"I first visited the A&E department..."

Anything else?

I first visited the A&E department in June 09, as I had woken up with an excrutiatingly painful knee (I should add I'm only 23) - the nurses ummed and ah-ed betweem themselves and sent me home with a bandage. One nurse did want to xray me, but the doctor disagreed.

I got rushed back by my work as I was still in so much pain I couldn't walk several weeks later, at which point they referred me to physio. I went to physio, who was so scared to treat me because she didn't know what was wrong with me and even the simplest of exercises hurt. She did however give me some crutches (finally!) and referred me to a consultant.

I saw a consultant, who xrayed me but when I went back for my follow up appointment he said he found nothing. He sent me for an MRI scan, but again, nothing. I was supposed to see the senior cons but every time he was too busy and I saw one of his underlings, who didn't have a clue and advised I saw the senior cons next time.

In the end I just gave up going. I have read more horror stories about knees than success stories, and their next suggestion was to operate - there's no way I want to be operated on with no good reason at my age!!

Over a year later and I still have my crutches. I very rarely use them as on the whol my knee is a lot better, but it's not as it should be. I live a very limited life for a 23 year old who previously used to enjoy going for strolls in the countryside and bike riding...even a prolonged supermarket shop makes my knee hurt and swell up.

I am thoroughly disappointed with the lack of care I received, and lack of interest in finding out what the problem was.