Am I unreasonable to go to my GP for a knee injury?

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I started running about eight weeks ago. I progressed through the couch to 5k program and ran my first five 5k ten days ago. I did a second one on Monday of last week.

Since then I’ve had excruciating pain in my knee. Bending it, straightening it, walking, going upstairs, it’s all agony. Ibuprofen does nothing. Rest and ice does nothing. I tried a gentle jog this afternoon because I thought that maybe, just maybe, it needed shaking out. 10 minutes in I was hobbling home.

I feel like my GP won’t be any use, but I don’t know where else to go? It’s not an emergency, so A&E isn’t suitable, and minor injuries is 15 miles away

Physiotherapist?

A physio is going to be a lot more use than your GP so if you can afford it, book a private one for Monday, failing that ring the surgery - hopefully they have a physio you can see pretty quickly, rest it till then.

It is crackers to go jogging on an injury, leave it be till you know what it is.

You GP will refer you to a physio or wherever

I had something similar when I started running years ago, and I went to a physio for 6 sessions. My knee issues were caused by weak glutes being asked to work increasingly harder. I had to do 100 squats and 100 lunges a day (each leg, building up over a couple of weeks) and together with the stretches the physio did on me, it worked.

I also changed my running shoes. I’d been fitted with a pair of Nike in a JJB sports shop, but went to a different place and bought some Asics. I’m on my 4th pair of different model Asics - each time I try out different brands on the shop treadmill, I come back to Asics, they just suit my feet (but may not suit yours, obviously). I have run a number of half marathons and schlep around 5k weekly with my mate just to keep a level of fitness up.

isn’t there an NHS app that tells you where to go based on what’s wrong? In the absence of other information, I would go to a minor injuries unit

I can’t afford private physio. The wait list for physio on my area is 12+ weeks. I need treating now.

You can probably self refer to physio bypassing the GP.

Or see a physio privately.

use your GP website and complete the contact/ request form (e- consult or similar). The clinical team will review and , odds-are, triage you to a
first contact physiotherapist working in the practice. Most clusters of practices ( primary care networks) have them. No need to pounce on the phone at 8am or go to A&E.

Not all have an e consult. The only way to get an appt at ours is to call at 8.30. You can however self refer to physio via reception so might be worth an ask.

Where on your knee is the pain? Did it come on suddenly, or was it gradual?

Your GP will add you to the endless waiting list for physio or possibly refer you to the muscular-skeletal team (again, up to 6 months wait in my experience).

If you go to the minor injuries unit they might X-ray or scan to see if there’s anything seriously awry.

In my area we are allowed to self refer to physio so worth a look if you can do that. It will probably be a bit of a wait though so I would think minor injuries might be your best bet

A physio may not see you without a diagnosis, you may have torn a ligament, a doctor will probably xray it abd order a blood test. Have you got any swelling, tingling, can you weightbear on it, wriggle your toes.

How long has it been painful like that for? A GP won't be able to treat it as such but give you better painkillers, refer to physio, and refer you for imaging such as x-ray or MRI. Hope you can get sorted!

Minor injuries sounds appropriate. Why can't you travel 15 miles? Unable to drive with the injury, public transport issue?

I'd plan a trip to minor injuries, early one morning.

In the meantime OP, wear supportive flat shoes. Do not exercise on your knee, gentle stretching but nothing more. Take things slowly.

Before you run again, have you been properly fitted with decent running shoes? Fashion trainers are not suitable

A university near me does physiotherapy appointments for £18 a session. You are assessed and treated by their students (under close supervision). Great service.

GP will refer to physio. It won’t be an instant fix