I have a problem with my knee. It's fine in 'normal life' except climbing stairs and it's fine on bikes but stops me running sometimes.

I have an idea what it is and what I want, starting with a scan.

I have health insurance through work.

Should I:
a: go to the GP, explain the symptoms and see what they come up with?
b: go to the GP, explain the symptoms, what I think it is and what I think needs doing about it (referral for a diagnostic scan)?

Always go B.

When I was in this situation I did option B. I just went in and said 'I have health insurance through work and I have a knee injury. Please refer me to a specialist at the Nuffield in Leeds for a scan'. He wrote straight to them and I was operated on and recovering within 3 weeks – it's not perfect, but it's a lot better than it was when what was left of my ACL was pinching in my knee.

Just to follow up….

I went to the doc and told him my symptoms, what I thought it was and what I wanted doing about it.

He listened politely and then told me what he thought it was. Then he started twisting my leg about in all manner of ways saying "If it's what you think it is, this will hurt" and "If it's what I think it is, this will hurt.

He didn't even appear to be getting any pleasure from either (i) being right or (ii) causing me pain.

Internet 0, doctor 1.

LOL@ higgo

sorry old chap but it is funny

So did you get the referral you were after, even if for what he thinks it is, rather than what you think it is?

sorry old chap

He used the word 'old' quite a bit too.
Often in the same sentence as the word 'running'.

I felt he was trying to get a point across.

They get a lot of internet diagnostics. I think that a lot of them are very happy that patients are more involved with their own health and aware of stuff.. like people having a good read about people's experiences with certain drugs and making a call.. but I don't think they like it when people insist they are right based on what they read online 🙂

lol 😆

So did you get the referral you were after, even if for what he thinks it is, rather than what you think it is?

No – he thinks it can be sorted without intervention and I agreed with him.
The excruciating leg twist he was applying didn't influence my decision at all.