Common situation
Told you need a knee replacement
A knee replacement is a major, permanent decision. A second opinion is a reasonable step before committing to one.
Understanding your options
What you have probably been told
If you have reached this page, you have likely been told that your knee is worn out enough, or damaged enough, that a knee replacement is the recommended next step. You may have been shown an X-ray or scan and told that the joint surface is gone in places, or that non-surgical options such as injections, physiotherapy or weight management have been tried without lasting benefit. Some people are given a timescale; others are simply told it is “time” and left to decide when to go ahead.
A guide to the discussion
A decision built around everyday life
Daily impact
How are pain and stiffness affecting your day?
Examination
How does the knee move and function?
Imaging
How do the findings relate to your symptoms?
Your priorities
What improvement would matter most to you?
Bring the findings together with your goals.
No single finding decides the right treatment for everyone.
Your clinical review
What a second opinion looks at
Professor Lee reviews your history, your imaging and any letters you bring, then examines the knee. He looks at how much of the joint is actually worn, whether the wear matches your symptoms, what has already been tried, and whether there is a cartilage-preserving or non-surgical option that has not yet been fully explored. He also considers your overall fitness for surgery and what you want from the outcome, since two people with similar X-rays can have very different priorities.
Put the choices alongside each other
Questions to explore with your consultant; these are not individual treatment recommendations.
What you can take away
The realistic range of outcomes
A second opinion does not always lead to a different plan. The possible outcomes include: agreement that knee replacement is the right option and a clear explanation of why; identification of a non-surgical or joint-preserving option worth trying first; a recommendation to wait, with clear signs to watch for that would change that advice; or, in some cases, referral on for a specific technique or further assessment. All of these are legitimate outcomes of a second opinion, and confirming your current plan is a good result, not a wasted appointment.
Make the appointment yours
Questions worth asking
- How worn is the joint, specifically, and does that match how I feel day to day?
- What happens if I wait six or twelve months instead of deciding now?
- Are there non-surgical or joint-preserving options I have not tried?
- What would make you more or less confident that replacement is right for me?
- What does a realistic recovery look like for someone in my situation?
Second Opinion Clinic
Talk through your next step.
£400 · 45 minutes · Monthly clinic sessions
Confirm the next clinic date, location and available slot when booking.