My knee is fucked and I go on holiday in three days....

[vipersnest1]

History: osteoarthritis and right knee has no cartilage left behind the kneecap. I also am hyper mobile.
Over the past couple of days my left knee has crunched a bit which hurt at the time but I didn't take much notice of it despite it hurting. (I get lots of aches and pains so am used to somewhere on my body hurting all of the time.)
Late afternoon today it's been really hurting - hurts to stand up and sit down, hurts to fully straighten my leg horizontally when sitting - and by hurt I mean agony. It's swollen over the top half of my kneecap and above it.
I'm currently off work as I had prolapse surgery last month and have booked a holiday (minimal lifting BTW). I'm due back in a couple of weeks.
WTF do I do? Ignore it and hope it's ok? I've taken some anti-inflammatories and a strong painkiller so could continue to dose my self up until I have time to get it looked at. I really don't want to lose out on my holiday!

I have one of those and it didn't help for this. It's a proper pain in the backside as I need to get it sorted.

I’ve got two types of arthritis and have steroid injections into my knee when it gets really bad but I wouldn’t be able to go on holiday as I usually can’t walk at all. If you can get seen so much the better, otherwise I agree about the knee brace, the one with a hole at the knee cap and adjustable straps, possibly crutches and definitely assistance. Even a tiny airport should have someone and a wheelchair to get you on the plane.

what about a wheelchair when your there ?

@Yamantau and @blackfushia, I'll see how I go tomorrow / today when I get up. I'm currently seriously dosed up on painkillers so feeling vaguely ok.

all the best as best as

I have OA in both knees, I found the sea to be an amazing relief. I went in every day and was pain free for a good few hours afterwards

Get some walking poles to go in your case, assuming you have a checked bag.

If anyone's wondering, I called 111 this morning and got a call back fairly quickly.
GP gave standard RICE advice but also said I should see my GP (even spoke about knee replacement die to the extent of the pain 🥺 as it's so painful to go down stairs). I've rested it today so will need to see how I get on, but on the back of it I've booked special assistance at the airports I also have issues with standing and realised I really could t afford to massively aggravate it on the way to my holiday.

I would really encourage you to see if you can get your money back via your insurance and see if you can postpone your holiday until you know whether it is OA causing the issues or a new problem. Almost 10years ago, DH damaged his knee a few days before we went on holiday (4hr flight). He was advised by a GP that he should strap it up, book assistance at the airport, rest at the hotel etc and it would be fine. He developed a DVT in his leg on the flight out, spent the entire 10days in hospital and only allowed home because our insurance booked him a full row of 3 seats to fly with his leg elevated. When we got back and he got into the NHS system, they were astounded that he had been allowed to fly as it wasnt what the original GP had thought, but caused by something totally different. It caused him a lot of issues afterwards not to mention the trouble he has finding insurance now. So it really wasn't worth the holiday in the end! Obviously that was worst case scenario but I would hate for anyone else to have the experience we did.

@2024BabyNameIndecision, thank you for your concern - I appreciate it.
I'm fairly sure this is a progression of my arthritis - I don't feel unwell, there are no symptoms of DVT or any nerve involvement.
It's likely me reaping the rewards of being hyper mobile and overextending my knee unwittingly - it was certainly that that caused the bone crunching and probably what aggravated it.
I will see my GP on my return from holiday. I suspect that I will be given the same diagnosis as for my other knee. How I progress from there is questionable as it seems the NHS only want to intervene other than prescribing tablets once I'm immobile through pain or my knee locking or giving way. I'm not criticising BTW, just stating what I've experienced. (With my right knee I was offered the choice of a steroid injection OR an MRI to find out what was wrong - obviously I went for the MRI as it was logical to have a diagnosis.

Mum has osteo she swears by Flexiseq (£20 a tube from Boots / Superdrug as she can't have ibuprofen) and the Red tiger balm (£8 a small tub) she finds they have an almost instant improves her symptoms although tiger balm is meant to work better as it builds up in the system.

I have a CTD and have similar issues. I have lots of 'debris' in my joints and mine 'flare up' randomly when a bit of debris gets stuck. Painkillers don't really help, it gradually shifts and gets comfy again, in the meantime, crutches and gentle movement. Arthroscopies and joint replacements have helped too.
I would still go away, especially somewhere warm! Crutches and sitting in the right spot on the plane.

if you are taking heavy duty painkillers on your holiday, make sure they are in the original packet with your name and keep your prescription paperwork too. some airports and customs officials get fussed about painkillers as drugs.

Hope you're ok to go away. DH has RA and had a bad flare up last holiday, the one before I twisted my knee at the airport and did damage to it. Luckily I had dhs RA listed with the insurance company but I didn't with mine as it happened at the airport but a medic did check my knee, I ended up needing to see a doctor abroad and wasn't covered as I didn't declare it before flying 😭 expensive mistake, as you've spoken to medical people I'd ensure you let your insurance know it's only a few quid to add it on to your existing insurance. Fingers crossed you get away

@Chewbecca, it's settled again now, luckily.
@parietal, I am like a walking pharmacy including having a controlled drug, and I've also brought an opioid with me - all in their original packaging and I have the NHS app so I can show I was prescribed them.
@Wendysfriend, I've gotten away without declaring it. I knew it wasn't anything related to illness or an existing diagnosis, plus as I've said, it had started to settle before I left.
I had a boat trip today and swam for over an hour in the sea in total - it's my absolute favourite thing to do it the water is warm. I will pay for it tomorrow in terms of pain and fatigue due to something else but the knee seems fine and it was probably good for it.