Knee replacement criteria

Sometimes the cartilage has just gone and all the exercise in the world won't help. When you're bone on bone extra bony spurs grow which adds to the pain. Do the Oxford test and take the print out to the GP.
You can make a private appointment with an orthopaedic consultant directly. No need for GP referral by the way. A private consultation will cost around £250 ish but won't include X Rays which are necessary and would bump the cost up even more depending on the type requested by the doc.
Good luck.

Thank you all very much for replying. And thanks annsixty for the relative measure of how much pain you were in. The GP made me feel like a nuisance! I do such a lot of things to help my knees, a twice weekly visit to the gym for an hour's cardio because I know 'keeping the muscles strong protects the joints'. I go to yoga weekly and have bi-weekly private yoga sessions, I stretch every day and walk and cycle but my knees are getting worse. I have more pain and stiffness and sometimes I just feel so fed up with it. I said all this but it fell on deaf ears. Sigh. Thanks again for the comments.

Answering that totally honestly my score was 8.
The day I saw the Surgeon my name went on the waiting list.
I couldn't do my own shopping never mind walk two miles.

There is criteria. Check the Oxford knee scale. It's widely used.

not some ideas for you
1) contact your local clinical commissioning group and ask if they have produced criteria for knee replacement ( I bet they have)
2) google - especially NICE - they will have guidelines
3) if you can afford it ask for a private referral to an orthorpedic surgeon specialising in knees- initial consultation will be c £250. He will know if you meet local criteria
4) then see a different GP if you can