I've been off work now 13 weeks with suspected ACL injury.

Bones, joints and muscles
1

I went to turn quite quickly at work and heard a popping sound in my right knee, straight after pain and fell to the floor. I sat for bout 5/10 mins, then even hurt abit stayed working....for the next 7 days, there was swelling and pain but i just thought they would go on they own and took pain killers etc. My job is a communtiy support worker to elderly clients in their own homes. After these 7 days as mentioned above, i had a week's annual leave, and went in our caravan to Norfolk, my leg got worse, kept me awake, hurting and so painfully, so went to local hosp, saw a nurse practioner - she said think had ACL injury, after assesing my knee with moving it around, she told me to rest leg, ice packs and get physio once back home...she gave me stronger pain killers. On returning home, had to take sick leave, walking with crutches, pain very bad, local gp, said to rest it, and use ice packs and gave me anti-flammatory meds, and put me down for physio. In meantime whilst waiting on physio, leg had good and bad days, limp on my leg with crutches, have pain constant directly back of knee, and left side of knee, pain up thigh to just down ait from my groin area, went back docs, gave me sick note and said needed rest, by now had been off nearly 8 weeks, saw physio therapist, she said she thought i had a acl injury, and said wot the docs had said, but gave me three excerises to do, carried on doing these, but leg started to get worse, went bk going on 10 weeks, physio said leg not healing properly, and until have a scan she can't do anymore, she wrote to my gp, so now i'm been off work nearly 13 weeks, and finally got a scan at the end of this month, however last few days my leg has got a lot worse, ive had numbness and pins and needles, coldness in my leg and foot, i get alot of twitching of nerves, and still so much pain......last time docs gave my stronger meds, but help alittle. I have to pick my knee up to turn it at times, and can't bend at times, sometimes it works and sometimes not, depending on angle of it. I can;t use it like i used to and sometimes if try to weight bear just gives out, but lately the numbess and cramp right up to my toes happens alot.... just wondered if anyone could give me some advice please. My husband thinks of some serious damage and prob have to have surgery, but i'm not sure. Just know since i popped the knee all them weks ago feel nhs as let me down alittle.

thanks folks x

2

Nurse practioners may be OK when it comes to some things but sure wouldn't go with their opinion on something as serious as a severe knee problem. I'd rather get to an orthopod for a seasoned opinion

3

So sorry you are suffering so badly.  It's no good just taking more pain killers. You must insist on having an MRI scan. If your gp won't book one for you could you conside having it done privately? My daughter paid for one recently and I believe it coSt about £275 and she was able to have it very quickly. You really need to know what you are dealing with.good luck

patricia

4

If you've got coldness, numbness and pins and needles you need to get back to your GP ASAP. ( and NOTthe nurse practitioner) I also think you need your scan ASAP.you might have some nerve damage and it needs to be diagnosed and treated. And I agree you need s referral to an ortho. 

5

hi tracey ... so sorry to hear you have been suffering for so long. and i would imagine the worst is not really having a definite diagnosis. i agree with other comments here, you need to ring your gp and bring the date of the scan forward. numbness, pins and needles and such are symptoms not to be taken lightly. i would call and insist. or, if you can afford it, get it done privately. and i would definitely see a specialist. the use of your leg is paramount to living a full and happy life. or that's what i believe after still feeling the aftermath of my total knee replacement 10 weeks ago.

good luck!

britta - 10 weeks post op

6

Hi Tracey I fully agree with the other posts. You really do need an MRI scan without delay. This problem has been going on far to long to be left with just painkillers. I really feel for you if you knew what exactly what is wrong then you know exactly what you should be doing with dealing with it. At the end of the day your mobility is at risk. I wish you well and hope it soon gets sorted for you 

7

You poor thing - that is almost exactly what happened to me in regard to turning my knee and damaging something inside (never really got to the bottom of it) and being on crutches, in pain, not able to bend to walk properly and off work for two months before surgery last year to help me. However long story short last year's surgery didn't workso I had my TKR w12weeks today.

I don't know how having a private scan will help you move forward as I don't believe your NHS consultant will be able to use it? I have however found that letting them know I would take a last minute cancellation did help - worth a try!

All the best and let us know how you get on.

8

Yes the consultant will use a private MRI scan. You are given the dis to take with you. 

9

Hi

thanks for the reply message, i agrre with ou but at the time she was all ty had available. But at least she gave me pain killers and crutches.

Regards Tracey x

10

Hello Pat,

Thankyou for your message,and yes indeed I did have a scan last week, i'm not too sure wot is going on, but they see no rips and just waiting to go bk physio.

Thanks Tracey x

11

Hello Sandra

you were right, i did go back gp and see she sent me straight away to local hosp, had ultrasound and bloods taken , both came bk normal.

Since then had mri scan, this has come back with all ligaments intact and no rips etc, I do however have some fluid on my knee.

Not sure wot happens, but I know my knee still is not right, still swells, still has nerves jumping and the pain is so intense.

I still can not straighten my knee out (you know when you stand and your leg locks into place) my will not do it (no matter how hard I try - it will not lock into place.)

Kind Regards

Tracey x

12

Hello,

thank you for your kind message, I have been back to local hospital and had ultrasound and bloods taken, has well as a Mri scan, seems my knee had no tears or rips etc, have got small amount of fluid on knee, but my knee still has all my above symptoms still and still in alot of pain. oing bk gp next week for advice and seeing physio again soon.

Thanks x

Tracey xx

13

Hello Tucks,

thanks for your message, still taking alot of pain killers, and had ultrasound and bllods taken, all of which came back normal. I had MRI scan, that came bk all okay but got some fluid on my knee, they were no tears or rips. I truly dont understand wot is going on with my knee now. It still kills me and still off work, not sure wot to do, got gp visit next week and trying to arrange to see my physio therapist soon, thanks xx

tracey xx

14

Hello tracey

yeah mu knee is still very painful daily, i've had scans and they came back saying got fluid on my knee, but ligaments all intact no tears etc.

Got gp visit next week, not sure now wot to do as seems, just know my leg not right.

thanks tracey x

15

UPDATE FOLKS

Been back to gp, i've had bloods and ultrasound taken, all came back normal. I've then had Mri scan, the results were (today) that i've small amount of fluid on my knee but no ligaments tears and rips etc.

Now i'm still in alot of pain, especially the bk of my knee, plus when you stand and lock your leg in place, my knee will not do this, can't fully bend /straighten etc has too painful and wont go further,no matter how i try.

Got gp next week and trying to spk with my physio, i just dont know wot is wrong with my leg, i know it;s just not right, still off work, and still can't weight bear much on it.

Any help much appreciated.

thanks tracey xx

16

So sorry been a long time folks....moved twice lol and new job etc. Anyway update on my knee - seems i had injured my knee - but has the scans took ages...they think healed by itself if had torn, they said had fluid on my knee. So after physio and meds....just started using it again. 

Now in 2017 - my knee gives out, have quite bit of pain , swells up. I work in retail and started 2015, had to go upstairs and step ladders and lifting.....this all had impact on my body. Saw a orthopaedic doctor -he has told my Arthritis in my knee and now will have to eventually have a knee replacement. The guides or tendon is rubbing on to my knee causing the pain as too thin. Anyway i'm holding back - luckily work very good, i don't go up ladders or steps and supposed to use a walking stick. And have light duties at work.

Anyway thankyou to everyone whom replied and left kind messages xx

Regards Tracey x