To be disappointed my scan was normal

@cantdothisanymor I have to take the pictures along to the appointment and he’ll apparently go through them then

You have not yet discussed the scan findings and you are not giving your Consultant a chance to discuss the alternative cause of your pain, which appears, thankfully, to not require invasive surgery. So why all the premature 'poor me'?

Yes, a ganglion or a cyst in and of themselves are painless, but as has been said several times by previous posters, if a ganglion or cyst is pressing on a nerve, it will cause pain. Wait for your follow-up consultation with your specialist and explain what pain is being caused by the small cyst they have found.

In the meantime and whilst you are waiting to discuss the findings, there are things you can do to help yourself take weight off your knee. As somebody else recommended, you could help support the knee by using a inexpensive support bandage. Using a walking stick takes a considerable amount of weight going through the knee. Losing weight too would help (you have not said how heavy you are). Having a positive mental attitude can help our tolerance of pain, whilst a 'poor me, life is awful' attitude can make pain feel worse.

I’m not referring to her pain or condition. I am referring to her calling herself and idiot and a twat, amongst other things. She is extremely negative about herself as a person, challenging that is being kind

If it's a parameniscal cyst as suggested, the vast majority of these are actually associated with meniscal tears. Just FYI as you may have/ had a tear that is no longer visible.

I'm pretty sure that in this context, "benign" merely means "not cancerous".

It doesn't mean "not causing any other problems", and the OP's pain demonstrates it.is causing problems!

I had a painful knee once it was so painful GP said take anti-inflammatorys I did on and off it came back until a proper Dr said u must take them continuous for 10 full days and this got rid of the inflammation!!!
It might work for u u never know x

A 1.8 cm × 1.2 cm medial parameniscal cyst is a moderate-sized cyst. It's certainly large enough to cause symptoms in some people, particularly if it's pressing on nearby soft tissues or nerves. I had a similar issue, no tear visible on mri but the cyst was large. My knee was very painful especially on bending, twisting and squatting. NHS orthopedic consultant drained the cyst and it was much better. Unfortunately it refilled and I ended up with keyhole knee surgery and they found a medial
meniscus tear that they had to trim and the cyst was removed - it wasn’t visible on either MRI scan. My GP was uselsss but the consultant was excellent and could see that my knee was swollen and painful when tested and put that together with the scan. I think you should go and see the consultant. They will listen and they know what they are doing.

Are you reading anything anyone is posting? Your knee is not fine, it’s not in your head, you have a cyst, which, due to its location, is causing you pain. In another location a ganglion might not cause pain, but trapped within your knee capsule OF COURSE it is pushing against nerves and structures and causing you pain.

Your attitude is infuriating.

Personally I’d be wanting to find out it definitely is just a benign cyst. Scan says “likely”, but given the amount of pain you’re in I’d be wanting the cyst aspirated and sent off to cytology (if there is indeed fluid in it) to find out for definite. Clearly there is something underlying going on here because you shouldn’t be in this much pain in your 20s with no obvious reasoning.

There is nothing structurally wrong with my knees or hips but I’ve had pain for years and Physio helps a lot. Are you seeing a Physio regularly?

OP, it could be your back? Some issues with the spine can cause severe pain in other parts of the body. You can have zero back pain and a very sore hip/knee or similar. All referred from the actual back injury that you never knew you had.

Firstly it doesn't sound like it's painless, so they might do something for you!

Secondly, codeine can cause (I know it sounds odd but there's plenty of research into it) pain sensitivity. After long term use it can actually make you feel like you're in more pain than you are, and when you stop taking it, your brain makes you feel like you're in more pain to get you to take it again. I'm not saying this is the case with you, but it does happen.

Edit to say I worded it badly..whatever pain you have you are definitely feeling, it's just codeine can make your brain feel more pain than it would be without it after long term use.

I think a ganglion cyst that’s troublesome can be drained of fluid or surgically removed. Speak to your consultant, I’m sure there will be options.

OP I had/have a cyst in my wrist and though it wasn't constantly painful, it could make things really complicated e.g. when lifting a heavy shopping bag. They've offered to remove it (I'm not in the UK, they have more resources here) but I can't quite be arsed because now it's painful only very intermittently.

Point is, if you are in pain with every step then your knee is NOT OK. Don't let them fob you off. Be very clear to the orthopedic consultant that yes there IS a problem and something needs to be done.

Women get dismissed so easily when they're in pain. It's not right. You sound like you're used to not complaining and just getting on with things, but clearly this pain really affects you and you deserve help with it.

I hope the consultant turns out to be more constructive than the radiologist. Fingers crossed.

You've already mentioned that you've been googling. Googling where and what?

Take the MRI images to your consultant and let the qualified professional do their own analysis instead of taking it upon yourself to conclude that the images are useless.

