Knee surgery can remove symptoms of pain and stiffness and restore normal movement in your legs
Is knee pain making your normal activities harder? Have you recently had a knee injury that is causing you problems? Do you have stiffness in your knee, or does it keep giving way without warning?
If you have any type of problem with your knee or knees, you will want to get it managed and treated as soon as possible, so that you can get back to your normal activities and exercises again.
At The London Independent Hospital in Stepney Green, East London, our team of experienced consultant knee specialists provide expert assessment, diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of knee symptoms and conditions.
Whether your knee problem is new or longer-term, we will help you get the most suitable treatment as soon as possible, so that you can be on the road to recovery and back to better knee health again. If knee surgery is required, we can arrange this for you within a short timeframe.
To start your journey back to health, call or book online today.
If you are struggling with pain or reduced movement in your knee, you will appreciate fast access to expert-led care.
Whatever the cause of your condition - whether you have injured your knee while playing sports or have a longer-term knee condition that now requires some further attention - our leading knee surgeons can help to:
Our team of experienced consultant knee surgeons will ensure you are able to get back to doing the things you want to do again as quickly as possible, in the safest possible way.
Many types of knee problems will resolve themselves naturally with time and rest, but others will require some form of medical treatment. How, then, can you know whether you should see a doctor for assessment?
Consultant knee surgeon Mr Tarun Taneja explains some of the common symptoms that may make a private consultation at The London Independent Hospital a sensible choice:
"There are certain symptoms that are very common in the knee. The most common one is pain and the second is stiffness, or restriction of movement. Some people have instability in their knee or find that it locks in place.”
“If you have any of these symptoms, whether following an obvious injury or not, it is sensible to see an orthopaedic consultant like me for an assessment.”
"Similarly, if you have had long-term (chronic) pain in your knee that is not improving or is in fact now beginning to get worse, an appointment would be a sensible decision."
While adults of all ages are seen at The London Independent Hospital, Mr Taneja tends to see a lot of younger adults because of his expertise in treating sports injuries of the knee.
Many people come for help after injuring their knee skiing or playing a sport like rugby or football, where the knee is put under a lot of pressure while making quick, sudden twists and turns.
When you first visit us at The London Independent Hospital, your consultant will meet with you in one of our private consulting rooms. They will talk with you about your symptoms and will want to know:
They will also want to know whether your symptoms are stopping you from doing any of your normal activities or limiting you in any way, as this can help them as they consider different treatment options.
They will usually need to carry out a clinical examination of your knee, looking carefully at how easily and fully you can move it. Knee pain can sometimes be caused by a problem elsewhere — often the back, hip, foot, or ankle — so they may also examine these areas too.
This may be all that is needed for them to confirm a diagnosis. However, sometimes additional scans can be helpful - either for confirming a diagnosis or to help plan treatment.
At The London Independent Hospital, our on-site imaging facilities include X-ray, CT, MRI, and ultrasound. This means that we can easily arrange these for you if required.
Mr Taneja describes it as having everything you may need on one site:
"When a patient comes and sees me after a knee injury for example. I will examine them and make sure they get any appropriate investigations, which for knee injuries is often an MRI scan.
"While waits for MRI scans are often running into many months elsewhere, at The London Independent Hospital they can be done within just a few days. Our on-site musculoskeletal radiologists have a fast turnaround time for reporting on the scans, which means I can see the patient again within a week, with the results of their scan and a treatment plan mapped out.
"This is such a streamlined process, and the key advantage is that it avoids frustrating delays for patients and means they can get their treatment started at a much earlier time."
Once the results of any investigations are back, your consultant will meet with you again to explain the results and discuss treatment options with you.
If knee surgery is an option, they will tell you more about the operation and the benefits you should expect to see from it.
At The London Independent Hospital in East London, some of our surgeons use the VELYS™ robotic surgical system to help them perform knee replacement surgery.
Robotics-assisted knee replacement surgery is when your surgeon uses robotic technology to help them perform knee surgery, allowing them to be more precise and accurate. This can offer a range of benefits, including less pain and a faster recovery.
If you are interested in learning more about robotic surgery at The London Independent Hospital, read our page on VELYS™ robotics-assisted knee replacement surgery, or give us a call to find out which of our consultants work with VELYS™.
If over-the-counter medication cannot relieve your pain, your consultant may prescribe stronger pain relief medication to ease your symptoms
With three operating theatres and a critical care unit on-site, we can provide several types of knee surgery. These include:
Comprised of cartilage, the menisci are the 'shock absorbers' in your knee, helping to absorb and safely dissipate energy created in the joint every time you move it. If you damage the cartilage, meniscus surgery may be needed to either remove the cartilage or tor repair it.
If your knee has been damaged by osteoarthritis so much that other treatments are no longer effective, a total knee replacement may be advised. During this operation, your consultant will remove the damaged, worn joint surfaces and replace them with new, artificial surfaces.
