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It is extremely common for athletes (especially females) to have pain in the ligaments and tendons that hold their knee together. The meniscus is a cushion like part of the knee and is very painful when severely torn. As far as my knowledge goes, I do not think I have done any damage to my meniscus but it is a possibility that I have strained it or cause minor damage to it.
From my experience, I am going to advise what to be aware of when you believe you may be an injured athlete and what to do when you find yourself in the situation.
Step 1: Listen to your body. You know better than anyone else if you are hurt. Nobody else can feel your pain! If you do not inform a coach or another person nearby about it, they may not notice and continuing to play may increase the amount of pain and damage that is done to whatever body part.
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Step 2: Don't be afraid to sit out! So many athletes think that playing while being injured makes them look "tough" but they aren't thinking about their future. They may or may not finish whatever activity they are doing in the moment but, for all they know, they could be making their injury worse. For all they know, the strenuous activity could hurt them more and cause them to sit out from playing longer than if they had taken the one day off.
Step 3: If you find yourself having done something that causes minor damage that does not require professional attention then go home and RICE. RICE is an acronym meaning Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate. The first thing anyone who is injured should do it take a break. Lay down on a couch or just sit down for a little while. Then, it is very important to ice the bothered area for 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. NEVER PUT ICE DIRECTLY ON SKIN. The ice will reduce swelling around the area and allow the body to do its job in healing. Next, compress the area as best you can. It is important to keep the area tight and steady so no other damage can occur. Finally, elevate the area to above heart level if possible. This also reduces swelling by making it harder for blood to flow to the area in vast amounts.
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Step 4: Do not rush your recovery! I have known plenty of people who were so eager to recover from their injuries and ended up playing too soon. This resulted in them no longer being physically able to participate in the sport because too much damage had been done. It is sad when these situations happen because the person will most likely feel that pain for the rest of their life. Make sure you listen to a physician and to your own body. As I said, you know better than anyone else if you are ready to be active again.
