To have a private brain MRI?

[aNonnyMouse1511]

I have had a headache for over 2 weeks.

It is at the back of my head on waking then travels to the top of my head and forehead where it sits all day. Painkillers don’t resolve it.

My GP did a neurological exam and was happy it was normal to sent me away again.

I go to sleep with it, it’s there if I wake in the night and it’s there when I wake in the morning.

I am now very anxious about it.

I’ve found somewhere local that does a private MRI for £200 and sends the results directly to your GP. I don’t want my GP to think I’m going behind their back, but I am really worried that there’s something seriously wrong with a headache that literally NEVER goes.

Who cares what the GP thinks - if you're worried and the GP is refusing further tests, and you can afford 200 quid why not?

However, do you have health anxiety? If you do then could your anxiety settle on something else? Are you stressed? Stress also causes headaches etc. If this is blindingly obvious and you have ruled our other causes then go for it.

I've had the same issue op, had mine for 3 weeks, wait list for neurologist in my area is a year so I'm debating on going private

Sorry just to add have you spoke about medication options with your gp?

I had private blood tests when my NHS GPs kept not coming up with a reason for why I felt so ill.

The NHS GPs were fine about it. One asked why I hadn't gone to them first... He shut up when I told him I'd been four times and had different responses, none of which had addressed the problem.

@MrsMozartMkII Do you mind me asking if the tests were all ok?

If you start on the private route can you afford to continue if anything was found?
If something was found you would automatically start NHS treatment?
I'm not sure, maybe others have more k owledge.

Absolutely fine it happens all the time.

Before going for an MRI have you exhausted the other common reasons for headache:

• poor/lack of sleep
• eye strain/ wrong prescription
• too much sugar/caffeine

An MRI will only pick up a structural anomaly like a mass or aneurism. Those are unlikely if the neurological exam is clear and there are no other symptoms like forgetfulness, slurred words, visual changes....

Yes do it,
You can get straight into nhs care after a private scan.
Have you had your bp checked, are you v stressed at the moment as both these things can contribute.
Hope you get an answer soon.

You need to check with the hospital if they would perform the scan without a referral, usually a head MRI is requested by a Consultant Neurologist, whether they be NHS or private, as they usually hold posts in both sectors. An initial consultation is usually around £250 with a follow up around £200, plus the cost of the scan on top. Big delays in my area too for Neurology appts under NHS. I was in a position to go private, I now see the same Neurologist under the NHS since being dx.

Good luck OP, I can understand your concern, one thing I would say, the tests GP perform are a good indicator of a Neurological issue, so I would say the GP is probably correct in thinking that what’s causing you headache is not Neurological in nature but if an MRI will give you reassurance that’s no bad thing, it only takes 10-15 mins in the scanner and privately you get the result within a couple of days.

I assume you have an update eye test, if not it may be worth seeing an optometrist.

Good luck I hope you feel much better soon.

Thank you all for your responses. I have nothing to lose by going for it.

Just to add, you can self refer with some MRI companies (I’ve found 3), their only requirement is that you’re registered with a GP because that’s the only place they’ll send the results.

BP was fine too.

Wasn’t much help with medication options tbh... x

I had headaches for 8 or so months. Many trips to the GP, tried different prescribed drugs and even had a brain scan. Turned out to be high blood pressure. Haven't had a headache since starting medication for it.

I was having problems with memory loss, slurred speech ect all symptoms of hemiplegic migraines and my neurological exam came back fine even though this was an unusual prolonged attack so I've been put on medication now and it's finally gone away but I still am not convinced I won't have another attack, might be worth trying some medication op and go back to ur gp

Can you afford to see a neurologist if needed to discuss the results? MRIs can throw up incidental abnormalitiles of unclear significance or just anatomical variations and you might be waiting a long time for an opinion from an NHS neurologist which I imagine won’t help your anxiety. Also do they send just a written report or the actual scan?

As poster above says, seeing a private Neurologist to discuss the scan report would be the best plan, GP’s are great but a Neurologist would be the expert in this area of medicine. My Neurologist always reviews my scans personally.

