Meniscal tears can be painful and even dangerous if not diagnosed and treated properly. However, they are one of the most common knee injuries and do not have to result in a permanent handicap. With the appropriate amount of rest and physical therapy, the knee can heal and regain strength. While running with a torn meniscus may be physically possible, the significant amount of pain that accompanies such an action should act as a clear warning sign. Running with a torn meniscus only increases the length of recovery time and can lead to a long-term disability.
Anatomy
In each of your knees are rubbery wedges of cartilage at the joint where your thighbone meets your shinbone. This knee cartilage is called the meniscus. There are three wedges of meniscus in each of your knees: two on the inside of the knee and one on the outside. This cartilage acts as a buffer to keep the bones from grinding against one another or the knee cap.
Purpose
The meniscus provides a cushion for the thigh and shin bones, absorbing the force of impact and stabilizing the knee joint. It also protects and provides supplementary nutrients for the surface cartilage of the knee, called the hyaline cartilage. Because it plays such a necessary role in the function and protection of the knee, it is especially important to take particular precautions in treating a torn or damaged meniscus, by refraining from running and other activities that could exacerbate the injury.
Damages of Running
If a torn meniscus goes untreated, symptoms can become painful to the point of disrupting daily activities such as squatting, kneeling or climbing stairs. Running with a torn meniscus only intensifies the injury. In such cases, the knee becomes stiff and swollen, accompanied by severe pain. If a piece of the meniscus comes loose and slips into the joint, the knee may lock and refuse to bend or straighten.
Recovery
Small tears on the outside of the meniscus can be treated without surgery, according to the RICE procedure: Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate. If the meniscus has been damaged on the inside of the meniscus, an arthroscopy may be necessary, in which a tiny camera is inserted into the knee so the surgeon can see where to snip away the injured meniscus. Meniscal replacements are available, and in some cases a healthy meniscus has grown back in place of the damaged one. After three months of post-arthroscopy rehabilitation, you can return to running without any further damage to the knee.
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