How your doctor treats your meniscus tear depends on several things, such as the type of tear, where it is, and how serious it is. Your age and how active you are may also affect your treatment choices.

Treatment may include:

• Rest, ice, wrapping the knee with an elastic bandage, and propping up the leg on pillows.
• Physical therapy.
• Surgery to repair the meniscus.
• Surgery to remove part of the meniscus.

Small tears at the outer edge of the meniscus often heal with rest and physical therapy. Surgery is a good option for larger tears at the outer edge of the meniscus.

Surgery may not work as well with large tears near the center of the meniscus. But surgery to repair this kind of tear may be the right choice for young people, because it can help the knee work again. Older people may not get the same benefit from this surgery.

How long it takes to recover from surgery will depend on the type of surgery you have. Your recovery plan is likely to include rest, walking, and special exercises.