Damaged knee, now life of pain

[rainchancer]

I'm so fed up, my active lifestyle appears to be over. I can hardly walk, it all started with a bang to my left knee 2 months ago. Now both knees are bad, pain, tightness, can hardly climb stairs. Doctors saying it's probably osteoarthritis. All because of a bang to my knee. I always thought arthritis came on gradually. Please, can anyone offer me any hope.

Have you seen a physio? Try and see a sports one of you can.

No I haven't but perhaps I should.

Definitely! They can do all sorts to make you more comfortable. If you didn't have any issues before it might be something minor.

Your other knee will be compensating so hurts as well as it's over working.

Do you think I'll always have it now or could it just take a long time to mend.

I have no idea. You haven't had a proper diagnosis as ' probably' isn't ' definitely' so that would give me hope. You need to see a physio for sure to start getting you mobile . If you can go private do so as to be seen quickly.

Thank you, I'll look into that.

rainchancer, it does sound like it's more of an acute problem, rather than arthritis, with it having started with the bang to the knee.
And as DameDiazepam says, you could be overcompensating with other knee.
I would also agree with seeing a physio for a full assessment; don't just accept what the doctor says- he's not living your restricted life.
I am seeing a private physio at the moment, at my local Spire Hospital: it was £42 for the initial assessment and each subsequent session is £41, and it's worth every penny.
There's usually no need for a doctor's referral- just approach the physio department directly.

I pay 36 but I'm outside London. You might only need a couple of sessions ,it could be very easily sorted.

Yes, rainchancer, it could be easily sorted, but the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to resolve.
You sound desperately fed up: I understand, and feel sorry for you, but you are doing well to take charge of your own health, and have made a start by seeking advice about what you can do to help yourself.
So, look forward to tomorrow, when you can phone first thing in the morning to arrange a physio assessment appointment.
Would like to hear how you get on.

Private physio is definitely the first step.

You have my utmost sympathies, I am waiting for an MRI after buggering up my knee. I normally run 30+ miles a week and now I struggle to walk a few miles.

The physio thinks it is a meniscus tear, hence the Mri. I'm doing it privately because I need some answers sooner rather than later. If I need surgery, I don't know what the hell I will do, I guess it depends on the cost.

TBH I didn't even bother with the gp, thought I'd get fobbed off with pain relief and nothing more than a cursory examination. The physio was excellent and well worth the money.

Just to add I have discomfort in my 'good' knee and aches in my hips when I've been walking which I'm sure is down to overcompensating for my problem knee.

Threads like this make me feel really sorry for people in the UK

Was it the GP who said "It's probably osteoarthritis"? And that just by touching/looking?

You need a specialist doctor and diagnostic scans like x-ray and ultrasound, possibly MRI, too. A GP can't just look and pass judgement on your knee.

FWIW I went through a very painful period with my knee. Osteoarthritis was suspected because of the pain and the frayed appearance of the cartilage in scans, but the specialist doctor I saw spotted the problem on x-rays, confirmed it with ultrasound, did an injection and prescribed physio. That was two years ago and I'm perfectly fine now.

Thank you all for your concern, I'm going to definitely see about getting physio, I can't go on like this.

We paid for my partner to have meniscus repair - £4000 bloody debt in the savings - you do need I going referral and an MRI
Hate to say but you might have to pay for MRI

NHS is Fucking shit with this stuff

I think I might end up paying for private surgery too stop if it turns out my injury is a meniscus tear. That's what the physio thinks and I'm just waiting on a (private) MRI.

It's frustrating because our money is for our dses future but the NHS is indeed crap at this stuff and I don't want to end up at the back of a very long queue. I'm fed up already not being able to run, pain when walking and aching knee every evening!

'Probably' is not good enough! You need that knee for the rest of your life!

Like Coted'Azure I feel sorry for the people of the U.K. You really need a proper diagnosis - x-Ray's and an MRI if they are inconclusive.

Arthritis is unlikely to come on suddenly - as pp said much more likely to be an acute problem.

(I have post traumatic arthritis in my ankle. It is crap. Hope you have something fixable )

Thank you mountaindweller and everyone else for the good advice. Much appreciated.

Keep us up to date on your progress, rainchancer.
Would like to hear how this works out for you.

I will do, I'm awaiting results of the X-rays, but the thing is, they x rayed the knee that was swollen on the day, the original damaged knee was ignored because that appeared to be better, now it's gone swollen stiff and painful again. I feel I've got a long battle ahead, but thanks so much for your concern.

You dont give your age but i was diagnosed with osteoarthritus age 57. I did have some general stiffness in my knees but nothing too severe but was finding yoga getting harder rather than easier. It was a 3 hour gardening on my knees session which seemed to kick it off and after experiencing a lot of pain on holliday a few weeks later came home and went to the gp. Was sent for xray which confirmed OA and started physio and exercising which only made it worse. Eventually saw consultant who said all he could suggest was full knee replacement when i couldnt stabd the pain any more. 2 yrs later i have had both knees done and recovering well. He told me some people can have a lot of damage with little pain and others a lot of pain with little damage. Hope you get it sorted.

I'm 58 bilbodog, glad to hear you're recovering well.

I had a pain which I thought was a groin strain. Saw a physio privately, and he thought it was a joint issue. I was referred to a consultant (fortunately I have private health insurance through work) who diagnosed severe osteo arthritis at the age of 40. It was due to a badly designed hip joint - thanks Mum and Dad! I had a total hip replacement on one side and am likely to have to have the other one done at some stage.

I was pretty shocked at the time. I am active, do a lot of walking and cycling as well as a lot of skiing. I recovered really well and have no regrets about the operation. When the time comes for the other one to be done, I won't have any concerns.

See what the Drs / consultants say - as others have said, you need further investigation. I was fobbed off by the GP initially - and had it not been for my excellent physio, I would probably have got a lot worse before I took action.

It's threads like this on MN which can make a real difference to someone's life; we're lucky that we can support each other.
I only happened upon the site as I am off sick from work after an accident ( getting better now), but will continue to watch threads and contribute.
I know I sound like I've been on the pea pod burgundy ("You're my best friend, you are"), but I haven't!

Totally agree pipinandtog it's nice that we support each other, it really does make a difference