Getting my knees back to normal - and then keeping them that way!

mumps

The self referral is great, I got an appointment within a week and had great treatment, I agree it isn't always like that but it is a good starting point and if it doesn't work you can always move on to private.

With my daughter the NHS physio was useless but the x rays they did saved us some money as they let us have them to take to the private physio.

I don't know if all areas do the self referral system but it is really good.

mumps

indiepanda wrote: »

I would be surprised if a physio would be able to sort you out in two visits unless you don't have much of a problem. I think I had 18 sessions before I was back to normal, and each of those involved some pretty deep massage. To be fair, they had no incentive to rush the treatment as the bill was being picked up by my private medical insurance and I was in serious pain when I first went.

Might be worth visiting a physio and seeing if they can work out what the issue is and give you some strengthening exercises and stretches you can do at home. You can use a foam roller to get deep into muscles by lying on it. Hurts like hell if you are really tight, but if you can get into the habit of using it they can be quite effective.

http://sportskneetherapy.com/the-5-best-foam-roller-exercises-for-a-stronger-knee-recovery/

I was given exercises to do at home which I did religiously. Went back two weeks later and had some massage and discharged to carry on doing the same. The joint is back to normal, in fact it is better than the shoulder that wasn't treated so maybe I ought to do some of the exercises on that side.

I think it depends on the problem, for me two visits and lots of exercises did the trick.

theoretica

I think I went for four sessions - but the first two were the most valuable and I got the impression if I had told the physio I was strapped for cash (£40 or so a time) then he would have told me only to come back if progress stalled.

belfastgirl23

Mine was £35-£40 for an hour (according to whether I see her privately or in my health club which is slightly cheaper as I have a membership), I have a feeling this is probably a standard ish price outside the South of England. £160 :eek::eek:

moneyistooshorttomention

I thought £160 = whew!!! I couldn't afford that sort of price level for sure. I was thinking more along lines of "up to £40 and hope it wouldn't be many visits" personally.

I've just had a quick google for nearest NHS hospital to me and they don't accept self-referral. Also found photo on web of their physiotherapist and thought "Hmmm....I think I'm as well to bear in mind the comment from a poster about the most important thing being to get on with them personally. I can see looking at that physio that that wouldn't be the case".

After other recent experiences with the NHS here and the obvious ill health of so many people I pass in the street (with what I assume is that type of ailment) - lets just say I'm right offput from going anywhere near the NHS here:cool:

I've been googling away and come up with several possibilities between them of osteopath, chiropractor and physiotherapist. Think I shall be conducting a quick telephone "interview" or two to check them out.

mumps

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I thought £160 = whew!!! I couldn't afford that sort of price level for sure. I was thinking more along lines of "up to £40 and hope it wouldn't be many visits" personally.

I've just had a quick google for nearest NHS hospital to me and they don't accept self-referral. Also found photo on web of their physiotherapist and thought "Hmmm....I think I'm as well to bear in mind the comment from a poster about the most important thing being to get on with them personally. I can see looking at that physio that that wouldn't be the case".

After other recent experiences with the NHS here and the obvious ill health of so many people I pass in the street (with what I assume is that type of ailment) - lets just say I'm right offput from going anywhere near the NHS here:cool:

I've been googling away and come up with several possibilities between them of osteopath, chiropractor and physiotherapist. Think I shall be conducting a quick telephone "interview" or two to check them out.

Good luck, I have only used a chiropractor for a back problem and they were very good. I don't know much about osteopaths. Hope it works out OK and not too expensive.

Shame about the self referral, I think it is a brilliant system and takes pressure off GP as you don't need to waste an appointment just to ask for a referral.

moneyistooshorttomention

Well - all this talk about exercise for the problem and I thought "This is such a common theme of what posters are saying to me", followed by "Well yoga has been around for hundreds of years - wonder what its got to say about this?"

One quick google later and I am now awaiting a book from Amazon called "yoga for healthy knees" by Sandy Blaine.

Thinking I might as well start with that and see how it goes - and, at around £5, I didn't think that would "break the bank" to pay for:rotfl:

indiepanda

I think £160 is an overstatement, the place I went to which is in central London charged £40 per half hour visit.

Nicki

indiepanda wrote: »

I think £160 is an overstatement, the place I went to which is in central London charged £40 per half hour visit.

As I said it will vary from physio to physio. I am right in the middle of treatment so am not mistaken about what my physio (who is admittedly a specialist physio not a generalist and working out of a private hospital not a gym) costs me for a 45 minute session.

belfastgirl23

Good idea to try yoga, but believe me half an hour with the right qualified person can get you to a point where you understand what the problem is - which makes remedying it much easier. yes there will be generic issues that a book can tackle, but there may also be issues unique to your physique or lifestyle that someone will be able to see in even one appointment. A good therapist of whatever sort won't push you into extra treatments you don't need. Worth an investment of £40 I'd say!