If only part of your knee is damaged, a partial knee replacement may be a more suitable option than a total knee replacement for you. Because it is a less extensive operation, your recovery may be quicker.
Our natural joints experience wear and tear as we age. So too do artificial joints, including those of a total knee replacement. A modern knee implant will usually last for many years, but if it does become worn it may need to be replaced - known as knee replacement revision. This is a more complex operation because it involves removing the original prosthesis and replacing it with a new one.
If you are recommended for knee replacement, the procedure will typically take around one to two hours. However, this will depend on the type of surgery your consultant will be performing.
Knee arthroscopy is a type of keyhole surgery that allows your consultant to see directly inside your knee joint. It may be used to help confirm a diagnosis or to treat a problem.
Small surgical instruments can be used to carry out repairs or to remove worn or damaged cartilage from the joint. Because arthroscopy only requires tiny incisions in your skin, scarring is kept to an absolute minimum, and your recovery will be faster.
While minor damage may not need surgery, more significant damage (or even a complete tear) will often require surgery to repair or reconstruct the ligament. Visit our ligament repair or reconstruction page to find out more.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are very common, accounting for 40% of all knee injuries in sport.
If your ACL is partially or completely torn, surgery may be needed. This is known as ACL reconstruction. The surgery normally involves taking ligaments from other areas in the leg and using them to reconstruct the torn ACL. While this surgery can be extremely helpful, it often has a long recovery time, and you should expect it to take anywhere from 6–12 months for you to fully recover.
ACL reconstructive surgery needs to be done only once any initial swelling has gone down, so this means you may have to wait a few weeks from your injury until it has gone down enough to allow surgery to go ahead. During this time, our physiotherapy team will work with you to help you prepare your knee for the surgery.
After your knee surgery, you will usually benefit from a period of rehabilitation to help restore movement, strength, and function in your knee joint in a sensible, safe way. This will be planned by your consultant and physiotherapy team and tailored to your circumstances.
A key advantage of having your knee surgery at The London Independent Hospital is that it gives you fast, simple access to a wider healthcare team within the hospital.
Mr Taneja describes it in this way:
"We have a good physiotherapy department at the hospital, and knee surgeons like me work very closely with the physiotherapists to ensure our patients have the best possible outcome from their surgery. It is not just a case of you having knee surgery and then being 100% better - the best results are always obtained with support and help from the wider multidisciplinary team.
"There is a whole team on-site here to look after you at every stage of your treatment and recovery. This includes the theatre staff, the nursing team, physiotherapists, consultants, radiologists, portering staff and more."
Placing pressure directly on the operated knee should be avoided, as it can cause discomfort or hinder recovery. You might be able to start sleeping on your side a few weeks after knee replacement surgery, after you’ve consulted with your surgeon first. Sleeping on your non-operative side is generally recommended for the first few weeks.
In general, it is important to listen to your body and avoid any positions that can cause pain.
He goes on to say,
"Greater experience gives the opportunity to precisely tailor treatment specifically for each person I see. This will depend on several factors, including their expectations, their level of activity and what they hope to achieve. For example, a 20-year-old professional footballer will have very different expectations for knee surgery than somebody who is older and probably more sedentary."
Many people nowadays research their medical concerns and possible treatments online (on pages like this one). While this can be helpful, Mr Taneja points out it can also end up confusing people as they end up with lots of information but don't know what the best treatment choice for them would be.
Your consultant can help bring clarity to the situation - giving you expert knowledge and putting your mind at ease.
The cost of knee surgery will depend on various factors, from the consultant you choose, to the type of knee surgery you are having, to your personal medical history.
After your initial consultation with a specialist, and any tests or scans needed to help them make a diagnosis, your consultant will make a tailored treatment plan for you. This will come with a detailed breakdown of costs so you know exactly what to expect.
Our fixed-price packages include the price of your treatment and aftercare, but your initial consultation and any diagnostics are charged separately.
We offer flexible payment plans, so you can spread the cost over smaller monthly instalments, making private care more affordable.
For an idea of costs before you book your consultation, give us a call and one of our advisors can work up a quote for you.
When you visit The London Independent Hospital for your knee treatment in East London, you will benefit from:
Rapid access to an expert in knee health
Knee pain can have a significant impact on your daily life. You can see a consultant who is a specialist in their field, at a time that suits you, even if that's early morning, in the evening, or at the weekend. You can book a consultation easily via the website.
If you are concerned about any symptoms in your knee like pain, stiffness, or limited movement, it is sensible to meet with a knee specialist to get things assessed and investigated. For peace of mind and expert care for your knee condition, why not book your appointment today?
We look forward to welcoming you to The London Independent Hospital soon and helping you get the care you need without delay.
To book a consultation to discuss knee surgery with an orthopaedic surgeon near you, use our online booking system or give us a call and one of our dedicated advisors will help you find an appointment time that suits you.
Reception: 020 7780 2400
Mon-Sat: 8am-8pm
No on-site parking. Paid street parking available.
