So 16 months after NHS treatment......

[Lucio]

Yep, the majority of doctors in the private sector also work for the NHS. However the biggest problem with the NHS is its mismanagement and utter lack of efficiency. I personally think they have enough money, but it needs to be used in the correct way. The amount of money they waste on pointless things is just incredible. And also because of a lack of money, they are sometimes bloody slow in diagnosing patients due to large waiting times for getting tests/scans done and a lack of specialist doctors available in the wards. This often leads to further complications with the patient, as diagnosis is late, leading to more money spent as the treatments are longer.

Actually, I have a good example of mismanagement. When my ear was being treated, there were 6 doctors holding a clinic relating to ENT, all well and good because it meant everyone could be seen. However, there were hour+ delays because between those 6 doctors, there was one treatment room and whilst the treatments are all fairly fast. You can't possibly do that many!

[Azza]

I am having an arthroscopy done on Wednesday at 7am. £2.5k well spent me thinks.


If he tells me im going to need ACL reconstruction Im going to lamp him one.

[SiM]

Couldn't they tell by MRI? or the Lachmans/pivot shift tests?

My surgeon did one physical test and knew that it was torn, then he confirmed it by taking an MRI.

My knee has been clicking a lot recently... hope my graft isn't failing!

[Azza]

Couldn't they tell by MRI? or the Lachmans/pivot shift tests?

My surgeon did one physical test and knew that it was torn, then he confirmed it by taking an MRI.

My knee has been clicking a lot recently... hope my graft isn't failing!

The MRI shows that it is torn, but when he was shaking my leg around he thinks it isnt as bad as the scan shows, but he didnt really say in what way or why it isnt as bad. But he wants to have a look at it any way.


He seemed a bit confused by it to be honest. We shall just have to wait and see.

[Azza]

Just got back now.


I have a partially torn ACL, but the surgeon said I shouldn't need surgery on, just need to do loads of physio and he said that the other ligament are doing nicley. Going back in 3 weeks to see him.


Im a happy bunny.

[menthel]

Its always good to remember that medicine is more of an art than a science!

[SiM]

Great news! Its is better to avoid surgery if possible because there can always be unanticipated problems. Some people can function at 100% with a fully torn ACL, so its always better to take the non-surgery route if the tear is not too bad..

[Azza]

May aswell just post in here.

Had ACL reconstruction using hamstring on 8th.

Went for op at about ten to 9. Woke up at ten to 11.


Leg is still numb so ive got to wear this splint thing for 24 hours so ill prolly wake up in pain during the night when it comes back to life. Go to go back in the morning at 11 to have dressing redo and look at the wound etc.

Bit of a farce really at points. I was told that I would be in and out and it took them about 2 hours to decide if I could go home or not. I wanted to come home though. I could have been home by half 2 instead of half bloody six. I got wheeled off for an x-ray I never knew I was having and they waited until 5 when the pharmacy was closed to give me painkillers and stuff.

Ive got to take 2 asprin a day for 6 weeks to thin my blood.


Thats about it really Ill update more as it happens.

Just got back from having my dressing reduced. Only got 4 little holes around my knee, nothing huge which is good.





Just got some plasters over the holes.






(phone cam pictures by the way)


District nurse is coming round on monday to check the wounds and Ive got to see physio on Thursday, but ive got some exercises that I have to do in the mean time. Feels pretty sore now that I have the splint off but I feel good.

Im going to have my wounds checked tomorow.

Hopefully ill be able to have a proper wash.

[pollaxe]

Looks a neat job they've done there - I've seen some messy-looking post-knee surgery results but that's looking good - best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[strike-down]

I got a very similar injury about a year and a half ago, maybe more but had an accident kiteboarding. I injured my knee in april of 2007, and took them until january of 2008 to decide that I needed an operation on it (including an MRI scan in november-ish in 2007). They then booked the operation on my birthday (11th march) Pretty much a year down the line. Id torn some of the cartilage in my knee, and partially torn the cruciate ligament. In the end, their theatres at torbay hospital were full, so got sent to mount stewart (private). I was dealt with very quickly once I was admitted there.
(NHS paid for my hospital fees at mount stewart )

Its only when you go to a private hospital that you realise how inefficiently the NHS operate.
They really do take too damn long to deal with things.

[Azza]

Looks a neat job they've done there - I've seen some messy-looking post-knee surgery results but that's looking good - best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Thanks mate.

[strike-down]

What is the rehabilitation period for your op? Hope you get back on your feet asap

[SiM]

Good to see it all went well Azza

Was it just ACL recon? or did u have other ligament damage?

Ahh, I see the iodine on your leg. I remember that having that... I also had a huge bruise on my thigh where then put the thing on to cut off blood flow to the leg.

You didn't get staples? You got it stitched? Normally down to doctor's preference, but staples generally leave less of a scar and hold it in place better, less likely to come off too...

Not sure why they told you to take asprin - I didn't have to do that...

I am 7 months post-op now and I can run, squat with weight etc, but no sports yet - can't twist on knee or hop - that is what I am working on now.

Rehabilitation takes normal people 9-12 months depending on how hardcore you do your physio. Pro footballers can do it in less, 7-8 months, but they can spend 24/7 doing physio/recovering.

[Azza]

Nope no staples. Just those steristrips on the big one and on the hole thats bleeding in the picture. The other two, don't even think they stiched.


Apparently the asprin thins my blood so it reduces the chance of me getting a blood clot or somthing like that.

[SiM]

Nope no staples. Just those steristrips on the big one and on the hole thats bleeding in the picture. The other two, don't even think they stiched.

That's odd... I had about 20 staples... maybe they glued it?

Apparently the asprin thins my blood so it reduces the chance of me getting a blood clot or somthing like that.

But unless you have clogged arteries (since you used to play sports, guess you didn't) - it's probably not necessary... Best to take them anyway if that is what they have told you to do...

[strike-down]

That's odd... I had about 20 staples... maybe they glued it?

No they dont use any glue iirc, its just the steristrips. Works wonders keyhole surgery does. The scars on my knee are hardly noticable now