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Had Knee Replacement. Diagnosed With Myxoid Degeneration Of Medial Meniscus. Taken Glucosamine. Done MRI. Suggest
Hi, My wife has been diagnosed with "Myxoid degeneration of the medial meniscus" thru MRI reports of the left knee. The problem is more in the left knee but right knee has also started developing the similar but less sever pain. She is 47 years old. We have consulted the GP who says there can be only two things that can be done: a) Injections in the knee, when pain becomes sever and b) knee replacement in the long run.
I have following questions to the experts:
1) What sort of exercises can help in her case? Can physiotherapy be of significant help?
2) What precautions she should take in day-to-day life?
3) Any health supplements (like Krill oil, Glucosamine, Calcium + Vitamin D3) required?
4) Any medical advancement/new treatment is either out or in the pipeline?
I have following questions to the experts:
1) What sort of exercises can help in her case? Can physiotherapy be of significant help?
2) What precautions she should take in day-to-day life?
3) Any health supplements (like Krill oil, Glucosamine, Calcium + Vitamin D3) required?
4) Any medical advancement/new treatment is either out or in the pipeline?
Fri, 20 Sep 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Yes, a course of conservative management in the form of physiotherapy can be tried in case of meniscal tears.
* activity modification by avoiding impact sports which causes more strain on the knee joint
* using an elastic compression bandage to reduce the swelling
* Ice packing to alleviate the pain
* Physiotherapy to strengthen the quadriceps muscle
Though there is no evidence based data to suggest the usefulness of Glucosamine/calcium/Vit D3 in meniscal tears, there is no harm in consuming them. Glucosamine is found to improve the pain in degenerative knee joint.
Presently, Arthroscopy is the method of choice for treating the meniscal tears either by repair or by resection.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
Yes, a course of conservative management in the form of physiotherapy can be tried in case of meniscal tears.
* activity modification by avoiding impact sports which causes more strain on the knee joint
* using an elastic compression bandage to reduce the swelling
* Ice packing to alleviate the pain
* Physiotherapy to strengthen the quadriceps muscle
Though there is no evidence based data to suggest the usefulness of Glucosamine/calcium/Vit D3 in meniscal tears, there is no harm in consuming them. Glucosamine is found to improve the pain in degenerative knee joint.
Presently, Arthroscopy is the method of choice for treating the meniscal tears either by repair or by resection.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
I find this answer helpful
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Myxoid degeneration of the medial meniscus (a type of cartilage) of the knee joints is a degenerative process.
Degenerative processes are usually progressive and do not revert back.
Phsiotherapy cannot stop the degenerative process.
The general precautions to stop the damage are to avoid movements at the knee joint which may aggravate the pain and damage. You need to consult your orthopedician and physiotherapist to know which movements or which exercises are not suitable for your knees.
Glucosamine is drug preparation which boosts up the regenration of the cartilage. However, cartilage tissue has very low regenerative potential.
As the degenerative process advances, there may be total destruction of the cartilage.
In such case, total knee replacement may be required.
However, the procedure is safe, the life of the prosthesis is fairly long and quality of life is good.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
Myxoid degeneration of the medial meniscus (a type of cartilage) of the knee joints is a degenerative process.
Degenerative processes are usually progressive and do not revert back.
Phsiotherapy cannot stop the degenerative process.
The general precautions to stop the damage are to avoid movements at the knee joint which may aggravate the pain and damage. You need to consult your orthopedician and physiotherapist to know which movements or which exercises are not suitable for your knees.
Glucosamine is drug preparation which boosts up the regenration of the cartilage. However, cartilage tissue has very low regenerative potential.
As the degenerative process advances, there may be total destruction of the cartilage.
In such case, total knee replacement may be required.
However, the procedure is safe, the life of the prosthesis is fairly long and quality of life is good.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
I find this answer helpful
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