Day 1020- Brace...

...yourself...

I went to see the consultant today...  The first thing I had to do was go and get the X-ray done.  I went round to X-ray, got changed onto my shorts, and stood waiting for them to take the image.  They couldn't get the machine to work...  So, after about 5 minutes of waiting they send me back to the wee cubicle where I got changed and I could hear the radiographer trying to get the machine working and complaining because no-one had reported it not working

THANKFULLY, he got it working.  I think I would have broken down at the thought of having to wait while they fixed it - apart form anything, the amount of time I have had off work for this knee is ridiculous!!!

Anyway, went back around to the consultant who confirmed my knee/leg is out of alignment but has probably always been like that...  Bendy legs!  His thinking now, is that this is causing pressure on the inside of my knee where the original injury was/is.

So, he said that he could do another arthroscopy to cut away the torn cartilage but he's not convinced this is what is causing the pain.  By cutting away the torn cartilage there is less protection to the wear and tear on the surface of the bone so the operation could make it worse.  He then said that most people say that they want the operation but it is not always successful...  Passing the buck!!!!  

So, what he has suggested is that they fit me with a brace to straighten the knee joint to see if that alleviates the pain in my knee.  More waiting for an appointment...  However, if the brace works we can discuss doing corrective surgery... But that's not a decision to make lightly!!!

So, very confused, still extremely frustrated and not convinced about the whole alignment thing being the problem.  

And I have no idea what to do next except to try the brace...  And start looking for a second opinion????