Will a meniscus tear heal on its own?

A meniscus tear itself usually doesn’t heal on its own, except in young patients (<10 years old). However, some patients with small tears may not experience pain or physical limitations if treated with rest for 6 weeks. In most cases, meniscus tears are larger and cause pain, swelling, catching or locking. These larger tears generally require surgery to repair or remove the torn piece of meniscus.