@pinkdaffodil2 I can afford to see a private neurologist if needs be. I am of course hoping the MRI will be clear but if it’s not then whatever it is may need to be dealt with and the sooner the better.

They send a written report from a radiologist to the GP within 7 working days (2 days if you pay more) and I receive a CD with the images on immediately after the scan.

Trust your instincts and please go ahead with an MRI.

My DH had splitting headaches for weeks and the GP kept giving strong morphine based painkillers to subdue them. Nothing worked.
DH got a private MRI and it was a tumour on the pituitary gland, sitting near his optic nerves! He got the right medication from the private consultant and all is well now thankfully.

Don't want to scare you but if you think something is not right, best to know and sort it before anything worsens.
Good luck!

Go for it OP. Neurology waiting times are, as a pp said, about a year at the moment, it's madness.

I don't know whether you have a good GP or not. Remember, there are many things that could be causing your headache, most of which are not serious, and many different painkillers too which can work.

What did your GP actually say? How was it left?

@devereux1 she said as I have headaches anyway (every single day for as long as I can remember, and two occasions of migraine with aura (but no headache), I am a ‘sensitive person’ and therefore more likely to get headaches. She said it could be a viral infection and I am just suffering with it in this way as that’s what my body’s ‘go to’ is. But I have never head anything like this before. My scalp has areas of numbness, burning and brushing my hair hurts. The back of my head is aching on waking and when upright, it travels to the top of my head and into my forehead. My temples pound at times and the bridge of my nose and sometimes my cheeks hurt. It is manageable during the day but by the evening I just want to cry because it’s as its worst.

She found some sensitive areas on the left side of my neck so seemed satisfied that that was causing the scalp problems. She basically said to see how I go and to keep taking meds.

My husband gets migraines that absolutely dabilitate him and I looked up MRI

Apparently they only find that cause of a head ache if its a growth or tumour or something like that

DH has been lots of times amd tried lots of medication for them, and GP has never suggested MRI and I think he mustent have the other markers for a tumour (hes had MG for 25 years he'd be dead by now if that was the cause).

I really feel for you having these pains.

That said if it's £200 and makes you feel better, why not?

Have you had your eyes tested? X

@ec22 yes, in October.

You sound exactly like me about 3 years ago. I had parvovirus, OP and it took ages to work out what was wrong with me. But I had exactly the same thing combined with swollen glands coming up on the occipital region of my head (NEVER even knew glands could swell up there). I am not a GP, but having had such similar symptoms which progressed into a full on auto-immune response which then lasted for 8 months (NOT saying this will happen), you do sound like you have a virus.
Get the MRI though! You cannot put a price tag on peace of mind. Also, they can see if you have some swelling, which I had- mild swelling.
I hope you feel better soon and that the results will put your mind at ease.

Op do you have any lumps or scabs on your or around your scalp?

My oh started off like this with severe skin sensitivity around his scalp and neck with a horrible headache, then developed swollen lymph glands in his neck/behind his ear, then developed sores on his scalp. It turned out he had shingles but it took a very long time to diagnose him, he was referred for an urgent scan of the lumps in his neck.

I'm no medic, but I have many friends who are. They help advise me whenever I go to the GP, to get the most from the appointment.
Can I suggest you go back and tell your GP these headaches are seriously concerning you now, they are affecting your quality of life and you would like to know what your GP's plan is for you. For example, "keep taking the meds" - which ones, why this course of action, do these need changing, for how long exactly? What are you both waiting to see, and how long is your GP asking you to wait for?

You must make sure you drink lots of water each day, people always underestimate how connected this is with headaches. It sounds almost too simple, but look at this first and foremost. Drink and drink. If your GP says it's ok, take ibuprofen and paracetomol together, have you been doing this, or are you taking something else? Take fresh air, often, it changes the vessels and exercise. If after all this, you are still having daily headaches, stress to your GP that existing management is not working and you need this resolved.