How to Heal a Meniscus Tear

Co-authored by Meera Subash, MD and Bailey Cho

Last Updated: March 4, 2025 Fact Checked

Meniscus tears are pretty common, but that doesn’t make them any less painful. “Meniscus” is a fancy term for the cartilage cushioning your knees. During an intense sport or activity, this cartilage can tear, leading to pain, swelling, and catching and locking. ^{[1]
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Research source} Don’t try to grin and bear this injury on your own; instead, visit a doctor first to get a thorough diagnosis of your injury. We’re here to help walk you through all your treatment options, so you can get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Question 1 of 10:

Can a meniscus tear heal on its own?

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Yes, but it depends on how bad the tear is. Small tears along the outer one-third of your meniscus can heal independently, and might not need surgery. However, tears along the inner two-thirds of your meniscus cannot heal and usually need surgery. A doctor can pinpoint your injury and point you in the right direction for treatment. ^{[2]
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- The treatment your doctor recommends will depend on your age, symptoms, and activity level, as well as the type, size and location of the injury.

Question 2 of 10:

What at-home remedies can I try?

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1
Follow the RICE method. “RICE” is an acronym for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, and it is the most effective protocol to recover safely and comfortably at home. ^{[3]
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Research source} After your injury, the RICE method helps reduce any pain and swelling, while encouraging flexibility and healing. ^{[4]
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Research source} Here’s what you need to do:
- Rest: Avoid the activity that caused your tear in the first place, and use crutches as needed to get around. ^{[5]
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- Ice: Use a cold pack to ice your injured knee for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. For your own safety, never ice your knee directly.
- Compression: Wrap an elastic compression bandage around your injured knee. Keep the bandage snug, but not too tight—if your knee feels tingly or numb, loosen the bandage. ^{[6]
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- Elevation: When you are sitting or lying down, prop your injured leg up so it’s above your heart.
2
Take painkillers if your injury isn’t severe. If your torn meniscus doesn’t cause your knee to lock in place, you can take over-the-counter painkillers, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to address the swelling and pain. Check-in with your doctor if your knee still hurts after 6 weeks; at this point, surgery may be your next best option. ^{[7]
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- Acetaminophen: Adults can take 650 to 1000 mg every 4-6 hours as needed. Follow the label instructions carefully, and never use more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in one day. ^{[8]
  X
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- Ibuprofen: For MOTRIN®, take one tablet every 4-6 hours. ^{[9]
  X
  Research source} With Advil, take 400 mg per every 6-8 hours. For either medicine, limit yourself to 1,200 mg per day. ^{[10]
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- Naproxen sodium: Take 550 mg for the first dose, then 550 mg every 12 hours or 275 mg every 6-8 hours. Do not exceed 1,375 mg per day. ^{[11]
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  Trustworthy Source
  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}
- Aspirin: Take 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours. Cap yourself off at 12 pills in 24 hours so you don’t overdose. ^{[12]
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  National Health Service (UK)
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Question 3 of 10:

What other non-surgical treatments are there?

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1
Talk to your doctor about steroid injections. Corticosteroids may help with the pain, and can help lower swelling. Your doctor will inject the steroids directly into your knee joint, which may get rid of some pain and swelling. ^{[13]
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- Researchers are also developing biologics injections that may help treat meniscus tears.
Physical therapy is helpful for any kind of meniscus tear, even if you don’t need surgery. ^{[14]
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Research source} A physical therapist might provide manual therapy, suggest icing and compression treatments, use neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), and suggest different exercises to help you recover. Eventually, your therapist will help you figure out when you can go back to an active routine. ^{[15]
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Question 4 of 10:

Do I need surgery?

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Possibly, if the tear is really severe. During the surgical procedure, your surgeon will typically slide a tiny camera into your knee so they can clearly see the injury. Depending on the tear, they’ll either fix or remove the meniscus tear using tiny surgical tools. Afterward, your surgeon might suggest physical therapy to help support your knee and get you back in shape for your favorite sports and usual activities. ^{[16]
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- Typically, your surgeon will either perform a meniscus repair, where the meniscus is sewn back together, or a partial meniscectomy, where damaged meniscus tissue is removed. A meniscectomy is a good option for more severe tears, since they usually cannot heal back together completely, even with a repair. ^{[17]
  X
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  Cleveland Clinic
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- Meniscus repair is a safe procedure with a complication rate of 1.3%. ^{[18]
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Question 5 of 10:

How long does it take to recover from torn meniscus surgery?

