To potentially waste NHS time?

[Dranktoomuchpepsi]

Okay, so a few weeks ago I started running. One evening i came home and something didn't feel right at all. It was a pain in my right knee but it wasn't unbearable so I put it down to a being stretched too much and ignored it. The next day it was too bad to run on. I haven't run since.

After it had been a week, I phoned my GP and explained. He said it sounded like a pulled muscle and to rest it with ice. If still bad in another week, to call him back.

In the last 2 days it seems to have gotten so much worse, it sounds so ridiculous but when I move it I can sometimes hear a 'pop' and the sound and discomfort makes me feel unwell. It's awful.

AIBU to potentially waste NHS time and calm him back before the week is done, so before Friday? I have a 2 year old to look after and I have to brace myself with all the stairs etc.

Forgot to add, DH says not to go anywhere for help and that it isn't broken so I should just wait it out. This is reasonable advice, isn't it?

Phone your GP, it’s not wasting nhs time

Outside or inside of knee?

Even the NHS and GOs are strongly urging people to get in touch with things other than Covid. Re your DH's comment - there are many things that affect us that aren't "broken" to use his words but are equally as critical. Why not let an expert decide?

Bien it is just below the knee cap, towards left

Definitely phone your GP. I went to mine last week with what turned put to be a minor matter but she told me I did the right thing. They want to see all the normal every day complaints as well.

My wife works Reception / Admin at the local GPs surgery and I asked her about this the other day. The feeling at the surgery she works in is that they want patients to call for help if needed, just as they would under normal circumstances.

When things get less stressful the surgery doesn't want to have to deal with a huge backlog of chronic problems that could have been easily sorted with with minimal intervention and advice.

If in doubt call your GP.

Thanks all, I just feel a bit of a 'rebel' calling again on Monday since GP did say to give it a week. And there's DH who's eye rolling at me about it.

But I'm honestly struggling

Phone. The week was for if it didn't get better. It's getting worse. It will be so much more trouble for the NHS if you fall on the stairs because of this, or even worse, fall with a 2 year old in you arms. If it wasn't worse the just waiting it out is reasonable but it is getting worse..

That sounds more like tendon pain than muscular. Possibly patellar tendonitis? Have you been taking an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen? Calling the GP isn’t a waste of NHS time but I suspect that they may just prescribe rest and painkillers.

I’d call them and ask if you can have a virtual appointment with a physio.

Could be cartilage. It doesn’t sound muscular if there’s a popping sound. It’s not just breaks that need attention. Definitely phone your GP. Knee pain is bloody painful.

You need a physio consultation OP

If the pain was the same or slightly easier then it would make sense to wait a week. As it’s getting worse then I don’t think you should wait. It does sound like a tendon or cartilage injury - could be tendonitis as that can make a grating sound almost like creaky leather. Or it could be the cartilage that has worn down or has a tear. Either of these can make you feel sickly. Whatever it is it warrantS phoning your GP for advice and if nothing else some decent painkillers.

That sounds more like tendon pain than muscular. Possibly patellar tendonitis? Have you been taking an NSAID like ibuprofen or naproxen? Calling the GP isn’t a waste of NHS time but I suspect that they may just prescribe rest and painkillers.

I think patellar tendinitis is what the GP actually said. I am taking ibuprofen but not allowed to take Naproxen apparently (says GP), because I'm BF

If it’s getting worse you should definitely call back. The advice to leave it a week was if it was staying the same, which it obviously isn’t.

Also your DH is wrong, there are plenty of problems other than breaks that need medical attention and it’s not going to do the NHS any favours if everyone stores up all their issues until lockdown is over before descending on their GPs en masse.

You wont be wasting their time OP. We're still dealing with patients with various ailments including painful knees, shoulders, backs etc. The only thing I will say is we're only referring urgent xrays, scans etc (south east as per the hospitals) so it's likely you might just be given pain relief for now until everything is up and running again. This is actually the calm before the storm. We're dealing with many advice calls, video calls and e-consults treating acute problems. When things are back to 'normal' the backlog is going to be huge. MRI 's, xrays, scans, smears, diabetic/COPD/asthma/chronic illness checks/mental health, the list is endless and that's not including everyone who is putting off ringing the doctors cos they don't want to bother them which I understand but people shouldn't be neglecting their health as you can leave something that could get much worse.

NotIn He isn't saying to leave the GP alone because of COVID, just thinks I'm wasting time whatever the year or situation I think

It sounds like tendonitis and it really will get better with time and rest. Sympathies though, tendonitis anywhere is very painful.

With tendonitis, can you spot it on an x Ray? Not suggesting I should get one, just wondered if you could see strained stuff on an x Ray

More likely on an MRI than an xray

Your DH is very wrong. You need to get it fixed and the sooner you do that the better the outcome is likely to be.

With respect OP you have wasted an hour canvassing opinions rather than doing the right thing. What would you do if there weren't people reading your thread? Pop to doctors or more likely now to A and E. You will not be made to feel silly.

The popping noise makes me think cruciate ligament so don't leave that

I accidentally hit YABU but yes you need to get it checked. Why would you not