In agony with knee

[minmooch]

I'm in to week 10 of pain and inflammation in my knee. Don't know how I did it.

Seen an osteopath twice. First time he thought it was cartilage damage. Second visit said that he actually thought it was medial collateral ligament damage.

Week 6 I went to dr to say how much in pain I still was in. Knee terribly inflamed. Can't bend it properly or straighten.

I have been on antiinflammatories but have had 4 utis so gp doesn't want me to take too many. Gp has referred me for an MRI which is booked for 17th Jan.

I've been resting, icing, elevating, gentle walks only.

I'm in agony. Can barely bear weight. Leg is very swollen hot and hard. Can hardly move it as each movement is agony.

Do I sit it out until 17th? Can anyone recommend anything else?

When did you last see the GP? Is it worse now? I think you need to get them to take another look. Is it just your knee that is hot and swollen or your whole leg now? Sorry too many questions. I do think you should be seen again.

Thigh knee and most of my lower leg. So fed up.

10 weeks!

If you were here in France, you would just go directly to an Orthopedist Dr and get the necessary scans - X-Ray, MRI, ultrasound, whatever is necessary. Within a day or two. Not three weeks later! (State would then reimburse your costs.)

Is it an option to go to E&A at your local hospital? You should not suffer like this for some more weeks, only to go back to your GP who is not a joint specialist.

I know you all love the NHS but seriously, it sounds like the worst possible system for diagnosis and access to specialist doctors.

Actually, "thigh, knee, most of lower leg" swollen sounds a bit more worrying than a simple knee problem.

Is infection a possibility?

Do anti-inflammatories help? What are you taking? (There are MUCH better anti-inflammatories for joint pain than Advil etc)

I was on diclofenac but because I keep having bladder infections gp did not want me to take that until I have been to a urologist.

I will call gp tomorrow if surgery is open.

Don't think it's an infection not bright red

Sounds like you need anti inflamatories and an opiate base painkiller, you can take paracetamol and codein at the same time as ibuprofen, take alternate doses 2 hours apart, this was my first line painkilling regime when I developed arthritis,

If you are still in pain with Diclofenac, I would definitely get it seen.

Seriously, I can't believe that you went 10 weeks without proper diagnostic scans and then they gave you a date for MRI three weeks in the future.