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You can usually go back to normal activities within a few weeks. You’ll feel worn out for a few days after your surgery and your knee might feel numb for several days, due to the incisions your surgeon made. ^{[19]
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Research source} Your recovery time ultimately depends on the type of surgery you received, as meniscus repair surgery takes longer to heal than a meniscectomy. ^{[20]
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- After a meniscectomy, you can apply weight to your knee right away; walk without the help of crutches within 2-7 days; drive a car within 1-2 weeks; get full range of motion between 1-2 weeks; and play sports after 4-6 weeks.
- After meniscus repair surgery, you can put weight on your knee while wearing a brace; move without crutches within 4-6 weeks; drive a car between 4-6 weeks; get full range of motion after at least 4-6 weeks; and play sports after 3-6 months.

Question 6 of 10:

How long does it take for a torn meniscus to heal without surgery?

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It should heal within 6 weeks. At this point, your knee shouldn’t look swollen or feel painful anymore. Unfortunately, if the swelling and pain hasn’t resolved in 6 weeks, your injury likely won’t heal without surgery. ^{[21]
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- Serious meniscus tears might not heal on their own. Always visit a doctor first so you can understand the full scope of your injury. ^{[22]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Question 7 of 10:

What is the prognosis for a torn meniscus?

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Most people can go back to their usual activities with the help of physical therapy. During rehab, your physical therapist may walk you through at-home treatments, and help you safely adjust to everyday activities, like walking and climbing stairs. While every case is different, many people can go back to their usual routines after 4 months of regular physical therapy. ^{[23]
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- With a few months of rehab and treatment, you may be able to fully recover and do everything that you used to do before the injury. ^{[24]
  X
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Question 8 of 10:

How do I know if I have a torn meniscus?

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After a meniscus tear, you might not be able to straighten or rotate your knee like you normally would. You might also feel like your knee is locked, or that it can’t support your weight. ^{[25]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
2
Your knee is really sore. Pay attention to your regular, daily movements, like climbing out of bed or walking down the street. With a meniscus tear, your knee might feel painful, swollen, and/or extra stiff. You might also feel like your knee is popping. ^{[26]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- The pain may be especially obvious when you rotate or twist your knee.

Question 9 of 10:

Do I need to see a doctor?

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Yes, you should see an orthopedic physician. A physician who specializes in orthopedics can check out your knee and tell you how bad the tear is. Depending on how bad the injury is, they might recommend non-surgical treatments, or suggest getting surgery to fix the tear. ^{[27]
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- During your appointment, your doctor might see how much you can move your knee, and see if your knee feels sore or tender. They might also do an MRI or X-ray to get a better idea of where the tear is.

Question 10 of 10:

Can you walk around on a torn meniscus?

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A torn meniscus may seem easy to ignore at first, but it can lead to bigger problems later on. An untreated meniscus tear can increase in size and lead to complications, like arthritis. ^{[28]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What is the fastest way to relieve knee pain?

Meera Subash, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist
Dr. Meera Subash is a board certified Rheumatologist and Internist. She specializes in scaling up healthcare technology solutions for rheumatic and chronic disease management. Dr. Subash holds a BA in Human Biology from Stanford University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The University of California, San Diego, where she served as Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety at The VA San Diego Healthcare System. Dr. Subash also completed a fellowship in Rheumatology at The University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine. She is currently pursuing another fellowship in Clinical Informatics at The University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine.

Meera Subash, MD

Board Certified Rheumatologist

Expert Answer

It often depends on the underlying cause of the knee pain. I have an appropriately cushioned mattress and working on mobility and stretching can help. If the knee pain is caused by arthritis such as If it's gout or pseudogout, then you probably need to discuss with talk to your rheumatologist about medications or therapy. If the underlying cause it's osteoarthritis, you could discuss physical therapy, oral medications or topical medications that may help.

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How to Heal a Meniscus Tear

Steps

Can a meniscus tear heal on its own?

What at-home remedies can I try?

What other non-surgical treatments are there?

Do I need surgery?

How long does it take to recover from torn meniscus surgery?

How long does it take for a torn meniscus to heal without surgery?

What is the prognosis for a torn meniscus?

How do I know if I have a torn meniscus?

Do I need to see a doctor?

Can you walk around on a torn meniscus?

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