To be disappointed my scan was normal

[cantdothisanymor]

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.

Is it that the scan was normal, or that you still don’t have answers as to what is happening to you?

Well the scan is the answer. There’s nothing wrong. It just hurts and I have to get on with it now.

I’m in my 20s and feel like I’m in my 70s. My knee hurts everyday and I just have to put up with it.

I sympathise OP but give the orthopaedic consultant a chance, this is what he deals with every day so he may have some ideas of other things it could be, and how to treat them.

Do you ever wear a knee brace? I spent a fortune on one from a physiotherapist but found it most uncomfortable, the stretchy ones you get in Boots were much easier to wear and did give some support.

There’s no point in a brace - there’s nothing wrong with my knee. I just feel like my pain has been entirely invalidated. I know I’m in pain, but there’s nothing wrong with me

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 don't understand this thinking - it's horrible to be in pain, it's not 'being a baby' to feel pain.

Hopefully the consultant can suggest some options.

There is something wrong with you - you have knee pain.
Let the consultant advise and see what options exist.

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.

But that’s not important. The mri is fine, my knee is fine. I just feel like such a baby. I’ve been in this much pain because of a ganglion cyst, which is a painless benign cyst. What an idiot I am

I could have written this, nothing but accelerated cartilage degeneration noted on my scans, which is already known to be caused by a genetic disorder.
Ive been in pain for 25 years, I’ll be in pain for another 60 probably. They won’t do surgery until I reach 60, I’ve had cortisol injections into my kneecaps which helps but only for a few months and they won’t give me anymore.

I’ve come to terms with it, I will live a life of pain and taking 10+ tablets a day, some days I can run around and play with my young children, other days I won’t be able to take them to school because I can’t walk. I’ve accepted I need to be drugged out of my brain in order to work. Unless I can come up with £12000 for a private double knee replacement, this will be my life.

Im sorry OP, it’s a horrible position to be in but you’re not alone, there are many of us out there who are also struggling and can support you and be an outlet if you need one

You’re being very defeatist.

I don't understand why you are saying these things - a cyst or ganglion can absolutely cause pain if it is in a place where it causes pain.

My dh saw an orthopaedic surgeon privately for knee pain. He said that not all meniscus tears show up on MRI . Some small tears are only visible when you operate . You can google this .
Wait to see what the consultant advises.

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.

Op you are being ridiculous. You aren't an idiot. The cyst is clearly causing some pain and you need to discuss with the consultant what they can do about that. They do all sorts of keyhole surgeries to clear out scar tissue so I'm sure they can remove a cyst.

I'm not sure why you are being so hard on yourself. I appreciate it's frustrating that your gp is refusing pain relief but you need to advocate for yourself a bit more rather than all this defeatist nonsense.

Physio might be the answer although it requires a lot of work.

My DS had a similar experience. Convinced it was a torn meniscus but the scan was normal and he saw an orthopedic consultant who couldn't really offer any help.. He did it when he was 18 and had been a runner.
He tried physio but didn't make much progress. Then eventually saw another physio (sports physio) and did a huge amount of work on it and it has improved massively. He can now run and walk reasonably long distances.

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

Your thread title is very insensitive.

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?'

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.

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

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

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

It isn't painless, you have pain.

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