grade 3 knee problems

Sorry to hear your having problems. 

I am going through the same problems, in 2014 I've had two arthoscopies on the same knee. Still having problems, physio isn't helping. Have you tried acupunture? It has helped with some of my pain.

Have tried a second opinion with a different consultant? 

Having to had 4 different complete rehabs I understand your dilemma. Seems as though the more times they whack away at you the more it takes. I'm with you on the injections.......if they work, great  but they are a lot to go through without a high chance of success. One suggestion, take pain meds at least an hour before you start therapy. Ice and elevate afterwards. Give therapy a chance even though its very painful. Ask the therapist to reexamine his protocol, it might be too extreme for you right now. When I had my original tkr I felt brutilized by therapy. I had already had 4 surgeries and radiation and my knee was terribly weak and sore. After our discussion he reestablished his routine and I progressed satisfactorily. It may have take a little longer but that was the least of my concern. Good  luck.

Hi Marie. Have you had a scan or x ray as that will give more clues.  Corticone is generally a short fix. If you have had two and the problem obviously has not gone away, you need to either ask your gp to refer you for scans etc or direct referral to orthopaedics

Robert

Sorry to hear about your problem.

I know  where you are coming from with physio - I had physio several years before I had my ops - at the time I was struggling with one knee but by the time I had finished it , my other knee was worse! I left it for a while then went back to my GP who referred to a different physio dept - they gave me exercises and had X- Rays done then decided they could not do anything so referred me to the Consultant. He  said that one knee needed a TKR but an arthrosopy might work on the other. The arthroscopy did not work so on my second visit to theConsultant after this, he decided I needed TKRs.

All I can say is, I'm sorry, it is a long winded process and there are hoops to go through before they will consider you for a knee replacement.

Where are you located?

Good Luck!

 

I had cartilage removed over 2 years ago for same reasons you state...I had a TKR back in September. ..... been hard going  but getting there.... not in as much pain now   however as I had not walked properly for over 2 years .. I had a lot of muscle wastage so need lots of physio to build up quads as new knee was giving way.... good luck   .. physiotherapists are not always understanding about how much pain clients are in... Some of them seem to have a " one size fits all" approach to their programme. .. and don't always treat us individually. ...  listen to your own body..

Hi Marie,

I to am sorry to hear the run around you seem to be getting.

I had a scope done 2 to 3 years ago and it didn't resolve anything. Actually made it worse. Before the scope I couldn't bend my knee. Afterwards, it didn't bend and I couldn't straighten it anymore either. At my post op visit, the surgeon said it was about 80% gone and walked away. I was left scratching my head and wondering "what in the world does that mean?". It took me almost a year to get that far.

This Aug I went to see my Family Doc and basically told them I need a new knee and also told them exactly where I would like to have it done as well. The surgeon I then saw did his own x-rays (they all do). He saw there was no cartilage left, and agreed to do the replacement as soon as possible. Everything went much more quickly than I expected.

I should never have had a scope done and he TKR should have happened 3 years ago but what can we say. Sometimes you get caught on the wrong side of all the logistics.

Not sure what gives sometimes with docs but at times you just need to be a bit firmer.

And I agree whole heartedly, you know your own body.

Hi everyone,

Thanks ever so much for all your replies, it means a lot you took the time to reply and offer your advice. It has been very helpful and I agree only I know my body and I think the physios think with enough treatment my knee will go back to how it was originally. The consultant is not the best and does not want to replace my knee, he told me he knows I will need it in time, just not at this moment. I suspect my age and the NHS funds running low have got more to do with it than anything else.

I intend to go back to my Doctors on Monday and ask for another referral. I will be firmer with them this time. I don't like confrontation but I don't seem to be getting anywhere as I am.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to reply, I am very grateful :-)