They said you have to push yourself because no one else is going to do it for you and when you do, you’ll find yourself on the top. In sports life and action, this saying may seem true and very convincing. But realistically, pushing yourself too hard can cause pain and other physical complications.
As we grow older, our body gets weaker. Our muscles, limbs, and joints are slowly getting damaged and sometimes get dysfunctional. In the edge of the cliff, athletes are even more prone to physical damages that can harm them persistently and can affect their sporty life. One of the common physical injuries they encounter is the tearing of meniscus. In this article, we will discuss frequently asked questions about torn meniscus and how much does torn meniscus surgery cost.
Torn Meniscus Explained
Our joints play a vital role in the body. They improve mobility and promote functionality of the extremities by giving certain range of motion. On our knees, there is a cartilage called menisci placed on the middle of shinbone and thigh bone. This cartilage gives smooth interaction to the bones and prevents them from crashing to each other.
But this tiny c-shaped cartilage is vulnerable and sometimes gets easily torn. Aggressive activities that require extreme lower-extremity movements trigger our meniscus of getting torn. But this is often treated by conservative 
remedies but in severe cases, a surgery might be the best option of treatment. The average cost of torn meniscus surgery will depend upon the type of treatment.
Meniscus tear surgery price is a subject that must be discussed elaborately. It is important to get full information to things you have to pay when getting a surgery for torn meniscus.
The tearing of meniscus is caused by enraged physical movements especially movements associated on the lower extremities. A sudden stop or barbaric pivoting can tear the meniscus.
The clinical symptoms of torn meniscus include constant pain even with minimal movement on the knee, swelling, difficulty in straightening the knee, and a popping sensation. If you’ve been having such symptoms, it is best to consult a doctor to get relevant medical counsels.
Torn Meniscus Will Tear Your Wallets Apart
Having closer look on the accounts of the meniscus tear surgery price, it is important to note that the price will vary accordingly across the state, the surgeon, and the health facility.
How much does torn meniscus surgery cost? The BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina has shown estimation for the torn meniscus surgery price. Blue Ridge Surgery Center in Raleigh, NC, charges $4,105 for the surgery while in Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, NC, the surgery will cost you $11,626.
There are several medical factors that can affect the average cost of meniscus surgery. To put that in a brighter sentence, the price will depend on the length of time spent for the surgery, the number of days the patient had stayed in the facility, supplies and medication, additional examinations, and other special care services. But the surgery usually takes only 20 minutes to 1 hour, but in severe cases that require extensive invasive operation like blood transfusion, the patient may stay on the hospital of up to 3 days.
Arthroscopy is a method performed when fixing knee problems such as meniscal tears. This method uses a device called arthroscope, a gun-like device that has a narrow tube on its peak with a camera and light at the end similar to endoscope. The orthopedic will make a small incision on the lateral part of the knee after administering general anesthesia. With arthroscope, the special can fix, trim, or adjust the meniscus with other special equipments.
The average cost of torn meniscus surgery through arthroscopy is approximately $9,677 up to $11,675 or higher. This is according to the surgery price estimator of St. Elizabeth CHI Health.
Have I mentioned that torn meniscus does not always require a surgery? To make things clear, no, surgery is not always applicable for torn meniscus unless the case is worse or merely severe. There are alternative treatments you can try that are drastically way cheaper than the meniscus tear surgery price.
How to Not Get Broke Even With Torn Meniscus
When you’re experiencing the symptoms of a torn meniscus, the best aid is to rest your body. Resting the body may give time for the knee to heal itself. Placing a pillow under the knee to incline the affected area is a good remedy, too.
The second self-treatment is to compress the area of concern with ice with an ice bag or a bunch of ice cubes on a towel. The cold sensation can help reduce the swelling and may lessen the pain.
Medications can also help you through the pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs like Advil or Ibuprofen can be bought over the counter. It is best to consult a doctor or pharmacist for the right dosage regimen for you. These medicines are generally $2 to $20 depending on the dosage regimen.
Physical therapy can also help patients fix that broken knee. Physical therapy is cost-effective and has been proven to therapeutically relieve the pain and heal the affected area. Physical therapy is only $50 to $75 per hour. Physical therapy will only cost you $1000 up to $2000 for a 3 to 4 hours therapy for one week.
More detailed information is given by Mayo Clinic for other treatments for torn meniscus.
Before Your Meniscus Get Torn
It is still best to consult your physician or an orthopedic to get the right assessment and the precise treatment for your situation. You can also ask them how much does torn meniscus surgery cost on their aesthetic clinics. The cost of consultation is typically $100 to $300 but may be lesser if covered by insurance.
The surgery is medically necessary making it mandatory for insurance companies to cover the expenses. Patients with insurance will pay for the co-payments and co-insurance that is 10%. Other services uncovered by the insurance must be paid out-of-the-pocket.
To avoid such premium spending, there is a thing called “prevention” that you can try. It is free and physically friendly. Things you can do as a practice of diligent prevention is to have mental and physical awareness by avoiding extreme and hazardous activities. Extra care must be apprehended for sports that need aggressive physical movements.