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Third times a charm!

JamesFoxBass

JamesFoxBass

Guest
Jun 13, 2014
202
49
32
Portsmouth, UK
#1
So for the past 4/5 days now I've had what can only be described as being extreme discomfort and swelling on my left knee, which is the knee I've had operated on twice before now for damaged cartilage and damaged/torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, so I'm well versed in what is normal for my knee and how to treat it, normally 72 hours of RICE treatment will solve any issues, however today being 5th day I decided to venture to my local A&E department to be turned away as "I have a pre-existing history of knee injuries and therefore should seek medical help from my GP, this was at 7am BST, when the A&E department consisted of myself and my father plus one other young lady and several chatty hospital staff, so it's not like I was taking up a place for someone who desperately needed it!

Kinda wishing I could go private, I'd have been seen already but would have paid for that privilege! Still my GP is reviewing my case notes ready for an appointment tomorrow AM, hopefully I can get through the system a LOT quicker this time! Last time I had to be seen for this knee it took 9 months from first Orthopaedic appointment to operation, also hoping I can see my old specialist as he's operated on me both times before!

Any talkbassers suffering with dodgy knees? How do you manage them and still gig and tour?
 
#2
JamesFoxBass said:
So for the past 4/5 days now I've had what can only be described as being extreme discomfort and swelling on my left knee, which is the knee I've had operated on twice before now for damaged cartilage and damaged/torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, so I'm well versed in what is normal for my knee and how to treat it, normally 72 hours of RICE treatment will solve any issues, however today being 5th day I decided to venture to my local A&E department to be turned away as "I have a pre-existing history of knee injuries and therefore should seek medical help from my GP, this was at 7am BST, when the A&E department consisted of myself and my father plus one other young lady and several chatty hospital staff, so it's not like I was taking up a place for someone who desperately needed it!

Kinda wishing I could go private, I'd have been seen already but would have paid for that privilege! Still my GP is reviewing my case notes ready for an appointment tomorrow AM, hopefully I can get through the system a LOT quicker this time! Last time I had to be seen for this knee it took 9 months from first Orthopaedic appointment to operation, also hoping I can see my old specialist as he's operated on me both times before!

Any talkbassers suffering with dodgy knees? How do you manage them and still gig and tour?
Click to expand...
What's A&E?
What did you do to your knee originally? Sports injury? Car accident? Where do you live, Canada?
 
#3
placedesjardins said:
What's A&E?
What did you do to your knee originally? Sports injury? Car accident? Where do you live, Canada?
Click to expand...
Sorry, UK based and I guess certain parlances aren't as universal as I thought!

A&E is Accident and Emergency, I guess your version is the emergency room, ER?

I've torn my Anterior Cruciate Ligament twice, once as the direct result of a Football(Soccer) injury and another time from a workplace fall, this time I'm not even sure what I've done to bring on this episode with the knee, which is without doubt the worst it's ever been.
 
#4
image.jpg
This may be in your future. Not as good as the original. I hope you fare better.
 
#8
JamesFoxBass said:
Not nice! Being only 20 I hope they can salvage the joint, if it is bad that is, as I'd like to keep my fitness and health up, I've always been extremely active and after being bed ridden today through rest, I can safely say a sedentary life does not suit me!
Click to expand...
I hope for the best outcome possible for you. Mine was screwed up since I was your age and I finally got tired of the pain. The left one is next.
 
#9
Had the knee gotten substantially worse?

If not, I don't see the complaint at getting turned away from A&E. It wasn't an accident and if it was day 5 of discomfort, it wasn't an emergency ;) . I can't comment on the hospital you went to, but I the A&E doctors and nurses I know are swamped pretty much all the time (plus they are meant to be kept as clear as possible for any real A&E incidents which do come in).

No dodgy knee, but dodgy ankles and lower back/hip (rugby injury), flare ups aren't fun (can wake up and be unable to move the leg, unable to put pressure on it or simply have sciatica (which can vary from lightning bolts of pain to total numbness). I try and avoid operations at all costs, unless you've damaged the ACL again, physio is probably the better way to go - though your GP should keep you right.

I know a number of people with missing ACLs (not uncommon in rugby or football!) and they certainly get by fine (as long as they don't twist the knee suddenly).
 
#10
i_got_a_mohawk said:
Had the knee gotten substantially worse?

If not, I don't see the complaint at getting turned away from A&E. It wasn't an accident and if it was day 5 of discomfort, it wasn't an emergency ;) . I can't comment on the hospital you went to, but I the A&E doctors and nurses I know are swamped pretty much all the time (plus they are meant to be kept as clear as possible for any real A&E incidents which do come in).

No dodgy knee, but dodgy ankles and lower back/hip (rugby injury), flare ups aren't fun (can wake up and be unable to move the leg, unable to put pressure on it or simply have sciatica (which can vary from lightning bolts of pain to total numbness). I try and avoid operations at all costs, unless you've damaged the ACL again, physio is probably the better way to go - though your GP should keep you right.

I know a number of people with missing ACLs (not uncommon in rugby or football!) and they certainly get by fine (as long as they don't twist the knee suddenly).
Click to expand...
Well I was able to walk/hobble till last night and since then have resorted to crutches to get around, so was surprised to be turned away also went at a time when there was just myself, my father who drove me and another woman in the waiting area.

Seeing the GP tomorrow so hoping to get referred to see my old surgeon who operated both times previous, hopefully an MRI will give me good news and results that don't require an op as my final Uni year is due to start in September!
 
#11
JamesFoxBass said:
Well I was able to walk/hobble till last night and since then have resorted to crutches to get around, so was surprised to be turned away also went at a time when there was just myself, my father who drove me and another woman in the waiting area.

Seeing the GP tomorrow so hoping to get referred to see my old surgeon who operated both times previous, hopefully an MRI will give me good news and results that don't require an op as my final Uni year is due to start in September!
Click to expand...

Ach, you could still walk, what you complaining about :p

Surprised you weren't able to see the GP same day, though I dare say the NHS is run differently in Scotland and England (and some GPs run differently from others). Most around here tend to have open appointments each morning (some afternoon), but you need to call first thing to arrange them. Surely wouldn't need to see your surgeon prior to an MRI, GP not able to refer you to get a scan?
 
#12
i_got_a_mohawk said:
Ach, you could still walk, what you complaining about :p

Surprised you weren't able to see the GP same day, though I dare say the NHS is run differently in Scotland and England (and some GPs run differently from others). Most around here tend to have open appointments each morning (some afternoon), but you need to call first thing to arrange them. Surely wouldn't need to see your surgeon prior to an MRI, GP not able to refer you to get a scan?
Click to expand...
The way it works down here is that you have to be referred to the correct department then things get underway, that is of course if you don't have cancer! I could possibly have seen my GP, but I had a pre-existing appointment for tomorrow morning so chose to wait for that. Been icing and resting my knee all day and am bored out of my mind!
 
#13
I definitely see a knee replacement in your future.

Last week I took a poisonous spiny cactus plant to the knee. Incredible pain for little over a day, also some swelling, it totally sucked hobbling around on one leg and using a totally screwed up Fernandez bass that I bought from a Talkbass member for a crutch. That was however the most effective use for the damn bass to date.
 
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