Knee problem - cartilage damage?
Discussion
I've had pain in my left knee for years. I work in a physical role - I'm a metalworker and often carry heavy things, plus I'm often bending down and working on my knees.
My knee creaks inside the joint and hurts 100% of the time. When I walk I drag my left leg slightly in order to keep it bent as straightening it out fully sometimes causes it to give way. Over the past year it has gotten worse and I'm finding driving hard at times. It's starting to affect me quite a lot now.
Any suggestions of what it could be? I will go to the doctor about it... one day.
My knee creaks inside the joint and hurts 100% of the time. When I walk I drag my left leg slightly in order to keep it bent as straightening it out fully sometimes causes it to give way. Over the past year it has gotten worse and I'm finding driving hard at times. It's starting to affect me quite a lot now.
Any suggestions of what it could be? I will go to the doctor about it... one day.
I have the same problem (although through powerlifting). Constant pain and haven't been able to drive in nearly 3 weeks.
Just waiting on Bupa sorting out the paperwork and hopefully I can get an MRI. Went to see my GP and he said the NHS would have me get an X-ray which would take 4 weeks to get back, then I'd have to do physio, which would fix nothing, and then they could book me for an MRI, probably in 2016. After that I might get surgery this time next Summer depending how busy they are.
Once Bupa give the green light, I'll have a consultation, MRI within 2 days and surgery within a week of that. Oh and the same surgeon, MRI machine and operating table the NHS use too.
Just waiting on Bupa sorting out the paperwork and hopefully I can get an MRI. Went to see my GP and he said the NHS would have me get an X-ray which would take 4 weeks to get back, then I'd have to do physio, which would fix nothing, and then they could book me for an MRI, probably in 2016. After that I might get surgery this time next Summer depending how busy they are.
Once Bupa give the green light, I'll have a consultation, MRI within 2 days and surgery within a week of that. Oh and the same surgeon, MRI machine and operating table the NHS use too.
I've got something similar however I just went to see my physio who has more or less sorted it out. He is a little dismissive of the medical approach, apparently research has shown that surgery only produces a temporary effect and the problems will return.
I had one consultation where the problem was diagnosed and I was given a selection of exercises (squats and lunges) that I should do 3 times a week and some stretches that need to be done everyday. I still have some pain but then I'm a bit rubbish at exercising regularly but despite that it has still been much improved.
I had one consultation where the problem was diagnosed and I was given a selection of exercises (squats and lunges) that I should do 3 times a week and some stretches that need to be done everyday. I still have some pain but then I'm a bit rubbish at exercising regularly but despite that it has still been much improved.
jurbie said:
apparently research has shown that surgery only produces a temporary effect and the problems will return.
It was more that there is a risk. If your a middle aged person sitting behind a desk all week and waddling around a golf course at the weekend there's probably no point in it.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11678887/K...
There was a rebuttal to that study from the surgeons, I cant find it just now though.
Art0ir said:
I have the same problem (although through powerlifting). Constant pain and haven't been able to drive in nearly 3 weeks.
Just waiting on Bupa sorting out the paperwork and hopefully I can get an MRI. Went to see my GP and he said the NHS would have me get an X-ray which would take 4 weeks to get back, then I'd have to do physio, which would fix nothing, and then they could book me for an MRI, probably in 2016. After that I might get surgery this time next Summer depending how busy they are.
Once Bupa give the green light, I'll have a consultation, MRI within 2 days and surgery within a week of that. Oh and the same surgeon, MRI machine and operating table the NHS use too.
Do you kind me asking the cost?Just waiting on Bupa sorting out the paperwork and hopefully I can get an MRI. Went to see my GP and he said the NHS would have me get an X-ray which would take 4 weeks to get back, then I'd have to do physio, which would fix nothing, and then they could book me for an MRI, probably in 2016. After that I might get surgery this time next Summer depending how busy they are.
Once Bupa give the green light, I'll have a consultation, MRI within 2 days and surgery within a week of that. Oh and the same surgeon, MRI machine and operating table the NHS use too.
I have had problems with my knees for years. Went to the doctor 10 or so years ago who sent me to a phsyio. She set me a ridiculous number of exercises,some that did nothing, and some that were painful and seemed to make it worse. Took half and hour plus to do 3 times a day and I didn't have time.
