Queen Elizabeth Warned Against Ignoring Knee Surgery: It’s ‘Making The Symptoms Worse’

Queen Elizabeth’s health and well-being have been a subject of concern within the royal family and among fans. But the monarch’s reluctance to take some time off and undergo surgery is worrisome.

In 2018 at Chelsea Flower Show, the Queen opened up to a friend about how her “knees were playing up.” But according to a report, the Queen was warned by a medical expert against ignoring her knee problems as she may end up “making the symptoms worse.”

“As Her Majesty’s operation was back in 2003, it could be thought that the chance of her developing complications as a result of the surgery is slim, especially because the procedure was not a knee replacement, but only to repair a torn cartilage in her right knee,” said Shamir Patel, leading pharmacist and founder of Chemist 4 U. “Of course anybody, of any age, who has undergone surgery and then experiences problems with that area should seek medical advice and guidance,” he added.

Her regular engagements and public appearances have perpetuated pre-existing health issues. At 93, the Queen carries out hundreds of engagements in the UK every year. In 2018, the monarch attended as many as 283 events – which experts believe is indeed overwhelming for someone her age.

“Your knees support you greatly when you walk, and therefore the number of appearances and visits that Her Majesty undertakes will be putting a strain on them,” the pharmacist said. “If she is facing issues with her knee then putting strain and pressure on it could end up making the symptoms worse and could make medical intervention essential,” he added.

Lyndsay Hirst, a physiotherapist at Your Pilates Physio, has advice for the Queen. “Movement is medicine!” she said. “I have had many patients avoid surgery by working with exercise as a management tool. So long as she maintains the mobility in the joint and works to build her quad muscle, she is fine to avoid surgery.”

“Knowing when to rest is also crucial, if she has a hot, swollen knee then she does herself no favors by walking on it and aggravating it, rest but keep exercising (range of movement exercises and quad strengthening) until the inflammation settles,” Hirst further explained. “Even using a walking stick if appropriate.”