Symptoms

You might experience a "popping" sensation when you tear the meniscus. A torn meniscus is usually signaled by a sharp pain on the inside or outside of the knee, where the menisci are located. Most people can still walk on the injured knee and many athletes keep playing. When symptoms of inflammation set in, your knee feels painful and tight. You will have stiffness and swelling, tenderness and a collection of fluid ("water on the knee") for several days after the injury.

Without treatment a fragment of the meniscus can loosen and drift into the joint. If a torn piece of meniscus gets caught in the hinge portion of your knee it may "lock" so that you can't completely straighten it. If you think you have a meniscal tear, see a physician right away for diagnosis and individualized treatment.