Really bothering me now, kneeling, crouching, and any kind of exercise, even low impact like cycling is uncomfortable and makes it and the clicking worse. I don't think I've ever really absurd them
bluezaskar said:
jurbie said:
apparently research has shown that surgery only produces a temporary effect and the problems will return.
It was more that there is a risk. If your a middle aged person sitting behind a desk all week and waddling around a golf course at the weekend there's probably no point in it.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/11678887/K...
There was a rebuttal to that study from the surgeons, I cant find it just now though.
"That article in the Telegraph was the usual, surface scratching, headline grabbing, written in 10 mins before the office closes, does more harm than good, guff."
However........ The evidence shows that arthroscopy for Osteoarthritis in the absence of mechanical symptoms (catching, clicking, grinding) is not a good use of time, and brings with it more needless complications. The rate of complications for arthroscopy is still very very low at about 1 in 2000. NICE has clarified this for all non-knee surgeons (who knew it already) https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg230
You need to be an experienced orthopaedic practitioner to see through the numbers in that research study, and it lends itself very nicely to alarmist twaddle. (eg the BMJ) There is a nugget of truth in it though.
Keyhole surgery for a knee that is worn can be very useful for new, discrete mechanical symptoms when they predominate over baseline osteoarthritic pain (nagging, dull, throbbing)
Just to clear up some other errors in the above comments (although all well intentioned)
MRI is really really poor at giving a definitive answer in these age groups because the number of asymptomatic things seen on MRI is high. You are almost bound to find a (false) positive on MRI in a 50+ yr old.
A good surgeon or physio can work out why the knee hurts with a good detailed history and some Xrays. Some physios are really good at this, conversely I hear some pretty shocking things relayed to me from the mouths of physios....
A private arthroscopy and 'tidy-up' usually is of the order of £3-5k for a self pay patient.
Will.
2000+ arthroscopies
I've had one on my left knee that hasn't bothered me since and Im just recovering from a rebuilt ACL in my right. I'm all for arthroscopies.
The amount of lazy s
ts that dont seem to have bothered their arses doing any of the exercises given to them to rehab is ridiculous though. Every time I'm at the physio you hear from the curtain next door "ooh no I havent had time" or "It's too difficult". Idiots.
The amount of lazy s
ts that dont seem to have bothered their arses doing any of the exercises given to them to rehab is ridiculous though. Every time I'm at the physio you hear from the curtain next door "ooh no I havent had time" or "It's too difficult". Idiots.I finally went to the doctor, who bent my leg in all manner of positions (which caused it to hurt like mad throughout the day) and told me to seek physiotherapy. I still think it's something more than that but apparently I only have to have one session to see if it works, if not they'll send me for a scan.
If you're open to the idea of health food supplements, my wife was recommended Aloe Vera for a back problem a few years back - and hasn't stopped taking it since! I take it for general health too, it seems to help. Not cheap but a lot of people swear by it. The one she uses has some extra stuff for joints in.
Well i'm not sure about supliments, but i've recently taken to codliver/fish oil to get rid of the squeeky joints. seems to help...
As to physio - I recomend it, and get some good exercises and make time to do them, the stretches and the exercises. I had an agonising pain in the bottom of my knee and top front of my lower leg, this was through running. I am still waiting to speak to the hospital specialist after an xray and mri in the summer. However in the meantime I saw a physio who had 8 sessions with me, and the exercises have been different each time to work the area, but its made the pain lessen dramatically, I can run for similar distances as before the problem occured.
But I did make time to do the exercises, thats really on you. I know people who have had sessions, not done the exercises then moaned the physio was a waste of time.
As to physio - I recomend it, and get some good exercises and make time to do them, the stretches and the exercises. I had an agonising pain in the bottom of my knee and top front of my lower leg, this was through running. I am still waiting to speak to the hospital specialist after an xray and mri in the summer. However in the meantime I saw a physio who had 8 sessions with me, and the exercises have been different each time to work the area, but its made the pain lessen dramatically, I can run for similar distances as before the problem occured.
But I did make time to do the exercises, thats really on you. I know people who have had sessions, not done the exercises then moaned the physio was a waste of time.
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