how long should a cortisone injection in knee offer relief?

[seethelight]

Originally Posted by matisse12

You might want to read up on surgery for a torn meniscus. For many people, studies have shown that surgery for a torn meniscus (depending on the type & extent of tear) has the same results as no surgery at all.

I'm assuming that you have never had a torn meniscus, otherwise you would never have made that statement. I had surgery on both knees at the same time, both with torn meniscus tears. Healed in a month.
When you have pain that won't go away, get surgery.

[TerraDown]

I am so sorry to hear this Pippy. And just day before yesterday I saw something on the news where they actually are experimenting with a viscous type of synthetic membrane, I wish I could find a link for you. It is a replacement for the meniscus.
Other than that, and since I personally would not want someone cutting on me unless I couldn't stand it anymore (like many posters here-I understand) have you seen this?

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...urgery-n771221

[villageidiot1]

Originally Posted by PippySkiddles

An Orthopedic doc did an injection in my left knee because I have a torn meniscus. I really wanted the surgery but he insisted insurance requires we do injections first. The injection was done 12/20/2017 and I was pleasantly surprised that the pain I had been experiencing was gone within a couple of days. What a relief!! Right? Well-the pain has returned. Began again a few days ago. I'm going to call the doc back tomorrow but meanwhile was curious if anyone else has had the injection -what results did you have?
The reason I had insisted on the surgery was for this very reason. If I had had the surgery I would already be a month into recovery. I considered the injection to be a Band-Aid temporary solution. I think I was correct

I've been dealing with a torn meniscus for over 12 years. I had arthroscopic surgery by a top orthopedic surgeon and I was not impressed. Surgery has the best results when the primary symptoms of the meniscus tear are mechanical. This means that the meniscus tear is causing a catching or locking sensation of the knee. When the meniscus tear is causing pain only, the results of surgery may not be as reliable. I suggest understanding the different type of surgery options and if you are a candidate for a repair. Most people are not or it doesn't work.

• Arthroscopic repair. Your doctor will make small cuts in your knee. He’ll insert an arthroscope to get a good look at the tear. Then he’ll place small devices that look like darts along the tear to stitch it up. Your body will absorb these over time.

• Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Your doctor will remove a piece of the torn meniscus so your knee can function normally.

• Arthroscopic total meniscectomy. During this procedure, your doctor will remove the whole meniscus.

I've also had a few cortisone injections in my knee. My experience is the first one works the best and the longest. There's concern that repeated cortisone shots might cause the cartilage within a joint to deteriorate. So doctors typically limit the number of cortisone shots into a joint. In general, you shouldn't get cortisone injections more often than every six weeks and usually not more than three or four times a year.

[bluedevilz]

Originally Posted by villageidiot1

I've been dealing with a torn meniscus for over 12 years. I had arthroscopic surgery by a top orthopedic surgeon and I was not impressed. Surgery has the best results when the primary symptoms of the meniscus tear are mechanical. This means that the meniscus tear is causing a catching or locking sensation of the knee. When the meniscus tear is causing pain only, the results of surgery may not be as reliable. I suggest understanding the different type of surgery options and if you are a candidate for a repair. Most people are not or it doesn't work.

• Arthroscopic repair. Your doctor will make small cuts in your knee. He’ll insert an arthroscope to get a good look at the tear. Then he’ll place small devices that look like darts along the tear to stitch it up. Your body will absorb these over time.

• Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Your doctor will remove a piece of the torn meniscus so your knee can function normally.

• Arthroscopic total meniscectomy. During this procedure, your doctor will remove the whole meniscus.

I've also had a few cortisone injections in my knee. My experience is the first one works the best and the longest. There's concern that repeated cortisone shots might cause the cartilage within a joint to deteriorate. So doctors typically limit the number of cortisone shots into a joint. In general, you shouldn't get cortisone injections more often than every six weeks and usually not more than three or four times a year.

^ This

Best post on this thread and entirely correct...

For those who think meniscus tears "heal on their own" you are misinformed. Rarely is a tear within the vascular zone that has the necessary blood supply in order to heal

However, often times the symptoms will wane over time and unless there are mechanical symptoms of catching, locking or giving way, nothing more needs to be done. Doesn't mean the tear has "healed" just that the symptoms have gone away.