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Original poster

To be disappointed my scan was normal

268 replies

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:15

I saw a physio ages ago and was told I likely had a torn meniscus.

I’ve finally had the scan and the report says all is fine, just a small cyst. It could be a ganglion or a parameniscal. But it’s all fine.

I’ve got an appointment booked in with an orthopaedic consultant to discuss the scan properly but I’m almost sad that I just have to live with this pain now. For the last year I’ve been in agony, every step hurts, and now it turns out it’s just me being a baby.

I could cry, I really thought that I was about to find an answer and a cure. But this is just how I live my life now. I can’t imagine another 70 years of this agony.

OP posts:
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Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:43

limetrees32 · 01/07/2026 17:42

The report does not say that everything is fine ,nor that you will just have to live with it .

It does - it’s a ganglion.

To be disappointed my scan was normal
OP posts:
limetrees32 · 01/07/2026 17:42

The report does not say that everything is fine ,nor that you will just have to live with it .

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:41

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:35

They’re painless benign cysts, that’s why

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Argh this is infuriating.

You are factually incorrect.

They are benign and painless unless in a location where they cause pain.

They can be treated. The NHS presumably has criteria for treatment including severity of pain.

But also a significant number of ganglion cysts do resolve, so it may resolve naturally in a shorter length of time than you would have waited for a knee surgery.

BillieWiper · 01/07/2026 17:41

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:24

My knee is fine. It’s just painful, and now I feel like such an idiot. My GP has said now that the mri is normal I won’t be able to get a prescription from them for painkillers, and codeine has been the only thing that helps. So now I just look like such an idiot. I’m in this much pain and it’s absolutely fine.

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But it's not absolutely fine and you do need adequate pain relief. You're not an idiot or a baby. Pain that's so intense doesn't happen for no reason. There must be a cause. Nerve issues? Regional pain syndrome? Arthritis? Polymyalgia?

You can be OK orthopedically but still have something wrong with you that's making the knee hurt.
Please don't give up on finding the cause.

If they've been prescribing codeine they surely can't just suddenly withdraw it? It needs a reduction. Not that I think they should withdraw it at all.

Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:41

notnorman · 01/07/2026 17:37

The ganglion isn’t painful in itself but they push on nerves and other areas which causes the pain.
sounds like it needs to be removed.
I had one on my wrist was sooo painful cos was on the nerve

The NHS don’t do ganglion removals unless it is causing nerve issues. There’s no way to prove my pain so there’s no way they’ll remove it

OP posts:
palrono · 01/07/2026 17:40

I realise you are in pain and cannot believe that a cause was not found, but honestly your posts are so negative.

You will be seeing the ortho surgeon soon. You must get fully positive and advocate for yourself. These people have seen everything and I doubt they will hunt you out the door with no possible treatment.

The cyst itself may be painless, but if it is resting on a nerve it will be excruciating. Speak up and fight for yourself.

You are surrendering far too quickly here I think.

Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:40

nomas · 01/07/2026 17:37

Starting to wonder if this hypochondria...

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I’ve shown you the report, I can upload each scan photo if you like?

I’ve lived with this pain for a year now. I can’t do anything I enjoy - hiking, running, even playing with my nieces and nephews is agony. I can’t squat, kneel or bend my knee properly. And I’ve been told it’s all fine and I just have to live with it

OP posts:
tartyflette · 01/07/2026 17:39

Respectfully OP, a painful knee isn’t ‘fine’ at all. And your pain sounds severe.
If the orthopedic person can’t suggest anything helpful you should be clear that OTC painkillers are not working. Ask if s/he will prescribe an analgesic that will actually help the pain if ordinary paracetamol or ibuprofen doesn’t touch it.
(You can actually buy paracetamol/codeine - usually around 500/10 mg tabs - over the counter from a chemist, eg Solpadeine Ultra or Paramol. )
I have found amytriptaline helps to some extent with my post-TKR knee pain.

DoYouWantHalfThisSandwich · 01/07/2026 17:38

@cantdothisanymor As someone who suffers from chronic pain, & has had many a scan come back ‘clear’, can I suggest you keep a pain diary between now & your Ortho appointment? A really detailed, day to day breakdown of what the pain feels like, where it is, how long it lasts (if it worsens), any activity that you feel aggravates it - basically if you feel it, note it down. You’re not being a baby, & your pain is very real & needs answers. You’re right - you can’t go on like this, & this is the point you need to make to the consultant. A clear scan does NOT invalidate your pain & how you feel about it. No one deserves to live with pain everyday 💐

JimBobsWife · 01/07/2026 17:38

You are being irrational. You're not an idiot, you're not a twat, you're not pathetic. Unless you're making up the pain?

