Knee cartilage damage: what it means and what helps

Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last reviewed October 2026.

Short answer: "cartilage damage" in the knee most often means a meniscus tear. The NHS describes a meniscus tear as a common type of damage to the cartilage that sits between the knee bones and protects them. Many tears get better without treatment, though it can take a while. PRP is not a repair for a torn meniscus, and the research on it is mixed.

What the NHS says a meniscus tear feels like

The NHS says a tear usually happens when you twist your knee in sport, but smaller twists, such as turning as you stand up, can do it. Symptoms include:

• Knee pain or tenderness.
• Stiffness or swelling, which may not start for a few hours or days.
• Difficulty bending, straightening or moving the knee.
• The knee giving way when you try to stand.
• A crunching or clicking feeling when you move it.

The NHS notes the symptoms can be similar to a sprain, so a proper assessment is how you tell them apart.

What helps at first

The NHS advice for the first few days is to rest the knee when you can, use an ice pack or bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours, wear a bandage or knee support (not in bed), keep the leg raised, and take paracetamol or ibuprofen gel or tablets. It says not to use heat packs, drink alcohol, massage the knee or carry anything heavy, and not to stop moving the knee completely. After a few days of rest, try gentle movements.

When to get help

See a GP if the pain stops you doing normal activities or affects sleep, keeps coming back or is getting worse, has not improved with home treatment, or if the knee is stiff for more than 30 minutes after waking.

The NHS says to get an urgent GP appointment or call 111 if you have very bad pain after a fall or injury, cannot walk or put weight on the knee, the skin is swollen and hot, you have a high temperature or feel shivery, or you cannot bend or straighten the leg. Go to A&E if the knee has moved out of place or changed shape, or you have tingling or no feeling in the knee, leg or toes.

What treatment usually looks like

A meniscus tear can get better on its own. Physiotherapy may be recommended to reduce pain and improve movement and strength. If the damage is severe, arthroscopic surgery can repair or remove the damaged cartilage. That is the NHS summary.

Where PRP fits

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is made from a small sample of your own blood and injected into the joint. We do not claim it regrows cartilage or repairs a torn meniscus. Where it can be worth discussing is a knee that is still painful after the first-line steps above, once the cause is clear. The research is mixed and results vary. We do not guarantee an outcome.

Our prices are plain: PRP for a joint is £750.

Next step

If you have been told you have cartilage damage and the knee is still sore, we can talk through your history and scan wording and tell you honestly whether an injection makes sense or whether another route should come first.

Message us on WhatsApp or read our knee injection guide.

Sources: NHS, Meniscus tear (knee cartilage damage), nhs.uk/conditions/meniscus-tear, page last reviewed 2 September 2026. This article is general information and not a diagnosis.