Some meniscus tears can heal on their own, although surgery can be done to repair the tears faster. Otherwise, the rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) protocol is advised:
- Rest – take a break from the activity that caused the injury
- Ice – use cold packs on the injury for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
- Compression – use an elastic compression bandage to prevent further swelling
- Elevation – recline during rest and lift the leg up higher than the heart to reduce swelling
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be used to reduce pain and swelling.
If surgery is needed to repair or remove the pieces of the torn meniscus, this is usually done by arthroscopy (minimally invasive surgery).