4 Difficulty Straightening the Knee
Another sign of a potential meniscus tear is the inability to fully straighten the leg and the knee. This can occur because of the swelling and fluid in the area, which can hamper normal movement and limit the range of motion. At the same time, the pain can make it difficult to move normally through the area.
Another reason for this might be that the friction has increased due to damage to the pad that normally helps to lubricate the joint. Then there’s the fact that bits of cartilage can get stuck in the area, as we have seen.
Seeing as a loss of movement may be unacceptable, one useful management strategy is to use a painkiller such as aspirin or ibuprofen. This is not the only analgesic but will work to thin the blood and thereby reduce swelling in the area.