I don't know how to find my previous post on here to update it. Some of you may remember I was having a rough time with knees, a stress fracture in my foot and rib muscles. The rib muscles tears are secondary to the lack of mobility with my knees (too much bending from the waist).
Long story short, I had a fall about 7 years ago. Twisting both knees. Which restricted walking (but mainly only in one knee). By the time I had an MRI scan and diagnosis (torn cartilage in left knee), the pandemic had started and treatment was deferred. About 3 years ago my right knee (which wasn't as bad) got worse suddenly. And we had to get a stairlift. Have been trying to get surgery ever since. Been through the whole physio thing (three times) and couldn't get a referral. 18 months ago I overdid it and could hardly walk at all any more and had to start using a wheelchair. Finally paid to see a private orthopaedic specialist, which was not a pleasant experience. Dismissed it as "normal for my age" to have cartilage tears. Said do more physio. After picking myself up off the floor a few months later, I started physio at the local hospital with the intention of pushing for another referral - so I could get a consultant to refer me for stem cell repair injections (only one NHS hospital does this) - if they won't do surgery.
The argument (and it's enough to drive you mad) is - you can't have knee replacements because it's not arthritis. You can't have arthroscopic repair because that makes arthritis worse. Yet they tell me I don't have arthritis.
I had to be really assertive to get another referral via the physio (GP won't do referrals for musculoskeletal) and got to see a second NHS consultant a couple of months ago. Who just said the same as the first one. Normal to have cartilage tears for your age. I made a fuss explained my left knee locks and goes out excruciatingly, I have to wear a knee brace in bed, and I can hardly walk now. Eventually he gave in and ordered an MRI scan (but only for one knee). Which meant a follow up appointment.
I had the follow up appointment today and by now I was prepared to just be dismissed. Which I was. He just said - no sign of trauma - just wear and tear. Now this is head messing because I've had three MRI scans now and the previous two clearly state the cartilage tears, size and location. I mean I didn't have any walking issues until I had a fall and tore the cartilage! But it is just further dismissal. I did try - I explained the impact on my life and general health and tried for the referral to the hospital that does stem cell treatment - and that got ignored as not relevant.
So I wasn't surprised. I did expect this, but it is still head messing. I am 67, not 87. I had an injury. If I was 40 I'd get arthroscopic repair. If I had arthritis I'd get knee replacements. He said I have "mild" arthritis on my scan - so that will exclude me from the stem cell treatment then. To date I've been told "no arthritis". I may never get arthritis in my knees - so then am I never to have knee replacements.
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The weather is nice and it was a bit of a day out so I tried to keep cheerful and was not surprised at the outcome, but it hardly makes you feel good to be thrown on the scrap heap. Been using a wheelchair in the house for a long time now and a mobility scooter when I go out, because I can only just about walk to the bathroom from the bedroom as it's too painful. Even doing physio is too painful.
So for the past three years I am just told - take painkillers, do exercises. And it's not enough.
So there's my update. I am not sure where to go from here. It is no life just trying to do physio every day (which is so painful it stops me walking).
I could get a referral for surgery for my rib condition (which doesn't get better because it goes again every time I bend) but to my mind, logically, the knees needed sorting first - to prevent the ribs going again. Because when you can't bend your knees or kneel, other parts overcompensate and it leads to further injury.
So I suppose I didn't quite take it in at first and am a bit down now. This is going to affect my health generally, constant immobility. He suggested I go swimming. Well there is no disabled swimming in my area and I wouldn't even be able to get in and out of a swimming pool! Haven't been able to get in and out of a bath for years! There may be a pool somewhere with a hoist, but no special aqua disabled classes. As for swimming itself - no chance - my knee would just lock.
So I didn't really expect any help but it is head messing to be told there is no injury when there is an injury (and I know it's an old injury now but ........)
So it took me three years to get to see a specialist (from having to get the stairlift in). First fobbed off because of my age and being "deconditioned". Well of course I'm deconditioned - I didn't get the surgery to improve my mobility?
So where do I go now? I'm sure there must be some more open-minded, caring surgeons who aren't in the stone age.
