Knee pain treatment in Birmingham

There are many reasons why you might have knee pain, including:

Osteoarthritis

This type of arthritis causes chronic pain and stiffness, which in turn has a negative impact on your movement. This is the most common type of arthritis in the UK. It happens when the smooth cartilage which protects your joints from damage becomes worn down over time. It tends to happen as you get older and your joints become worn down.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

This is a painful inflammatory joint condition caused by an autoimmune process, which occurs when your body mistakenly attacks its healthy cells. This often causes severe pain, swelling, inflammation and limited mobility.

Knee bursitis

Bursitis happens when the fluid filled sacs (known as bursa) that cushion and protect your joints become inflamed. This can result in pain and swelling in your joints. Usually it presents as a dull, aching pain that can persist even when you take traditional painkillers or try gentle stretching.

A torn ACL

Your ACL is a tough band of tissue in your knee joint that joins your thigh bone to your shin bone. It runs diagonally through the inside of your knee, helping to control the back-and-forth movement of your lower leg and to stabilise your knee joint. If you have a torn ACL, you might struggle to put weight on your knee, making walking and balancing difficult.

Baker's cyst

A Baker's cyst is a common cause of back of knee pain, also called posterior knee pain.

As Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Marcus Adrian Green explains, "The most common cause of pain at the back of the knee is a Baker's cyst, which is a benign cyst that is usually associated with degenerative disease in the knee."

A fracture

Fractures are typically caused by a traumatic injury such as a contact sports injury, but they can sometimes be caused by a condition that weakens your knee bone, such as osteoporosis. A knee fracture can cause symptoms such as bruising, swelling, and severe pain.

Although most of our knee specialists are experienced consultant surgeons, knee surgery is not often our first recommendation to treat chronic knee pain. Typically we will try one or more non-invasive approaches, also known as conservative treatments, before we consider surgery. Many people find significant relief from non-surgical methods to reduce and manage knee pain, which can include:

Steroid injection therapy

Also known as steroid injection therapy, this treatment involves injections of steroid medication (corticosteroid) into your painful knee. This can effectively reduce pain and inflammation in your knee, and the effects can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. This form of pain relief may be recommended if you can't take oral anti-inflammatories for any reason.

Oral anti-inflammatories

These can either be prescribed by your GP or your consultant. They reduce swelling in your knee, which can lessen stiffness and pain. Your doctor might also recommend using heat therapy (in the form of icepacks or heat pads) to reduce swelling or numb your joint pain. Heat therapy can be used in addition to anti-inflammatory medication.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy for joint pain comprises a specialist exercise programme designed to strengthen the muscles around your joints, improving mobility and - in taking the pressure of your joints - reducing your pain. It can be a highly effective treatment and many people see amazing results.

If you have had an injury or traumatic accident, you might be recommended surgery as a first option. In most other instances, surgery will be recommended where more conservative methods have failed to satisfactorily manage your knee pain.

Knee arthroscopy

An arthroscopy can help diagnose and treat a range of distressing knee pain symptoms. It is a keyhole operation, which means it's minimally invasive and performed using a few small cuts. Your surgeon will use specially designed surgical tools to access your knee joint these small incisions. One of these tools will be a camera (known as an arthroscope), allowing them to see inside your knee so that they can perform surgery without opening up your knee joint.

Knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery involves removing the parts of your knee joint that have become damaged and replacing them with artificial elements, also known as implants or a prosthesis. This should remove the source of your pain, helping you to walk more easily and letting you get back to living life as normal.

ACL reconstruction surgery

ACL reconstruction surgery is a type of knee surgery that involves repairing or reconstructing your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This can be done using several different surgical techniques.

Knee osteotomy

An osteotomy is an operation to shorten, lengthen, or change the alignment of your bone. It is often performed to straighten a bone that has healed crookedly following a fracture.

Meniscus repair surgery

Meniscus repair keyhole surgery involves repairing your torn meniscus (passing sutures or special fixation devices into your knee through small cuts.

No matter the surgery you have at The Priory Hospital, your treatment will be tailored to your exact needs and performed by a multidisciplinary team of dedicated healthcare professionals.

