Well been to the orthopedic specialist.
Now being refered to a knee specialist.
He is pretty sure I have torn my cartlidge. So next step is an MRI scan and then an Arthroscopy to take out the piece that is causing the problems (was on crutches last month for 4 weeks)
Has anyone had one????
I now have to work out, if I have to stay in hospital for a day or two, what am I going to do with the dogs!!!!!
BUT he said after i have had the operation, it will take 3-4 weeks and I will be able to start running again :D :D :D :D
Lea :)

My daughter's had arthroscopy - and anterior cruciate ligament repair    The arthroscopy was done as a day patient but she stayed in 2 days after reacting to the anaesthetic (sicky - eeeuch! ) 

Can't comment on the rate of recovery after the op tho, cruciate ligament repair takes up to 6 months of recuperation, healing and physio :rolleyes:

Hope it goes well for you :)

Hi I had arthroscopy. It was done as a day patient but sore for a week or two. I think you will need someone to volunteer to walk your dogs for a couple of weeks!!
Hope it all goes ok. Best wishes :-)
Jane

You're lucky to be getting one! I had major surgery to correct my right knee after years of dislocating kneecaps about 4 years ago and was told to come back when the pain in the "good" knee got bad and they would do an arthroscopy to clean it up and get me a few more years. Now I'm told they don't do arthroscopies any more and I should excercise more (I own Malamutes :rolleyes: ) Seems to be a postcode thing because apparently, if I lived in Harrogate I'd get an arthroscopy if I couldn't manage a full 18 holes of golf!

I was told originally that 4 weeks was the recovery period for an arthroscopy though - guess I won't find out until we have another change of policy (or government ;) )

i had it done 4 weeks ago.on crutches for two day.only in hospital for 8 hours.

i did run the dogs at the show this week god it hard.plus it ok in the morning but bye night it swallon up again and the pain before the op is still there ?????

My partner has had this done to both of his knees. In both cases it left minimal scarring. He didn't use crutches the second time, as he said the second time it didn't hurt as much. He was back to normal in about a month, but he was actually ok driving after the second one in three weeks. I guess it depends from person to person. He bruised, and did have some occasional stiff pangs, but the recovery time was pretty quick and he was in and out in one day for both. He did ice it and heat it using a cold compress and a hot water bottle a few days after surgery and he said he felt that helped too.

Thanks everyone :)
I am ok driving as i have an Automatic car, so even when I havnt been able to walk I could still drive :D
Now its a waiting game which is the worst part. Walked kids to school today and its hurting a bit.
It had settled down wasnt too bad until the specialist pulled it about and hurt it again!!!!! Went in walking and out limping :( :( LOL
Just waiting for a letter from them and then will ring up and get them to put me on a cancellation list :)
Lea :) 

Up date.
Nothing showed up on the MRi scan. Which is 95% accurate.
Buit they can do an elective arthroscopy just in case. And didnt offer any other reason aoart from a touch of artheritis which would cause the pain, which due to where it is and how it 'appears' I am deffinatly not convinced.
They gave me 2 weeks to think about it and i go back on Thursday.
Now I was all on for having ythe op, BUT
I have now spoken to an ex Physio who I was working for today. She has felt the knee, and even thought she has been out of it for a few years (1 1/2) she thinks it may wel be something to do with the Patella, maybe Tendon damage, and has told me to go to a sports physio and agreed I should get a second opinion. AGhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Has anyone had tendon damage??????
So I have tried to get appointment with physio.
Need to find out how to get a second opinion. Do you ask the consultant or do you ask the doctor???????
AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH Too many things to think about.
Any help will be gratefully received
(And there was sonmeone who was very helpful and I cant remember who it was, aggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh comes with moving LOL)
Lea :)

Lea, I don't believe an MRI TRULY shows everything, some things are fallible! Any investigative procedure is just a snap shot of what's happening at the time...years ago I had a lot of scans and stuff for stomach problems, I won't bore you with the details, these included barium meals etc...anyhow..they showed not a lot and was told it was in my mind, well when they finally operated, they found my gall bladder was falling to bits! These and many other horror stories I have!!! LOL Which was why I went into Nursing!!!

Anyway, I'm going in for an Arthroscopy tomorrow(Tues) to see if I really need my knee replacment! What I would do, Lea, is ask your GP for a second opinion, he/she needs to refer you, don't ask the Dr you see at the hospital, they'll get really pi**ed if you do...they think you don't trust them and put you down as a difficult patient! Then they write snotty letters about you and 'your pain' (read as you ARE a pain) so convince the GP the problem impacts on every aspect of your life(which it does!) and get their support. If you can possibly afford it I would go and see an Orthopaedic Surgeon privately, it may cost between £100-£150 but it's well worth the money! AlsoIwould take your friends advise and go see the Sports Physio asap! Tendon damage can range from a minor tear to a massive disruption they can all lead to symptoms and pain but the MRI SHOULD pick it up if it's a lot of damage. If there's anything else I can do I'll let you know, need to get organised for tomorrow!! LOL Take care, all the best, Dawn X

Thanks Dawn.
I am ringing my GP tomorrow. Who, incidentaly, I have done work for so she knows I am not a hypocondriact!!!! She has been my GP since before i had James. over 11 years. and when I went in about my knee she didnt even look at it to refer me, so is 100% behind me.
I cant afford to go private :( and if I did I wouldnt know where to start looking for a surgeon.
i have been told the guy I want to be refered to at Queens med in  Nottingham is the best, so I will try that.
and already asked for a cancellation for a sports physio, hopefully before thursday, which will cost me £26 per sessiuon but worth it if she can help.
Its infuriating, as i know I have the early stages of arteheritis, but for a consultant to turn around and tell me there is nothing they can do is AWFUL :( :( As i am sure there is something more than that because of the exact pain in an exact point each time in the joint not an overall pain that i think I should have.
Going to ask my consutant on thursday if it may be patella damage and see what he says!!!!!
Dawn, I hope tomorrow goes the way you hope. Which ever way that is.
Good luck and I will be thinking of you xx
Lea :)

How did you get on Dawn???????
Well i went to a sports phsio, and she said,
I have not got any problems with carteledge etc so the MRI scan is accurate,
The problem is the muscles from my waist down.
I did several things last november, changed my running shoes, did cross country etc etc (I wont bore you)
And its all connected with that. Went back to see consultant today(The one I saw orginally) and he agreed I should stay with the pysio and not the op. And stay private as NHS dont do specialist sports therapists and its a long waiting list for physio.
So I have booked an appointment with the physio I went to see. And she said I should be back running, maybe only a mile a time in 3 months.
I am SOOOOOO pleased :D :D :D :D :D :D
Will cost me a fortune but worth it if I can run again :D
Lea :) 

AHA!! Well done you! Well, he did a bi-lateral release and it's a lot better already! I DON'T need a new knee yet, maybe in a year or two, which I'm thrilled about, as knees are more difficult technically than Hips, so to say I wasn't looking forward to it is an understatement!! LOL Now all I need to do is get my wrist sorted out!!(I have cysts in it :rolleyes: my scaphoid mainly, but it's caused 2 other cysts from the friction of the Arthritis) and I'll be away...just shout for the bionic woman...I have a feeling I am worth more dead for the scrap metal value, than I am alive!!! :P :P :P (there are some that would wish me dead too...but we won't go into that!! :D)

Well, I'm glad you're making headway and hope you are back to your running very soon, goodluck! All the best, Dawn X