Knee problem - cartilage. Worth going private? If so, how much would it be?

[FrostyGlassSlipper]

Hi, I have a recurring knee problem. GP thinks it is a cartilage problem which will probably need surgery. He has referred me to NHS consultant and I have an appointment at the end of January. I imagine they will take a scan and then work out what to do.

My worry is that it is very painful and I'm worried it might just 'go' one day which would be a real problem in terms of childcare etc.

If I were to go private what would that entail and how much might it be? I dont have health insurance but depending on cost we may be able to find the money.

Currently I have a sports bandage on my knee to support it a bit.

Any advice welcome....

Anyone ?

IME, GPs are no good at diagnosing or treating soft tissue injuries. If you have some money, I'd go see a physio privately (nb: physios are part of 'regular' medicine - your consultant may refer you to a physio anyway, on the NHS) and see if they have any ideas.

I can recommend a good physio practice in the City, if you're nearby.

I have had cartiledge problems, but not had to have an operation, because I could treat them with physio/exercise.

Going private is tricky - you'd have to pay a fee to see an ortho privately, and then the operation costs would depend on what the operation was.

Oh, physios run about £40 per visit. If you have money, it might be worth a go.

agree physio may help but consultant opinion will be important - sometimes you do need surgery.

You could pay for a private scan and consultant outpatient appointment if you want to know what's going on asap. Probably a few hundred quid, call up a couple of private consultants/hospitals for a rough idea (they won't give a set price, though).

Then you can decide if you want to shell out £££s for private op (probably several thousand including everything, accommodation, follow-up, anaesthetist, etc. etc.) or go NHS - your local trust should be working on a maximum 18 week wait from GP referral to treatment but it may well be faster.

Look up Dr Foster website www.drfoster something for an idea of local private hospitals, or ask your GP, and then check the Healthcare commission website for info about any private hospital you are looking at - they inspect hospitals.

HTH

Oh, yes, do see the consultant, I'd just consider other options. At this point, anyway, an appointment at the end of January isn't that far away - and it might make more sense to see the NHS consultant for free, see what operation he recommends, if any, and when, and depending on the timings, ask him re: private options.

I'm in an overstretched borough, and having a relatively elective operation. It took two months to see a specialist, at the end of November, but I am booked in for an operation in February.

Frosty - dh has just had a cartlidge/ligament repair done privately.

Quick approx breakdown of costs

Initial cons. £200
MRI £600
Surgery (cons, anaesthetist, bed, day care) all came to about £2500 - £3000
4 x physio at £40
Post op cons £200.

Surgery was done as a day-case - in theatre by 9 am home by tea-time.

Some good advice thanks. I found the DrFoster website so that takes some of the effort out of searching.

I hadnt thought about a physio. I think we have a sports injury clinic here. I guess they may be able to take a look although I know some things need to be scanned properly dont they, which takes me back to NHS at the end of Jan or private sooner.

x-post with MrsGrinch. Thanks for the breakdown. Slightly more than I was hoping for. Will need to think about this.

Dunno re: scanning. I've never had my knee scanned or xrayed or any of that, I don't think. (Oh, maybe when I saw an ortho guy in Canada ages ago, but never since.)

But with exercises and weight loss, I haven't had a knee problem, haven't seen a physio for them for something like 6 years.

Obviously, I don't know how severe your issue is or what the problem is, but physio is a good place to start. They diagnose by listening to symptoms, prodding you, etc etc.

Thanks Notquitecockney. I had an injury at 15, and have had intermittent problems for about 4 years.

It hurts to bend, straighten and especially go upstairs. It 'crunches' when bending and locks sometimes. It seems to have become much more painful recently, hence I am worried it might just 'go' on me soon.

Physio is a good place to start I agree. Some decent excercise will strengthen the muscles and stabilise the joint. As far as scanning goes dh had an previous MRI, maybe 5 years ago, it showed that there was a problem but the ortho thought it would settle with steroid injections. It did for a while but then flared - so I suppose the scan was valuable in that it delayed surgery..... or not whichever way you look at it Without the scan he probably would have had the op sooner.

I had knee trouble in my teens - had an exploratory and a bit of a clean up, then physio. It's been fine since and I run regularly with no problems

Agree with NQC get the consultation on the NHS as that's quite a quick one & see what your options are. That way you'll probably get the same consultant & save your fees until the op.

Personally despite having been an NHS nurse & supporter all my working life I would spend every penny I had to go private for routine surgery & reduce the risk of infection.

That sounds unpleasant. Do the problems only happen when your knee is bearing weight, or does it hurt to straighten your knee out in front of you? The more information you bring to a consultation (particularly with a physio) the better.

Crunching, from what I know, is evidence of previous damage and isn't a problem in and of itself.

Locking would terrify me, it would be easy to fall with that.

It hurts most when bending to go up and down stairs or when I get up from knee being bent if that makes sense. I can straighten it without too much pain.

After I had one of my children it gave way and I broke a wrist, but the knee problem was put down to pregnancy having relaxed the ligaments.

Hmmm, it may need an operation eventually, I'm not a medic, I have no idea. But it sounds like strengthening your muscles there might protect you from some of the problems?

I'd stick to the NHS ortho appointment, but maybe see a physio in the interim.

Frosty - that was really when my knee problems inproved - pregnancy laxed my ligaments and the pain went away.

Hope you can get it sorted - without too much cost or too long a wait.