Agonising knee pain, awaiting mri

[Loobieloo27]

For the last 2 weeks I've been in agonising pain with my knee. It's always been fragile but 2 months ago I began running and now I'm struggling to walk on one leg.

I saw a physio on Saturday who said they'd refer for an mri but the waiting could be weeks or months.

If I went to out of hours at the hospital would they do it while I'm there? the pain doesn't go no matter the pain relief.

Help! Thank you!

I think the scanners are only manned during certain hours

Oh gosh don't know how I'm going to cope in this pain for long

What painkillers have you tried?

Yeah they won't do an MRI off the cuff unfortunately.
Have you had a letter about the appointment? If not, try contacting your GP tomorrow and ask for an urgent referral.

Tried the usual paracetamol, iburprofen didn't touch it. Codeine made me sick currently trying cocodamol but need to get something stronger I think.

Is paying privately an option? It was a good thirty years ago I did this (worked overseas so not entitled to use the NHS when I was back home): from memory, it was £250 - but I don't know how that will (or won't) have changed over the years.

In all honesty, though, it won't solve your pain, even once you know what is causing it. Mine confirmed thar my ACL had snapped, rather than torn (injury was ten years old at the time) but it still required physio (and ultimately, replacement) etc. Are you using crutches? That can help a lot with the pain, as it reduces the weight on your knee somewhat. If you aren't coping with the pain, I'd also go to your GP in the morning - they will be able to prescribe something if OTC isn't having an effect.

I'm still working with it. I'm a healthcare assistant at the hospital hobbling round not using crutches. Feeling like my kneecap is being crushed. Will definately make appointment tomorrow for stronger pain relief.

It sounds excruciating I hope you at least get the pain zapped very soon, even if finding out what's causing it takes a bit longer.

I don’t want to make you feel worse but my DP did something similar in August. He’s had physio and various appointments but is still waiting for an MRI. It’s just not right. He’s in agony every day with it and has had to stop working his physical job in favour of something a lot less demanding.

He used a splint and crutches to keep it steady at first and said that really helped, also solpadeine max(?) apparently helped. He’s been trying not to use anything after the first week or two as he’s worried if he’s seen to be “coping” they’ll push it back even further. Our NHS is in a sorry state, but we can’t afford to go private.

I really hope you get your appointment ASAP OP and that it’s nothing too serious!

Do you remember doing something to it? You mention running, is that was you think caused it? I only ask as I woke up with horrendous pain that wouldn’t go away in my knee, everyone except my gp thought cartilage injury, I saw an osteopath, knee specialist, had an mri - we were all convinced I’d done something to it (completely understand the pain, I was in tears most days) anyway long story short it’s an auto immune condition and I’m now under the care of a rheumatologist (the relief is amazing!). Also, you mention codeine makes you sick, be aware that cocodamol is paracetamol and codeine combined. Good luck, I really feel for you.

I've had 2 weeks of this and even when the pain is dulled it burns when I use it. Scary concept that it can take so long!

About 5 times my knee has locked in a funny position and the only way to release it is manually push it back. I started running a month ago so I'm unsure if it's aggravated the previous problem.

Thanks for the cocodamol tip, that desperate il take anything I didn't check!

If it's locking, that can be a torn bit of meniscus catching wrong (clearly, a very technical explanation ) and getting stuck: could you try getting your GP to refer you? That might also help speed up the MRI...

It sounds like you have a meniscal (cartilage) tear

Push for an MzRI scan

*MRI

Have you been to a GP? Mine would send you to get an x-ray where you turn up and take a ticket.

Does it feel like it locks or catches? Could be a torn meniscus. Well, it could be lots of things so I shouldn't suggest anything, sorry. I've had knee issues all my life so I know how much difficulty one joint failing can cause. Hope you get some relief soon.

Took so long typing that I missed pps who've suggested same thing.

Thanks all for allowing me to rant I'm not usually such a drama llama but this has pushed my limits for sure.

For tonight's 12 hour nightshift il dose up on pain relief and book with GP tomorrow

There are long waits for MRI. I always advise patients to shop about and see can they get a reasonably priced one(if it's an option for them and they tend to ask me about it first ). Is your physio private or from your employer? If you go via Occupational health for physio sometimes they can try and speed things up too. It's on their interests to keep you work fit. If you're under their care they can always link in with orthopaedics when you get your scan and you may get sorted quicker.
If it turns out to be a meniscal issue, orthopaedics may consider conservative management anyway if they don't think you need an arthroscopy.
Don't forget ice also, and a comfortable knee arthropod. Hope you get sorted soon. I appreciate how absolutely horrendous knee pain is.

Sounds daft but have you tried Ibuprofen gel with heat? I suffer from wierd knee pain and swallowing tablets does nothing but rubbing the gel and having a heat pack on top makes such a massive difference

As someone else said, an MRI won’t fix anything anyway, it just might give a diagnosis (mine didn’t....and then I was diagnosed with a ‘pain syndrome’....useful!). Treatment will still either be pain relief, rest, physical therapy, or possibly surgery or arthroscopy.
I find topical diclofenac (Voltarol gel) the bees knees but mind you can’t take ibuprofen with it. I use that with cocodamol on my worst days. Rest it when possible, sleeping with knee up on a pillow to reduce strain on it, ice if it’s swollen, a neoprene knee brace can help sometimes or learning physio taping techniques.

Hi OP I feel for you!

Two days after I received a diagnosis of severe osteoarthritis in my left knee I fell down the stairs and tore my meniscus. Our A&E missed it, but my GP and a physio knew what it was straight away.
The pain was horrendous and I was really poorly. I had cellulitis in the other ankle previously which had left me with a limp so I was hobbling around!
I had dihydracodeine already for arthritis and my lovely GO suggested regular doses of paracetamol and it did help.

I hurt myself in June and it finally eased in December. I went for physio which helped and wore a knee support. I used ice and heat, elevated my leg, tried everything. I had to continue working and it was hard.

So please go back and make a fuss

I hope it eases soon. ☺️🤞🏻

Oh....forgot to say the best thing for my knee was actually seeing a podiatrist and sorting my foot posture out with a small orthotic for my shoes. Relieved my knee pain a lot.

If you are a runner and also do long shifts, there's a good chance it might be an overuse injury. Your gp can give you naproxen (make sure to ask for omeprazole too as they are hard on your stomach) which should take the edge off and give you a sick note so you can rest the knee.
Knees take a long time to heal and are difficult to stop using.

I would agree with previous pp and say you should really be resting it, not working 12 hour shifts on your feet.
I have had surgery twice on each knee, so I know how agonising knee pain can be. Rest, ice packs and strong painkillers are a real help.