Diagnosis and treatment for your knee problems.
At The Syon Clinic in Brentford, we provide an experienced team of knee specialists to help manage and even eliminate your knee pain, including consultants and physiotherapists. We offer a range of sophisticated diagnostic testing and effective treatment options for debilitating knee pain, including tailored surgery such as knee replacement surgery.
When you visit us for your initial appointment, your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and carry out a comprehensive assessment to find the best treatment option for you. If you require treatment, whether non-operative (conservative) or operative (surgical), we can get this arranged for you quickly.
We know how limiting and frustrating it can be to live with pain, stiffness, or weakness in one or both knees. But effective treatment options are available for a wide range of knee complaints. We can help you access these with the right healthcare professional.
"Many of the people I see at Syon Clinic have a problem with their knee and are frustrated with delays in being seen elsewhere. They have often been waiting months to see a specialist.
At Syon Clinic, I can usually see somebody within a day or two of their enquiry. If an X-Ray or scan is needed, this can be done very quickly. While it may easily take you three to six months to get a diagnosis elsewhere, Syon Clinic can bring that time right down to just a couple of days.
This means you can get clarity about what is causing your problem much sooner and treatment can be arranged at a much earlier date." explains Mr Saavedra.
For this reason, any damage to your knee - whether relatively mild or severe - has the potential to cause significant problems with many of these movements.
You may find you are no longer able to take part in the sports and activities you usually enjoy. Perhaps you are finding it harder to walk up or down stairs, or to go to the shops? Or maybe the pain in your knee is keeping you awake at night? These are all examples of the “hidden” cost of knee problems. While you may still look mobile to your friends and family, everyday movement and activities can be a struggle.
Knee pain is most often caused by a sports injury or general 'wear-and-tear' in the joint.
Many of the people who visit the consultants at Syon Clinic do so because they have one or more of the following symptoms:
Learn more about the symptoms of knee pain.
If you have any of the symptoms above and they are limiting your daily life or causing you concern, it is sensible to visit a doctor for advice. Common causes of knee problems include:
Learn more about the causes of knee pain.
The aim of any treatment is to significantly reduce your pain and stiffness and get you back to better movement, stability, and strength in your knee.
When you first visit us, your consultant will discuss your symptoms to find out:
They will carry out a thorough but gentle examination of both knees, looking closely for any differences in your movement, function and strength. They might also examine your feet, ankles and hips because knee pain can sometimes be caused by a problem in these areas. This is known as referred pain.
Your symptoms and physical examination may be all that are needed to confirm a diagnosis and make a treatment plan. However, in many cases, additional diagnostic scans may be helpful.
On-site imaging facilities at Syon Clinic include X-Ray, MRI, CT and ultrasound, and any of these can be arranged for you quickly if required. Radiologists provide expert reporting of diagnostic scans, so the results will be back with your consultant without delay.
Mr Saavedra emphasises the value of having a wider healthcare team on-site at Syon Clinic.
"Although I specialise in treating many knee conditions, I will sometimes see somebody and determine that their problem is actually being caused by an issue elsewhere, like their spine, hip or ankle.
In these cases, it is very simple for me to refer that person to one of my colleagues who specialise in that area. Although they may have started off seeing me, they will always be treated by the most appropriate specialist for their condition."
If a problem is found in your knee that would benefit from treatment, your consultant at Syon Clinic will plan a bespoke treatment plan for you.
Also known as steroid injection therapy, this treatment involves injections of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into your painful joint. This can effectively reduce pain and inflammation, and the effects can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This form of pain relief may be recommended if you can't take oral anti-inflammatories for any reason.
These can either be prescribed by your GP or your consultant. They reduce swelling in your joint, which can lessen stiffness and pain. Your doctor might also recommend using heat therapy (in the form of icepacks or heat pads) to reduce swelling or numb your joint pain. Heat therapy can be used in addition to anti-inflammatory medication.
Physiotherapy for joint pain comprises a specialist exercise programme designed to strengthen the muscles around your joints, improving mobility and - in taking the pressure of your joints - reducing your pain. It can be a highly effective treatment and many people see amazing results.
If these do not help alleviate your symptoms, you might need surgery. Your surgeon will assess whether other options will help before booking you in for surgery, if needed.
We will be happy to discuss ways to modify certain activities to help ease your symptoms.
Please note that if surgery is needed, it will be carried out at our sister hospital: The Clementine Churchill Hospital.
If you want to know more about our services, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.