Incidentally, the NHS page on ganglion cysts says [a] ganglion cyst is a fluid filled lump under the skin that usually appears on the wrist or hand. Ganglion cysts are common and often get better on their own. There are treatments if it's painful or affects joint movement.

Bolding mine.

It goes on to say

Most ganglion cysts do not usually need to be treated or removed.
If they are causing problems they can be treated by:

• draining the cyst using a needle (aspiration)
• a steroid injection to reduce swelling
• cutting the cyst out with a small surgical operation

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ganglion-cyst/

My mum had a ganglion cyst on her foot. It was painful as it pushed on a nerve.

She paid about £80 for a private appointment to have it drained. Although they do often come back after this but it is certainly not painful any more!!

I assume you're not overweight or anything that would cause excess pressure on the joint?

As its on a pressure joint then although they have said they cyst isn't painful it could certainly cause pain.

I'd see if you can get it drained to see if that helps.

Stop saying you are a twat- you just sound over dramatic now 🤣

For what it is worth, I've been having a very similar issue over the last few years so you are not alone and it definitely doesn't make you a twat.

I have a lot of pain, instability and locking in my knee. It's literally a textbook meniscus injury. Even saw a private surgeon who agreed. Then the MRI was completely clear. I don't think I'm a twat 😁

I'm sorry I don't have a useful suggestion but I hope you sort something out with it

Tbh, you are massively overreacting.

Your pain has not been invalidated.
You are not fine.
The med report just tells you what has been seen and what is defective. The ligaments are fine (which is good) and you have a cyst (quite large) which is not.

Effectively that cyst is the equivalent of a bit of grit in your knee joint, despite not being sharp or rock hard. The fact that ganglion dont hurt in themselves is irrelevant, anything will cause pain if its jammed in a space it's not meant to be in.

I daresay the consultant will want to reduce or resect it. They might do that with a simple needle to take out the fluid and see if reduces the pain and also if it refills and needs further treatment.

You are not outside the scope of the NHS and your GP should prescribe analgesics based on your pain not on the underlying condition.

Take some time out.
Chill out a bit.

And wait until you've seen the consultant before reacting this badly.

This worrying in advance is like paying interest on a debt you dont even have yet!!

Constant pain is demoralising and exhausting. Perhaps be a bit kinder

OP I haven't read the whole thread but I want to tell you about my experience with a ganglion cyst in my finger. For a year I lived with constant pain in one of the fingers on my dominant hand. Some days I couldn't grip properly, had a horrific burning pain and thought cutting my finger off would solve things. Finally my gp referred me to the plastics and orthopaedics department at the local hospital but said 'they won't do anything as it's not serious'. (I live with chronic knee pain and am waiting to get old enough for a replacement but I've learned what I can and can't do.) Anyway off I go and the consultant took one look at my not serious scan and x-rays and declared surgery was required. I actually had it the next day as there was a cancellation! He removed the cyst, I have a small neat scar and no pain (caused by the cyst pressing on the nerve).

@cantdothisanymor here is a calm clear explanation for your scan results which it would be a pity for you to miss

OP, as others have said, give the consultant a chance. MRIs aren't magic. They don't show all conditions and those interpreting them aren't infallible - mistakes can be made. You are not a baby. This level of pain is not normal, particularly in someone your age. You're allowed to continue to seek answers and help.

If it gives you hope, I had knee problems 4 years ago, which are now significantly better. I suspected it was a torn meniscus, but I don't know for sure. Since there really isn't a solution to it other than surgery (which wasn't an option for me then, given I couldn't afford to be off my feet or on crutches at that time), I just carried on with life. My symptoms were excruciating pain when it first happened, unable to bend my leg at all for a few months (literally, had to be straight all the time, which made stairs tricky), it swelled to twice the size of the other leg and was constantly painful. Within a year I could bend my knee when walking, although still in pain. I couldn't bend my knee to sit cross-legged for a couple of years. 4 years later, I can bend it to sit cross legged, walk normally, and it only hurts if I sit with it bent for too long. (I'm not suggesting you shouldn't seek treatment, by the way, just trying to say that just because you're injured and in a lot of pain now, doesn't mean you will be forever.)

This message didn’t clarify anything it made it more confusing. If you’re in pain then your knee is not fine!! Just because your mri came back clean it doesn’t address the pain - which it clearly needs to be addressed. Unless you think it’s psychosomatic - but even then it needs to be treated.

But it isn’t in your head though is it! You’ve took the first scan as the final outcome without even seeking more info on your pain, you literally have an appointment booked to see a consultant

Doctors (should) treat the patient not the scan results. Speak to the clinician about the impact your pain has on you, they shd be able to come up with a plan that helps.