Getting a Private MRI when NHS Won't Refer

Posted , 2 users are following.

As per title: is this possible?

Background Info: I'm 37, male, with 4 past knee surgeries due to sport:

Right ACL Reconstruction (aged 25)

Right Arthroscopy (aged 25)

Right Arthroscopy (aged 26)

Left ACL Reconstruction (aged 29)

For most the past 7 years, I've been very active (play competitive tennis, competing in 5k races) in spite of my past knee surgeries. However over the past few months, my right knee has become a big problem in that only a small amount of exercise can cause it to balloon up and become very swollen and sore, to the extent where I can be having to hold onto the bannister in order to get down the stairs.

I made a doctor's appointment 3 months ago, got seen by a physio 6 weeks later who, after carrying out her own examination on the bed, said that she couldn't find anything wrong and that I didn't need referring for an MRI.

I'm not convinced at all. It just doesn't feel right and, having had the knee surgeries I've had in the past, I feel I'm quite a good judge of my knees i.e. I kind of know myself when something's not right with them.

My question is, as per the title, do private hospitals allow patients to have an MRI even when an NHS professional has said it isn't necessary. I'd quite happily pay a few hundred to get it properly looked at rather than "be persistent" with the NHS and potentially have to wait another month or 2 to see the physio again, only to be again told 'you don't need a scan' and to then be going round circles.

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1 Reply

  • Posted

    I paid for my own knee MRI. The cost was 295.00 in Southern California

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