Day 986 - Ben Lomond

I went to get the results of my second MRI this morning.  The consultant confirmed that I do still have a tear in my cartilage and when I asked if it was bigger than it was before he said it was.

He is reluctant - although he hasn't ruled it out - to do another arthroscopy which would involve cutting away the torn piece of cartilage, because he is not convinced that is what is causing my pain and he said that it may make matters worse.  He said that by going in again, the tools can damage the joint surface.  There is already a bit of wear and tear on the joint surface but not enough to call it arthritis - so that is one thing ruled out I guess.

He said he noticed from my X-ray that my knee joint doesn't look quite aligned so he sent me for an X-ray but when I got there they sent me back again because they didn't have a bit on the machine for the X-ray he wanted (????????) so now I have to wait 2 weeks for an X-ray, then 2 weeks for a follow up appointment.

I didn't ask the question I should have because I got upset yet again - I am just so frustrated with everything because it's almost 3 years since the initial injury.  If it's not the cartilage and it's not arthritis, what is causing it??????  And does he expect me to just live with the pain?????

Does anyone know if I can ask to see a knee specialist rather than the Orthopaedic Surgeon????  I even Googled knee specialists in Scotland...

On a lighter note my sister and I went to Dobbies for lunch and Dale served us!  We go her 50% discount so we got a rather nice lunch for £5 each!