strange bruising on knee (long)

[cory]

To cut a(n even) long(er) story short:

dd (12) has had one knee operated on for an overlarge meniscus; we had been warned that one day this would collapse and make an operation necessary

we have always suspected the other knee may need doing at some stage as it makes the same clicking noises

she also has joint pains due to hypermobility syndrome so has to pace herself carefully

we went on holiday last week and she probably overdid things, walking around on Dartmoor (she seemed so well).

She has been complaining of knee pains in the unoperated knee for the last few days.

This morning she noticed a bruise on it, which surprised me a bit as she does not remember knocking it.

Then tonight she suddenly bent to do something and she says both knees clicked so she can't bend them (or it hurts too much to bend them, tbh she isn't sure about which). She can't walk, and she is lying in bed.

Looking at them there is now discolouration on both knees.

Dh is wondering if this could mean there is something leaking inside.

What do you reckon? Should we wait for the morning and try to get a referral via her GP? Or go to A&E (preferably in the morning- don't fancy another late night session). Or do you think the bruises could just be unrelated?

I'd be taking her to A&E tonight...sorry

would be having her seen at A&E tonight, not least she could be in pain, and her history sounds complicated.. if it has suddenly come on, it could get worse quickly?

she is in pain, luluis, but then frankly she is fairly used to being in pain due to her condition, so that doesn't frighten her too much

problem is, we have a bit of a history of turning up at A&E and them finding not very much (it goes with her condition); so I always have that fear at the back of my mind- will they think I am overreacting again

dh is trying to ring NHS Direct, but they are too busy to deal with anything but the most urgent cases

so that makes me wonder what A&E will be like

have a horrible feeling that you are right though, ladies

i see
is there a consultant/particular doctor you can speak to for advice

Phone your out of hours doctor?

noone I can get hold of at this time of night

the only person who would know is the surgeon who operated on her knee, but she's been discharged so the only way to get to speak to him is through a new referral done by her GP

which might take months

or going to A&E, where they might not know anything

oh, I hate decisions!

cross-posted with Marge

that's a thought, I could try them

speak to out of hours GP , leave a message for your regular GP to ask for urgent referral back to surgeon

thanks, sounds good, Luluis

hope she is ok, must be a worry

oh, cory

is the bruising/ swelling getting worse? i think i'd be carrying her gently to a&e tbh... if you go now you'll miss kicking out time at the pubs hopefully...

hope it's nothing too serious and they can give her something for the pain x

well, we're back from the clinic

first NHSDirect said they were going to get the on-call doctor to come out and have a look at dd

then the on-call doctor rang and told us to go to the clinic for an appointment an hour later

real struggle to get dd down the stairs (terrified of dropping her, she is as tall as me) and into taxi

on-call doctor told us it was our problem how to get her there

receptionist at clinic whom I rang for advice said same thing

(remind me never to break a leg)

but got there in the end

(taxi driver was very helpful)

doctor reckons the swelling and bruising is due to bursitis, he prescribed soothing cream, but if there is no improvement we're to see GP tomorrow for referral to knee surgeon, in case there is something else wrong inside

dd is now in bed on downstairs settee as finding it impossible to negotiate stairs

thanks to everybody who gave advice

ok, glad you got seen, does not sound too horrific. hope she is on the mend soon

poor dd
maybe better to get the consultant to check her out anyway in slower time?

how's ds doing?

Well, we've decided to give it another day and see what happens once the bursitis recedes (as it should do with rest?). Dd thinks there may be something going on with the meniscus underneath as well as it's a similar pain to last time. We'll have to see. Having a quiet day at home. If it's still bad tomorrow, we'll go and ask the GP for a referral.

Ds is not doing too badly, thanks. He did collapse once on holiday and had to be carried down from one of the tors on Dartmoor, but most of the time he was so happy with the horses and dogs where we were staying that he forgot about the pain.

good to hear there is no urgent problem anyway, just a continuation

hope dd's pain is bearable x

thanks, she's not too bad

if it is the meniscus, she'll probably have to go in for another operation, but I did sort of think that would happen one day, and the first operation helped a lot with that knee, so probably wouldn't be a bad thing

the urgent problem is that dd requires constant access to the internet to soothe her pain, cutting me off from Mumsnet during her waking hours

sheesh. how inconsiderate

that's why we have two pooters.