A Successful Case Study on Meniscal Tear via Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol

Meniscus is an important part of the knee that helps with lubrication, stability, shock absorption, and sharing load. Meniscal tears are common sports injuries, affecting about 60 out of 100,000 people. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness, and pain when twisting the knee. Surgery is often needed but can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and worsen meniscus function. Hence, better treatments are sought. Ayurveda offers methods like Panchakarma and others to relieve pain and lower PTOA risk. A 39 years male suffering from severe pain, tenderness and restricted movements along with swelling in the left knee joint since 1 week was diagnosed with grade 3 posterior horn meniscal tear and grade 2 anterior horn meniscal tear. A treatment plan included medications and therapies like Sneha Agnikarma, Snigdha Lepam, Abhyangam, Patra Pinda Swedam, Yoga Vasti, and Janu Vasti, along with rehabilitation. Sneha Agnikarma relieves pain, Snigdha Lepam reduces swelling and Abhyangam improves stability and balance.At the end of treatment, pain reduced to be mild with Visual Analogue Scale reading as 2 with no tenderness and swelling. Hence, Ayurvedic treatment protocol proves to help in reducing pain and increase the joint stability without the involvement of invasive procedures and rehabilitation in decelerating the risk of developing early osteoarthritis.