We all rely on our knees – whether for general mobility or intense exercise, it’s crucial to ensure your leg joints are flexible and strong. Unfortunately, there may be occasions – such as when you tear a meniscus – where you need medical or therapeutic support to get back on your feet.
Your menisci are essential pieces of cartilage found between your tibia (or shin) and femur (thigh). You have two menisci per knee – one to the inside and one to the outside – and you need them to keep stable and flexible through everyday movement. A meniscus can tear through a twisting of the knee – whether through an accident, intense exercise, or due to degeneration.
Recovery can be painful and restrictive regardless of how you tear a meniscus. Full rehabilitation may take weeks depending on your chosen course of action – with painkillers only ever helping to mask the problem. Have you considered trying acupuncture for a meniscus tear, for example, to help recover more efficiently?
Why is acupuncture for meniscus tears recommended?
Acupuncture is widely regarded as one of the most effective, non-invasive treatments available for various muscle and tissue injuries. By targeting specific motor and tissue points across your body, acupuncturists can help to promote faster, less painful healing of meniscus tears through several means.
Acupuncture involves releasing tension, increasing blood flow and oxygen to joints and tissues in the body. By ensuring the menisci receive crucial resources like blood, oxygen, and nutrients, patients can expect to regain flexibility and mobility sooner than through rest alone.
There are also proven anti-inflammatory benefits to acupuncture, and some studies suggest that regular treatment may help to promote the rebuilding of cartilage (such as menisci). In addition to promoting repair and speeding up mobile recovery, acupuncture is found to help provide faster, more effective pain relief compared to some traditional medications. Acupuncture for meniscus tear cases may be recommended alongside a course of medication and ongoing hospital treatment.
It’s important to remember that not all meniscus tears are the same. For example, it may take longer than anticipated for acupuncture to help relieve pain and promote cartilage repair depending on your age and physical profile. It’s always important to discuss your concerns and expectations from therapy carefully with an acupuncture specialist.
When should I book an acupuncture session for a meniscus tear?
In most cases, you may benefit from acupuncture for meniscus tears as soon as you receive a diagnosis. This condition can be debilitating for many reasons – whether you work on your feet or are highly active in your spare time, it’s not recommended that you return to your previous lifestyle until your treatment completes. As mentioned, this may take weeks in some cases.
There may be some scenarios where your physician or doctor recommends you try acupuncture to help speed up your recovery, and to help provide additional pain relief. There is no harm in seeking acupuncture support alongside general medical care to recover more efficiently. If you are concerned about which method of treatment is likely to work best for you, always ask a doctor’s advice.
Leaving a meniscal tear to fester may result in further pain, discomfort, and lasting damage. Not only is it important to seek medical advice as soon as possible with knee pain and injury, it’s also wise to consider a variety of treatments open to you.
Your first session and what to expect
When arriving for a session of acupuncture for a meniscus tear, you’ll be carefully guided through how the process works. Rather than expecting a painful experience, an acupuncturist will carefully insert sterilized needles into specific motor points across your body, creating warming sensations. The most you’ll typically feel from this procedure is slight pressure – as your tissues start to relax and allow blood to flow freely around your body.
Generally, you can expect acupuncture for meniscus tears to revolve mostly around your legs, shins, knees, and hips. However, acupuncturists may decide to target other areas of your body where they can better redirect blood circulation. Most traditional acupuncturists follow a symmetrical map, in line with historical practice. This means even if you only have meniscal tears in one knee, your acupuncturist will likely target the other simultaneously.
It’s not unusual to experience immediate relief from a meniscus tear after one session of professional acupuncture. Over time, it may take three or more sessions for your condition to heal fully or for pain to dissipate completely. As all bodies are different and will react individually to acupuncture, it’s important to discuss your expectations with a specialist at the start of your treatment program. It’s important to check in for regular acupuncture even if your knees start to feel better sooner than you think!
At Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture, you’ll be given a chance to explore a wide variety of treatment options for a torn meniscus. After a brief strength assessment and questionnaire, our clinic will map out a treatment plan to ensure you get back on your feet in no time. We may include treatment options such as cupping, electrostimulation and soft tissue mobilization- to help speed up your recovery.
Book acupuncture for meniscus tear today
Your first two-hour assessment session with Lycoming Orthopedic & Sports Acupuncture will provide a gentle introduction to long-lasting pain management for torn menisci. Functional acupuncture can help to provide renewed flexibility and function. It’s efficient and effective at getting you back to work, to the gym, and to the activities you love most.
It’s easy to book your first session with our clinic. Simply call us directly or book online at a date and time that’s convenient for you. If you’ve never considered acupuncture for meniscus tear pain before, or your physician has recommended a course of treatment, allow us to welcome you to a more flexible, mobile future. Attend your first assessment, and let’s draw up a plan to help you on the road to full recovery.
