Bone bruise v. Meniscus tear

[therobinator]

Could anyone tell me the symptoms of bone bruising in the knee, versus the symptoms of a meniscus tear?  I am getting a second opinion on my MRI today, but also want to gather as much of my own information as possible.  Thank you.

(This is a duplicate post of something I just put in the Meniscus forum, but I realized it would probably belong here better than there.  I tried to delete the post in the other section, but the system won't let me.  I apologize for the double-posting.)

[Vickster]

I had both... Big bone bruise to femur, and due to the meniscus tear, I had locking (couldn't straighten knee), lots of swelling and as time went on, grinding and buckling (walking and actually just sitting).  I also had a decent sized osteochondral defect in the cartilage on my femur which also hurt!

Good luck

[therobinator]

Are locking, and not being able to straighten completely, the same thing?

[Vickster]

Yes indeed

[therobinator]

Really? They sound quite different to me.  Locking would (to me) imply getting stuck and being unable to move in any direction.  Not being able to straighten all the way seems to describe perhaps a condition that would improve (as in be able to straighten more and more) as swelling subsides over time, and I would think you'd also be able to reverse direction once you get to the most straightened out point, whereas if it was truly locked, you'd be stuck from reversing direction at this point.  Not that I doubt your description of your own experience, but I would love to hear the opinions of others.  Many thanks in advance.

[Vickster]

The knee locks with meniscus tears as the flap gets stuck in the joint. Have a read of the meniscus section in the information hub. What did your first mri show?  I couldn't straighten my knee for 5 months. Then the buckling started and it was time for surgery. A small tear had got much worse.[

[therobinator]

My MRI report said "there is linear intrasubstance signal within the posterior horn of the medial meniscus, but no discrete surfacing tear."  The images and report are with a second facility today, getting a look over for a second opinion.  I woudln't say my knee locks.  I would say it's stiff and still slightly swollen (6 weeks post injury) and that's what is preventing me from straightening it out completely.  Just my non-professional opinion.  I can easily straighten it out about 97% of my normal, and can walk mostly normally most of the time....no running or jumping yet of course (there's also diffuse bone bruising in there).  I can straighten it out all the way, but it takes a bit more effort do so that with my "good" leg.  No real pain unless I jar it or have accidental impact (again, the bruising).  It is getting better (albeit very slightly) each day -- no backtracking.  I don't think I have a meniscus tear, just the diffuse bone bruising....but I want to be sure, of course.