to sit on and have a bar attached to the outside of the tub (it's easily added or removed). I put cold water in the tub to help combat the swelling. I try to keep my foot up as much as possible. I'm currently taking Lyrica and Ibuprofen in the off hours.

Please let me know if this helps and what you are doing to help yourself.

i recently was playing soccer barefoot and kicked my heel. Had a massive bruise over my big toe area. Doctor said i have torn cartilage and a slightly damaged tendon. So yes, dropping something like that on your foot can cause it, especially in older people.

Has anyone opted *not* to repair torn cartilage? If so, why did you opt out and has is your knee now? Have you resumed to your normal activities? I have surgery scheduled and dreading it and don't want to damage my knee more....

if a woman in her late 40's drop something on her foot, can that cause torn cartilage? Talking about canned fruit, less than 1 pound.