MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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So at the end of June I slipped and buggered my knee. I went to a physio and they suggested it was MCL Grade 1 strain and that I'd be back riding after a few weeks. Had four treatments before holidays etc got in the way.
Three months later the knee is still swollen and aches if I knell too long.
My doctor has (just) referred me for a NHS scan but given that could take months I was thinking of going private.
Before I start ringing around would anyone know what sort of scan I should be asking about (MRI, CT?) and roughly how much. Bristol based but I heard Bath may be cheaper.
Can't answer on the cost but I was referred for an MRI scan for a similar condition.
From referral to scan - 2 weeks - 2 weeks later saw specialist to diagnosis - 2 weeks later went to physio - 4 weeks later all much better.
This was on the NHS in Macclesfield - absolutely top service.
Before I start ringing around ......
Your GP can organise the appropriate private treatment too
Cheers Paul. That is good to hear. My GP could only say 'between 2 weeks and 3 months'.
Have started swimming and am joining a gym on Friday but going mad not being able to run / ride.
My doctor has (just) referred me for a NHS scan but given that could take months I was thinking of going private.
Did you ask your GP what type of referral he asked for? ie how urgent, and what to?
ie has he referred you to Fracture Clinic or straight for an MRI? Did you ask for choose and book, and look at the waiting times?
To get an idea of costs ring the local private hospital and ask what the consultation fee would be + the cost of MRI. Bear in mind you will end up spending £1,000's if surgery is needed.
Personally I would wait for the NHS referral.
If your knee is that bad how come you are swimming and going to the gym?
It will be an mri. Last time I checked it was costing in the region of £350 for a scan plus £180 for 10 minutes of an orthopaedic surgeon's time to see you and examine. No point in having the scan without an orthopaedic consultation imo.
Re NHS waits it varies a lot. If I refer people to the big teaching hospital 6 miles to the south they get a pretty good service. If I use the musculoskeletal screening service 6 miles to the north they wait ages. I can't order Mri scans of knees as a GP although I can get lumbar spines and soon heads.
There are a lot of independent providers on choose and book offering quick appointments with someone at a private hospital and these are hoovering up the business from the NHS trusts, part of the reason orthopaedics is so dire at our local dgh is that all the easy profitable stuff is going to independent providers so the trust loses income. Given that it's the same consultants working in both clinics it seems pretty short sighted but that's no one's fault but Andrew Lansley's.
If you need surgery and the NHS is paying you will wait 18 weeks for it from time of referral whether you go through an independent provider or not as that is the target and CCGs can't afford providers to over perform. This target has been missed nationally for the last 4 months though so maybe longer.
I'm curious to know the physio's opinion as to why you aren't getting better. I presume you've been back?
A good physio can have better diagnostic sensitivity and specificity than an Mri scan- we had to use clinical examination before scanners were invented.
I suspect you are probably just being impatient which is normal. If the physio still thinks it's a collateral ligament you probably just need to give it more time.
If your knee is that bad how come you are swimming and going to the gym?
The stronger the muscles are around the joint the less loading there will be through the ligament.
Also, people in this type of situation are prone to injury caused by deconditioning (musle atrophy through lack of use) that can easily exceed the original injury
Cheers all. The Spire Bristol quoted £360 for an MRI. I'll wait for the NHS letter and decide.
I've now seen 3 medical professionals (Physio (4 times), GP & Osteopath) and all are uncertain as to the exact nature of the damage. Thus the scan.
Leku - you wont be sent straight for a scan. You will get referred to Fracture Clinic where you will see an orthopaedic surgeon. They will decide whether you need an MRI or not.