I don’t think pain when doing or just after the rehab exercises is a problem, within reason. Especially if it then settles down afterwards. I think it should be expected. So long as it doesn’t properly flare up the injury then it is nothing to worry about. Physio should have prepared you all for that IMO.
2 Likes
I also can’t help feeling that you focus on that area and the brain plays tricks?
2 Likes
Absolutely. Pain is fascinating. If you interested in it, Lorimer Moseley has some good talks on it on YouTube.
2 Likes
Wonder if anyone could recommend a sports-minded or athletic orthopedic surgeon anywhere in England.
I had a small piece of cartilage work loose in my knee after an undiagnosed medial condyle fracture (NHS physio insisted there was nothing wrong with it, didn’t merit an MRI scan and to keep running on it for 6 months, once I got MRI scan the fracture was diagnosed. Basically 2 years of pain. Eventually the piece of cartilage worked loose and began to cause pain. Orthopedic appointment 3 months ago, I assumed arthroscopy would be the solution to remove it.
Instead, I get a letter telling me they plan to do nothing, there is no solution and “activity modification” is “the way forward” and that this “specifically involves trying to avoid high impact activities such as running”. It then goes on to say that I “will be able to swim and cycle”.
I ignored this as I’ve been running throughout with only the odd sharp pain when I land on the damn thing, and my longest run is up to 9 miles, with a track session once per week.
There was no explanation why arthroscopy to remove the loose piece of cartilage could’nt be offered - maybe it is now so long since it happened, its too far embedded to get out. The rest of my knees have osteoarthritis in places and I have a minor meniscus tear on both knees but the thing is they still work, I can still run ok and I race often and well.
My problem is that I had to renew my travel insurance and revealed this diagnosis. They informed me that they would no longer cover me for any activities on holiday such as hiking, never mind running, since this would be considered “high impact”. Ski-ing they will not cover me for at all and suggested a specialist insurer. Since as a family we have an apartment in the French Alps, this is quite a problem.
I also have to question whether I would be covered by race insurance, if I’ve received such a strong recommendation not to run, or by the insurance that covers age groupers when racing abroad in world or European championships.
Therefore it seems a good idea to seek a second opinion and hopefully a more sensible diagnosis that doesn’t give me this unwanted and unasked for advice. My massage therapist is also a physio and he remarked that the “diagnosis” seemed more designed for someone who had been in a serious car accident with multiple limb fractures!
Has anyone any suggestions and has anyone had to deal with this completely over the top type of letter from the NHS before? Its causing me way more problems than the knee injury, which I can live with. I’d rather have had arthroscopy and avoided 2 years of pain, including those 6 months of trying to run on a stress fracture in my kneecap but I’m really annoyed about this and want it sorted out!
2 Likes
I’ve seen Mr Peter Thompson on various occasions. Found him to be excellent and he’s a triathlete as well so very understanding from a view point of getting back to a high level of activity.
Mr Peter Thompson - Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon - Specialist in knee and sports surgery - He works in the midlands area.
mrpeterthompson co uk
3 Likes
I’ve used these guys in the past when I lived in Eastbourne (they are based there)
They’re a private clinic specialising in sports injuries - head man Prof Nick Webborn was lead medic for the London 2012 Paralympics (he’s disabled himself).
Thanks for the suggestions. Has anyone else been subjected to this idiocy from an orthopedic consultant?
I did a cross country race yesterday, ran there and ran back. Mountain biking today - no issues at all.
Phoned up a specialist insurance company on Friday. Apparently I won’t get travel insurance for any sport considered “high impact”, which is just about everything other than slow walking, swimming and low impact cycling as thats what they specified. No ski-ing, no fell walking, no climbing, never mind running. Had planned to go to North America this summer and do some mountain biking - can’t get insurance, so I’m not booking the trip now. Instead, I’m spending my money on two separate private orthopedic surgeons, as the insurers advise me that I will need two opinions to overcome the first diagnosis. I have of course complained to my health trust, but they take so long to do anything I’ve pretty much given up on the NHS.
It really is unbelievable. Does the NHS want to actually discourage people from being fit and healthy? I have to say now that if I got a minor non-displaced fracture in the future or a likely stress fracture, I wouldn’t risk going anywhere near an NHS orthopedics department and would probably hold off treatment until I could get a private appointment. I’m 51 years old by the way.
Waiting to hear back from British Triathlon to see if I will even be allowed to race as their insurance cover might not cover me.
1 Like
Have you contacted The British Mountaineering Council about insurance? Wondered if they might have more experience with such things than more standard travel options.
Or Battleface, but I think they’re more aimed at going to unusual places.
1 Like
Sounds like you may have a medical negligence claim against that NHS physio who told you to keep exercising with your knee problem.
1 Like
Have you tried Campbell Irvine? They’re normally pretty good at putting together bespoke policies for just about anything, anywhere. That said, I imagine its going to be difficult to persuade an insurer to cover you for activities that a medical professional has advised you not to do. Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
1 Like
Ankle Gate update;
Twisted my ankle on 9th November
Continued running on it for a week
Ran once per week until 18th December.
Haven’t ran since then.
Was limping around a furniture shop on Saturday.
Actually quite painful, for no reason.
Spoke to physio yesterday.
Going to see a real life person on Thursday.
Hoping it isn’t something worse and it’s just gone into some protective mode and is weak from over-compensating.
Pretty sad, tbf. 
10 Likes
Stay strong @Poet, in my experience ankles respond well to treatment.
In other news, the IT band in my left leg is still described as ‘like an iron rod’.
3 Likes
It’s function to be very strong, it stretches very little. IME the cause is usually at the foot or more commonly the pelvis
2 Likes
Often the TFL for me, or glute area, so as you say the pelvis.
1 Like
Yeah, very confident mine is glutes and core.
I get overuse injuries in my calves too, as they have to take the strain elsewhere.
Definitely worth a root about in the TFL as well, I was nearly in tears a few years ago when I tried massaging it after a bout of ITB.
1 Like
Thanks Jeff!
Unless you mean Transport For London, however, I’m struggling to understand what you mean (sorry)!
Any chance you could possibly elaborate?
2 Likes
Sorry, it’s the Tensor fascia latae muscle that is at the front of the hip, nicked image below. If you google TFL IT Band, or trigger points etc. you’ll get a stack of responses but essentially it’s the front of the hip area and attaches to the IT band.
Tensor fascia latae: unraveling the mysteries (sportsinjurybulletin.com)
Stop foam rolling your IT Band. Do THIS instead. — Move Strong Physical Therapy
Disclaimer: I’m not a physio, but that muscle is now my goto when I start feeling the IT band getting tight, and the glutes. It tends to be something around there for me.
1 Like
Thanks @jeffb, that’s really helpful!
1 Like
Seen both the Muscular Skeletal Consultant and the Physio today. MSK chap said all good, big improvement. Discharged me back to the physio.
Still got some weakness. Physio gave me new exercises, harder ones. But said no swimming or push lifting for 2 weeks. FML.
12 Likes