We offer private physiotherapy for knee pain starting from £64 for an initial assessment and £50 for a follow up appointment.

You can find guide prices for many of our most common operations on our knee surgery page.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient consultation fees are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you. We offer fixed-term monthly payment plans over one to five years with no deposit required. If you decide to pay over 10 months, you will pay interest-free. If you are paying for a longer period, you will pay 14.9% APR.

If you have private health insurance, knee pain treatment will usually be covered by your provider. Speak to your insurer directly to find out.

You can usually see an orthopaedic specialist for your initial consultation within 48 hours of booking your appointment with us.

During this initial appointment, your consultant will ask about your general health and medical history. They will want to know about any existing medical conditions, as well as the current symptoms you are experiencing.

In order to assess your symptoms and make an accurate diagnosis of your pain, your consultant will next carry out a gentle physical examination of your knee. In some cases, they might also send you to get an X-ray, which will be done onsite by one of our radiologists. All of this helps your consultant to make a diagnosis of the cause of your knee pain.

Once they have identified what's causing your knee problems, they will share more information about surgery and whether it could be the right treatment for you.

The time you'll wait between your initial consultation and having surgery (or any other treatment you're recommended) will differ from person to person. For example, someone who has suffered a traumatic injury may need to be seen very quickly. Your consultant will provide you with a fixed timeline for treatment.

The Priory Hospital is the largest private hospital in Birmingham, offering a wide range of treatment options and services with access to some of the latest technology and equipment. We opened our doors in September 1982 and have served the community for over 40 years.

The Priory Hospital is situated within private grounds in leafy Edgbaston, with Edgbaston Golf Club by its side. There are benches dotted around our site for visitors to use and enjoy the peace away from Birmingham city centre. Car parking is dotted around the grounds of the hospital.

Our facilities: what you can expect

We continually invest millions in our state-of-the-art facilities, which include MRI machines and sophisticated scanning units managed by specialist radiologists. Your X-ray can be carried out on the day of your first appointment in the clinic.

At The Priory Hospital, we have specialist physiotherapy gyms to help you recover as soon as possible follow your treatment. These gyms are fully equipped with a rower, specialist balance equipment, a bike, and more.

Our outpatient physiotherapy service is delivered at our sister hospital Circle Rehabilitation, less than a mile away from The Priory Hospital. Circle Rehabilitation boasts some of the latest equipment and technologies to help accelerate your recovery and manage your condition.

The Priory Hospital also has an intensive care unit, offering care for emergency situations when needed.

Your private room: what you can expect

Your private room will be complete with temperature control as well as a television and nurse call system. Our rooms feature ensuite wet rooms with an accessible toilet and shower to help you use the bathroom safely, and sofa beds in case your loved one or carer would like to stay with you overnight. Your healthcare team will be on hand to get you whatever you need to feel as comfortable as possible.

"From the moment you walk in the door at The Priory Hospital you feel like you're in good hands. I can't thank you all the brilliant staff enough for my care"

Patient review on Google.

We answer your frequently asked questions about our hospital.

How do I get to The Priory Hospital?

We are a 10-minute drive from Birmingham City Centre, a three-minute drive from Edgbaston Cricket Stadium, and a 10-minute drive from Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Is there parking at The Priory Hospital?

Yes, we have 285 regular spaces and 2 electric vehicle charging stations. We offer free parking for all our patients at the hospital.

Does The Priory Hospital offer treatment for children?

No, we do not offer treatment for children and young people under 18 years of age.

How long do I have to stay in hospital after knee surgery?

This this depends on your individual circumstances. If you have knee replacement surgery, you are usually in hospital for two to three days following surgery. We will advise when it is safe for you to leave, and ensure you have all the information and equipment you need to continue your recovery at home.

When you go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose which consultant you see
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Private ensuite rooms as standard
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you want to know more about treatment for knee pain and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0141 300 5009.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in January 2023. Next review due January 2026.

1. Knee replacement surgery, Versus Arthritis
2. Arthritis foundation, Arthritis.org
3. The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, The National Library of Medicine