Is Surgery the Only Way to Treat a Meniscus Tear in the Knee?

A meniscus tear can be a challenging condition for anyone to experience, causing extreme pain and irritation in the knee area. The lack of blood vessels also makes it hard for the meniscus tear to improve naturally. In the past, surgery was often the only option, and most often involves removing the torn tissue.

At Asheville Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Asheville, NC, board-certified doctor of physical medicine and rehabilitation Dr. Christie Lehman provides non-surgical treatment to reduce the pain from meniscus tears. Our alternative and less invasive options are shown to improve a tear in the meniscus as well as other joint pain and ligament pain throughout the body.

PRP treatments help restore blood flow into the knee region

Surgical removal isn’t always necessary for pain relief and is often the last resort for treatment. Other alternative non-surgical methods, such as platelet-rich plasma or PRP therapy, have been shown to have positive outcomes in meniscus tears.

The procedure gathers blood from your body and separates the platelets from the rest of the sample. After it's been processed, the PRP and the growth factors contained within are injected into the affected area to improve pain and function. The PRP injection into the meniscus area boosts blood flow and reduces swelling. The pain will gradually subside and tolerance to activity will improve in most people. This process may take weeks and even months to feel the full response.

Regenexx® SAME DAY treatment uses your own bone marrow for recovery

Another non-surgical solution available at Asheville Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Asheville, NC is the Regenexx SD treatment. This procedure gathers bone marrow from the back of the hip, and it is injected into the meniscus to help promote recovery, pain relief, and improved activity tolerance. During your consultation, Dr. Lehman can use imaging techniques to evaluate your injury and determine if you are a candidate for Regenexx treatment.

OPTIMiZIng results

While you are in the recovery process, we recommend adding physical therapy to your routine as well as light exercising to help reduce irritation. Bracing may be recommended to help unload pressure on the area as well.

Contact us today for a non-surgical approach to a meniscus tear

If you’re looking for non-surgical alternative knee treatments, contact Dr. Christie Lehman today for a consultation to see if PRP therapy or Regenexx SD treatments are right for you. Whether it is arthritis, meniscus tear, or any other chronic injury you are experiencing, the experts at Asheville Regenerative Orthopedics & Sports Medicine of Asheville, NC can help get you back to the life you deserve.