knee replacement

[TheBoys]

saw a private Dr yesterday about my knee. The complete opposite to what my NHS consultant said.

He says right away it’s swollen - I said it’s been like that most of the past 5 years / am used to it and hopping along. Quick run through my health and where am at and says of course you need a knee replacement. In fact the NHS should treat you - with my RA am used to pain in fact am now quite tolerant but by crikey I need to walk.

so am thinking of chasing up the NHS again - why should I spend £15k of my hard won savings when I ve been paying in taxes etc for nearly 40’years. So am going to ask for a review. From when I saw the NHS guy in May things have worsened and am now on cocodamol; have interrupted sleep , can’t walk and just plain finished. Ironically all whilst my RA has thankfully settled.

Flexiseq has helped a lot fortunately and weirdly it’s even helped improving my vasculitis on the ankle better than the prednisone has!

[DorsetLady]

Hurrah, someone talking sense….

Let’s hope you can get it done on NHS, any possibility of seeing a different surgeon in your area at another local hospital?

[TheBoys in reply to DorsetLady]

I’d have preferred to go to the same hospital as my RA is treated but I got lucky there normally have to go to Barnet - they’re mainly ok. I suspect the consultant I saw originally was literally reading from a script… I’ve heard the lot from Drs recently

From “we all have to expect wear and tear “ through to the current one “ you’re too young to be considering a knee replacement “ to which i just replied “ nature didn’t think I was too young to get degenerative osteoarthritis “

[DorsetLady in reply to TheBoys]

Fingers crossed he’s got a different head on when you see him again…

[piglette]

Hip and knee replacements are the worst queue it seems. You may be lucky on the NHS though. What you are paying for is the cost of jumping the queue, so it is really up to you whether you want to do that or not. I have had to resort to going private for virtually everything recently. I last had a face to face with my GP in 2016!

[TheBoys in reply to piglette]

my goodness- that’s terrible. My GP service is quite good to be fair and have been ok with my RA treatment in Central/East London. But am gonna give it a go.

[piglette in reply to TheBoys]

I think people get to the point where they cannot stand the pain any longer and then go private. You could always look at the prices in places like France etc. of course! It will be interesting to see what waiting time the NHS is offering. I have been having PRP injections in my knee. They say it puts of a knee operation by eight years. I don’t know if that is true. I think the injections works on around 80% of people, I was very sceptical and was amazed it worked. It is pricey though. I think the NHS is starting to offer it now.

[TheBoys in reply to piglette]

Is a PRP injection like a steroid?

It might tide me over.

[piglette in reply to TheBoys]

No. “Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient's own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each individual patient's own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.” I am not sure if it has problems working if the knee has gone too far with the damage though.

[KCRoyals in reply to piglette]

nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg637

Hope this helps. The first word my Orth Surgeon said when I asked about it was "Voodoo treatment".

[piglette in reply to KCRoyals]

It is called that because they use your blood to do it.

[Finaus]

Is a knee replacement primarily a pain relieving operation and improved mobility a possible/probable, but not necessary consequence of being in less pain? Perhaps this informs your consultant's diagnosis, even if constrained by NHS Guidelines.

[Nightingales]

so frustrating isn’t it. I just went through a similar problem and was told a year to see the porthopoedic surgeon and a year to have the op. Just checking that you have asked your dr to include all the hospitals available on Patient Choice. I had back and shoulder surgery privately through that and my neighbour had his knee done within three weeks.

[Happy5]

It's so frustrating having to battle for what should be accepted as reasonable health care.

We're already exhausted without having to battle as well.

All the best .

[SecondAngel]

Lesson is then is not to be stoic about the pain as it is one if the factors NHS Dr's use to decide on treatment.

[TheBoys in reply to SecondAngel]

many thanks - just had my first stumble on a high street - and not through drink!! - so have asked for a review on my NHS options

[weymouth321]

Hi Good Morning ,

My gardener - Clive is waiting for aTotal Knee Replacement , but at The Radcliffe Hospital ( they have a Specialist Unit right next to the Radcliffe Hospital , Oxford.

This is because Clive’s knee is a complex operation ( he’s had 2 prior at our local hospital ) and the Radcliffe Hospital ( specialises in this as they have all the necessary surgical equipment ) , unlike our local hospital in Wiltshire.

So please look into asking your NHS guy to refer you.

Clive has been currently waiting for 8 months , at home .

His NHS consultant and GP surgery ring the Radcliffe Hospital, every week , so Clive isn’t forgotten. Clive’s is purely due to a general wear and tear and a fall at the bottom of his garden 3-4 years ago.

Clive is 77 years and get’s about with a walking frame and stick. Clive lives in a Council downstairs flat . He takes Tramadol for pain relief , though, he tells me sometimes this isn’t strong enough.

But he’s going to wait it out by taking his Orthopaedic Consultant advice.

So do look into being referred , like Clive.

Oh , yes , this referral is all through the NHS .

Please , please look into this .

[TheBoys]

many thanks for this - really helpful. Paul