Assuming you're not, there is some reason for the pain which is, as yet, undiagnosed.

nomas · 01/07/2026 17:37

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:32

Google tells me it’s not. The cyst is a benign growth, it’s not the cause of the pain. So now I just look like a twat, I’ll forever have a flag on my GP health record to say that I’ve been taking painkillers for no reason

Show quote history

Starting to wonder if this hypochondria...

notnorman · 01/07/2026 17:37

The ganglion isn’t painful in itself but they push on nerves and other areas which causes the pain.
sounds like it needs to be removed.
I had one on my wrist was sooo painful cos was on the nerve

Hawkmoth · 01/07/2026 17:37

I have a ganglion cyst on my wrist. Yes it's benign but it's far from painless. Sometimes it flares up and I can't use my arm properly, other days it's just uncomfortable.

If it's right on a nerve of course it's not going to be painless. If it was affecting my life I would push for removal, but it's not (not enough anyway).

Also, mines smaller than yours!

Blimms · 01/07/2026 17:36

Why have you made a twat of yourself? You’re not wrong to be upset, but your responses here are disproportionate

Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:35

Raccoonsmacaroons · 01/07/2026 17:35

OP why are you equating cyst=no pain?

They’re painless benign cysts, that’s why

OP posts:
Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:35

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:34

It isn't painless, you have pain.

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Not related to the cyst, obviously.

I’d built myself up to this so much, convinced I’d get the results and have an answer and a clear solution.

Instead I’ve wasted £360 to be told I’m pathetic. I actually feel like such an idiot

OP posts:
Raccoonsmacaroons · 01/07/2026 17:35

OP why are you equating cyst=no pain?

CalmWriter · 01/07/2026 17:34

SideboobToYouToo · 01/07/2026 17:30

Your thread title is very insensitive.

No it isn’t. It’s common and very normal for those who live with hidden illnesses and disabilities to wish something would be found, we want a reason for the pain/symptoms to be found because then it’s taken seriously and can potentially be fixed. Having a doctor tell you your results are normal is heartbreaking, frustrating and soul destroying.

WonderingWanda · 01/07/2026 17:34

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:33

The NHS won’t operate on a benign, painless growth, and I can’t afford private surgery

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But yours isn't painless.....so therefore it might meet the criteria for further treatment.

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:34

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:33

The NHS won’t operate on a benign, painless growth, and I can’t afford private surgery

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It isn't painless, you have pain.

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:33

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:29

I can’t afford a private operation, the £500 I’ve spent so far is my absolute limit. The NHS won’t operate for a clear MRI, I just feel so stupid. I’ve made such a twat of myself

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It isn't a clear MRI, it has identified a cyst/ganglion.

Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:33

WonderingWanda · 01/07/2026 17:32

A quick Google suggests that cysts can be drained or treated through key hole if they are pressing on a nerve and causing pain. You need to speak up at your consultant appointment. You don't know that they won't operate or treat this.

The NHS won’t operate on a benign, painless growth, and I can’t afford private surgery

OP posts:
Original poster
cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:32

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:32

That is a factual report, there's nothing to feel stupid about.

The next question are: 'isvtge cyst the cause of the pain and 'could removing the cyst resolve the pain?'

Show quote history

Google tells me it’s not. The cyst is a benign growth, it’s not the cause of the pain. So now I just look like a twat, I’ll forever have a flag on my GP health record to say that I’ve been taking painkillers for no reason

OP posts:
WonderingWanda · 01/07/2026 17:32

A quick Google suggests that cysts can be drained or treated through key hole if they are pressing on a nerve and causing pain. You need to speak up at your consultant appointment. You don't know that they won't operate or treat this.

concertinacornflake · 01/07/2026 17:32

cantdothisanymor · 01/07/2026 17:29

This is the report.

I just feel so stupid. I’ve spoken about how much pain I’m in, I’ve delayed runs and it turns out it’s absolutely fine.

That is a factual report, there's nothing to feel stupid about.

The next question are: 'isvtge cyst the cause of the pain and 'could removing the cyst resolve the pain?'