Physio and injection haven’t worked-what next for my knackered knee?

[Greenfingers37]

I’ve had a very painful knee for about 5 months. It’s agony when I put weight on it and sometimes throbs when I’m resting. So far I’ve had a cortisone shot and private physio, neither of which have worked. I’m seeing GP again next week and just wondered what I should expect her to offer me. The pain is mainly at the side of my knee.
For context, I’m 57 and very active (at least I was!). I did Park Run regularly and was an active member of a running club. It’s getting me down now as I’m trying to stay as fit and active as possible as I approach my 60s!
Thanks in advance.

I have a knee problem at the moment. Always have twinges in my knees but the left suddenly became very painful and slightly swolen on left side. No bruising or discoloration. It feels a bit puffy as if fluid trapped there (bursitis). Gradually the pain worsened and was travelling up my thigh to my hip. GP told me to go to A&E to get an x ray. There is no way I am going to wait in A&E for 10+ hours. I am agorophobic and subject to panic attacks. I enquired in a local private clinic. £250 for an x ray and consultants fee on top. Plus cost of injections so likely to be about £1200 plus.

Ive been following the recommended online advice for the RICE method:

rest (difficult when you live alone)
ice pack for 20 mins at a time several times a day
Compression bandages
Elevation above your heart which using ice packs

Only been at it for 3 days but there has been a slight improvement since yestreday when I was screaming every time I put weight on leg. Still very painful but can feel its a bit better. I am going to persist for another week or so before I think of paying out big money for something that may cure itself.

I hope you get some treatment which works for you. Knee pain is agony.

A physio told me I had inflamed ligaments and it actually turned out to be a torn meniscus and needed surgery. I would push for an MRI

I'd try a podiatrist, they're highly trained for feet, legs, knees etc

I expect your gp will have a path they’ll need to follow.

For example …

Anti inflammatory drugs, physio course, possibly more than one physio course of several weeks, X-ray, injections, podiatry for foot mould in your shoe etc. I went through it all.

When you have jumped through those hoops, they might refer you to a consultant. 🙄

Ive had both knees replaced but it took
two years of hoop jumping before I (politely) thumped the desk (after a painful incapacitated holiday) and insisted I be referred back in 2023 for my 2nd knee to be done.

It was like being reborn. Good luck.

Oh no, please don't push through pain. It is nature's way of telling you to rest an injury. 🙂

Perhaps it might be worth seeing a sports physio, they tend to be better with injuries like this, especially since you are a keen runner. Have you ever had any gait analysis done?

I'd see a sports physio and take anti inflammatories religiously for a couple of weeks along with pain killers of necessary.

You need to see a specialist physio and have a scan. Your GP should have referred. Do you recall having any slight injury? Even a small twisting injury at the knee can result in a meniscal tear which is very painful and slow to heal.

I've had a bad knee for about 4 years. I play a lot of netball, so put up with it for a while. The pain got to the point where it was constant. Sitting, standing, walking were all painful. I had self referred for physio when the pain first started, did the exercises religiously, which helped for a bit, but the pain was always there. Late last year I went back to my GP who referred me to my local MSK clinic. They sent me for an MRI which revealed quite a few issues. Torn meniscus, reduced cartilage, cysts, all sorts🤣. I'm now awaiting a date for arthroscopic surgery.

Update: saw the GP this morning and she feels it’s a meniscus or MCL injury. She’s referred me for an x-ray in the first instance with a view to then having an MRI, unless the x-ray shows significant damage to the joint.
So I feel like there is a definite plan to identify exactly what’s causing the pain.
Thanks to all of you for your advice and for sharing your experiences.