What to do - painful knee

[KneeOutOfOrder]

I’ve had some ongoing issues with my knee for about 1 month, getting worse and worse.
im now at the stage where I really struggled to walk - tried to go to my car and just couldn’t manage more than 1~2 metres and had to retreat to my armchair. It seems that any weight in my knee results in excruciating pain.

BUT I can have those times dotted around where I can move with much less pain. So I’m thinking there is structural damage??

Painkillers don’t make any difference (tried paracetamol, ibuprofen, codeine and naproxen).

A&E doesn’t seem right. Its not acute as such.
GP … I’m not sure they can do anything else other than painkillers. Which dint seem to help. Plus just now, I don’t think i could walk into the surgery anyway.

So what would you do? Who would you see?
I obviously can’t leave it any longer, hoping it would heal on its own….

Maybe see an osteopath?

I'd see a GP to diagnose the underlying problem and then see a physiotherapist.

Can a GP diagnosed that? Sorry but I’ve had bad experiences around that with GPs and not full of confidence I have to say.

It’s always worse when it clicks too. Which seems to happen each time I go up or down a step.

GPs often have a roaming practice physio

You probably need an MRI and a consultation with and orthopaedic doctor.

@lemonyellows i can ask my surgery and see if they have anything like this..

@LMNT can you access those nowadays?

It sounds like a trio to the GP is in order. I hope I can get something better than an appointment in 4 weeks time…

Unless acute the only option for knees on the NHS is via your GP. They may refer you for an x-ray and will probably refer you to the physio. If the x-ray shows a problem you will be referred to orthopaedics. If it looks clear the physio has to treat you for up to 6 weeks before they can refer you for an MRI or to orthopaedics.

I went private - NHS x-ray looked clear and one session of physio left me unable to walk. Saw a private consultant, had x-ray that afternoon, MRI the following morning and two days later a consultation to book me in for surgery. Surgery on the date of my choice, home the same day. I actually need a new knee but not right now.

See a physio, could well be something really minor. I have gone in hobbling like you and practically skipped out and hour later clutching a sheet of excercises. Are you using Voltoral and taking regular pain killers?

Speak to your GP as they might refer you for an xray. Can you recall doing anything at the time? Falling off a step, twisting your knee more when getting out of the car, kneeling?

My knee has been intermittently causing pain for two months. It started when I knelt down and landed a bit hard. It hurts more when I sit down but walking is fine and I've been wearing a knee brace which is helping to stabilise it. Today I was talking to a consultant about something else and they sent me for a walk-in xray. I felt like royalty

I filled an eConsult yesterday with GP who sent me fir an X-ray.
X-ray done this morning.

Results will be with my GP in 4!! Weeks time.
At least, I now have crutches and I can hobble around indoors.

In two minds about going back to GP fir some painkillers. None of the ones I’ve taken so far have made any difference.

That sounds like what I had. I got an xray which showed up moderate osteoarthritis. I'm now taking dihydrocodeine and paracetamol. I also got a physio appointment so have exercises to do each day. I don't really like the idea of taking so many painkillers but it has helped a lot.