Can I do anything to ease the pain while I wait for my consultation?

We aim to see you as quickly as possible, especially if you are in a lot of pain. In the meantime, you can try:

• taking painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen

• applying ice packs for 15 minutes at a time if there’s swelling

• using heat patches or water bottles if your pain eases with warmth - if there’s no swelling and your pain isn’t related to a recent injury

• elevating your knee if there’s swelling after an injury, and it isn’t painful to do so

• putting as little weight on your knee as possible – avoid standing or walking for a long time