Look where I have been today!

At the end of my holiday in Spain about 6 weeks ago my right knee became quite stiff, no pain at all just a stiffness - so being a bloke I did what most men do and ignored it!  Over the next few weeks it started to really ache and became quite painful.  I rang my doctor and the only appointment they could give me was about a week later and by then it had started to clear up so I cancelled my appointment.  Then it started to hurt all over again.  Not much when I walked about but if I was sat down at my desk or in the car it really hurt when I tried to get up. :(

Finally I decided to make an appointment with the "KneeDoc" who I had met some 5 years earlier when I was again suffering with my knees. The Knee Doc is Professor Sanjiv Jari, a quite remarkable man who has spent his whole working life specialising on sports related injuries, in particular the knees.

He really does know his stuff and he asked a series of very specific questions to confirm his initial diagnosis which in my case was cartilage damage. 

So today I went for an MRI scan which meant that both legs were guided into this big machine and I had to lie still for 15 minutes whilst they scanned all the parts of my right knee.  It was strangely relaxing and I found myself drifting off a few times! 

We do have free treatment on the NHS over here but, because this is not life threatening, arranging the scan could have taken 2-3 months instead of just under a week so I think it was worth paying for.  If surgery is required I would need to have it done on the NHS because I don't have private medical insurance.

Strange thing is that after my consultation with Professor Jari last Friday my knee problem seems to have cleared up completely and I am in no pain at all!

The Professor appears to be a miracle worker :)

As soon as I have the definitive diagnosis I will let my Blip friends know...