When you meet with your Consultant, they will ask you to talk about your symptoms. They will ask you a number of questions, like:
- What symptoms do you have?
- How long have you had them?
- Do you have any pain in your knee? If so, can you describe it?
- Have your symptoms been getting worse?
- Have you tried any treatments already? If so, did they help?
- Are your symptoms stopping you from doing any particular activities or movements?
They will take a medical history and carry out a detailed physical examination of your knee. They may examine your hip, back and lower leg as well if they suspect a problem in any of these places is causing referred pain in your knee.
Depending on your symptoms and their examination of your knee, your Consultant may refer you for further investigations. Our comprehensive on-site imaging facilities include X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound, so any tests needed can be easily and quickly arranged for you.
Once the results of any tests are back, your Consultant will use these to confirm a diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment. They will discuss the diagnosis with you and explain the treatment options available to you. If you have any questions or concerns about anything, they will always be very happy to talk through these with you.
For some conditions, a type of keyhole surgery known as knee arthroscopy may be required. A few small cuts will be made in your knee and a thin, flexible tube (arthroscope) with a small light and camera attached is then passed through and into the joint. This transmits a live feed to a screen, giving your Consultant a clear view inside the joint. If any problems are found during the arthroscopy, such as damage to the cartilage or a ligament tear, this can often be treated at the same time, avoiding the need for further surgery in the future.