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.
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.
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.
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.
Getting a second opinion does not commit you to anything
Asking for a second opinion does not cancel any date you already have, and Professor Lee has no involvement in your existing NHS or private pathway unless you choose to bring him into it. If, after your appointment, you decide your original plan was right, you simply continue with it. If a joint-preserving or non-surgical option looks worth trying first, that is a conversation to have with your own team as well as here. Either way, the appointment is about giving you enough information to decide with confidence, not about starting a new pathway you did not choose.
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?
What to bring
Bring any knee X-rays or MRI scans (on disc or via a secure link), the written report that came with them, clinic letters from your consultant, and details of anything already tried, such as injections or physiotherapy, including roughly when and how well they worked. See preparing for your appointment for a full checklist.