Knee Xrays

[Sebastian247]

Hi all. Hope its a lovely sunny day where you are as it is here (for a change!).I had xrays six weeks ago, on my knees, requested by rheumatology and ankle, requested by my surgery. The xrays were done at the same appointment.

I had the results for my ankle from my surgery within two weeks. But six weeks later I've still heard nothing from rheumatology about my knees.

I'm wondering if they're going to let me know what the results are, if the xray doesn't show any problems. I'm a bit concerned because my knees do give me a lot of pain, waking up and down steps or slopes and my left knee is very painful when driving. I struggle with the hour drive to work at the moment and can't wait to stop and straighten my leg.

I suspect its osteoarthritis but who knows. If anyone has been through similar knee pain I'd appreciate hearing about the diagnosis and any treatment.

Obviously I can phone rheumatology, but it can be very difficult to get through (the phone wait can drag on for hours and is often closed before you get to speak to anyone). I always feel like I'm bothering them. If the xray shows nothing wrong I'd still like to know, and i wonder what else could be causing pain that doesn't show on an xray?

[Amnesiac3637]

You’re really not bothering them, it’s their job and if you’re in pain and haven’t heard from anyone you do need to follow up where your x-ray results have got to. I know there’s a shortage of radiologists but that’s a long time to wait and you may have slipped through the system. It happens.

Email your rheumatology team (there’s usually a contact email for patients on any letters you may have) or phone the consultant’s secretary and find out what’s going on.

You unfortunately have to be the proactive one these days and politely screeching can get you much further forward than just waiting! Best of luck, let us know how you get on.

[Runrig01]

Unfortunately you really need to chase for results. I had an mri for severe knee pain last year, where my knee was buckling. Ended up falling and gashing my leg, which took 10 weeks to heal. I had an urgent mri by A&E and told I had severe OA but my rheumatologist would discuss other findings. Unfortunately rheumy wouldn’t tell me till it had been reported on. Even as an urgent mti, it took a month to get results, and I had to chase, despite several issues. It found I had bursitis of 2 bursa, patella tendinitis, blisters on my meniscus, my knee cap was subluxed, which had resulted in grade 4 OA of the femeropatellar joint, also a large effusion was noted. Yet despite all that, I had to phone for my result.

You’re not a bother to them, my mum has this attitude and it really frustrates me. I was a ward sister for many years, and can assure you, they won’t mind. It’s part of what they do. Same with if the appointments desk, moves your appointment back by 3 months, and your struggling, the secretary will bring it forward if they feel it’s necessary. When I chased mine, I was given a F2F appointment for a few days later to discuss the findings. Please phone, and chase it up. I had delayed treatment in my case as no one would do anything without the report, not even private physio. NHS physio ended up being 6 months after the problem started, and have a permanent problem with the patella tendon as a result.

[AgedCrone]

SIX WEEKS? I waited from May until last week to actually GET X-rays.

They lost the original referral & nobody seemed to know what to do …….like ask the doctor to fill in another form? am now told 10/14 days for results. I’m thinking closer to September!

Have you thought if changing cars? There is no way could I drive a manual these days.

Hope you get a reply soon…,try calling radiology rather than rheumatology.

Have your NHS & Hospital number handy.

[Sebastian247]

Thanks. Yep, when I change cars next an auto is on the cards.

I did wait months for the xray appointment....and six weeks after still waiting for the outcome.

I'm certain the radiologist has done a report. They wrote one for my ankle from xrays taken at the same time which I've received from my surgery two weeks after. I was impressed.

The knee report will have gone to rheumatology. I have no idea what to expect in terms of turn around time, but six weeks seems long to me for someone to review a report and respond.

However, everything with my rheumatology dept takes a very long time it seems.....

[sylvi]

Surely your dr will be able to look at the hospital records for you. xxxx

[Sebastian247 in reply to sylvi]

It seems not, bizarrely. I asked during a recent GP appointment, she couldn't view it. It seems the report can only be accessed by the recipient doctor until they upload it to the 'system'. Seems crazy to me.

[BoneyC]

The results of an x-ray I had on 27th June appeared on My Chart last night, so 3 weeks wait.