Anybody waiting for an MRI that was referred to msk..does this mean off MRI list?

[NotHavingAlaff]

Hi
Took drs 3 weeks to give me appointment at PT for sudden onset severe back pain with drop foot- thou had bad back and buttock pain leading to this
Pt not impressed dr didn't refer for MRI sooner so referred me stating on referral form that I have drop foot, pins and needles in lower legs and profound weakness in that leg and need urgent MRI
Had a text today saying ring MSK for appointment. Well I've done that and have been put on a 'list'
Does this mean I'm not on a list for an MRI now?
The thing is I thought having drop foot with back pain was a red flag and MRI urgent to prevent it being permanent?
Anyone else had MRI requested but had msk referral instead of is that as well as an MRI?
Thank you

Totally different condition to you - but I had an MRI on my shoulder and that was ordered via the MSK unit. So could be you've done correctly., What did they actually say when you called your MSK unit for an appointment?? Cant you ring back and ask?

I would assume it's a fairly normal referral pathway - the hospital will take referrals for MRIs from many departments and they'll need to know which department or consultant a patient is 'under' to help them determine what to scan for and what to do with the results after the scan. If they're doing the referral through MSK it suggests they think it's something muscular/mechanical and not neurological or any of the other types of medical specialty that might potentially send someone for an MRI.

I have no idea what MSK is, but certainly under the NHS, in my experience, my referral has gone through and then I’m usually sent an appointment letter within a week or so. That appointment is usually 1-2 weeks away from when I receive the letter. Sometimes I’ve had to go through a series of screening questions on the phone. That may have been why you needed to call, or they may simply have needed additional information that wasn’t included on the referral. I have 4 MRIs a year so this has almost always been my experience.

Update: got appointment with MSK for the 27th of February.. surely this is too long a wait?

Depends on their wait times. I had an MRI through the MSK ordered October 2024, had the MRI June 2025 and I've got my follow up consultation next week to actually find out the results of the MRI.

Those symptoms are red flags and you should have an MRI a lot sooner imo