To take 13 year old for private MRI as ankle feels like it’s popping in and out constantly?

[IdiotbutNOTabroad]

Doctor said NHS waiting time is about 6 months
Hes in agony some days and then nothing for others
He has to physically click the ankle back into place to allow the pressure to pass and when he does this massive click sounds happen
Ive tried a physio, a podiatrist and he’s had blood tests and an ultrasound.
I don’t know what else to do, I hate seeing him like this

Anyone?

Definitely do it! My gran was in this situation, NHS xrays said nothing wrong and stop fussing, wouldn’t consider a mri (they’re limited in how many they’re allowed).

The private mri found a serious fracture that needed surgery. Sometimes the ankle bones are held so closely by the joint that x rays can’t see a fracture.

Has he been seen by orthopaedics? If not ask for a referral. If he has then you could try asking for a fast track MRI if it's affecting his life.
Also have a look at Severs Disease (not as scary as it sounds) as it's common around this age.

I would if it's affordable. Poor lad.

He’s on the waiting list for orthadpedics to decide if they will do an MRI or not - that’s the 6 month waiting time problem.
will an MRI show up things that can’t be seen on an ultrasound as that was clear but there must be a problem, this just isn’t right for a fit and healthy 13 year old

I think I’d take him to a private orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in ankles and explain your situation. They may want to look at specific angels or structures of the joint.

DS sprained his ankle aged 15. When it had been ascertained it wasn’t broken he was sent away with the usual advice. He re sprained that ankle over and over again throughout age 16-28. He was repeatedly referred to Ortho’s who never even saw him but rerouted him through physio. Eventually I paid for a private consultant and MRI and he had a ruptured ligament. It was repaired on the NHS and is almost perfect now.

Good luck.

YANBU.Your child, your, money. TBH, I don't even know why you should be asking this question. You do what you can for your child. It's nothing to do with anyone else.

It will probably be £600 for MRI and £300 for consultations for before and after.

I would hesitate if I were in your position.

wouldn’t

Yes took my dad for a private mri. The NHS said nothing wrong with foot after X-ray. She had 3 fractures!

has someone actually said he needs an MR? If he’s not seen an orthopaedic surgeon yet and you have cash to throw at the problem surely it’d be better to spend it on seeing someone who might actually be able to make a diagnosis/provide reassurance based on examination, history and the results he already has?

I don’t have money to throw
Ill have to get a payday loan out but I’m so worried I don’t care, I just want to know I’m not missing something major
The GP seems concerned that it may be hypermobility so has done the usual bloods, referred to you physio and an ultrasound but all clear with nobody any the wiser.
she has now referred to orthopaedics with the recommendation of an MRI but with the 6 month wait I thought better for me just to get it done now
he starts a new school in September and I don’t want this hanging over us with not knowing what’s wrong but I am worried if an MRI shows nothing at all, then I’m well and truly lost

Not sure how easily you'd get a private mri. When my DD needed a mri we want private but the scan had to be done at the local childrens hospital, early morning before 8am or after 8pm

Privately with a referral they said would take about a week.
I don’t mind what time it is - the hospital is about an hour away it’s done at.
maybe I do need to try another physio but I’ve spent hundreds so far I’m worried I’m just putting on the MRI that might show what exactly is going on

EDS?

dd is hyper mobile and had lots of investigations to rule out other stuff (rumours and paralysis - not an ankle!!) In the end it became clear that her problems were general not joint specific and what helped was paed physio. MRI didn’t diagnose OR exclude anything in the end.
she still subluxes joints all the time - has been ok for a bit but is worse again. It’s horrible.

@daisyjgrey thats what I wondered too. Dd not diagnosed w it even tho she has many symptoms (they only looked at some joints for Beighton score)

Money would be better spent on private orthopaedic opinion - they may tell you what the problem is there and then.

What has the physio said is the issue?

I am also hypermobile and used to have ankle issues all the time until I had physio. Physio diagnosed it on one visit, no further tests needed and also gave me the tools to help.

I really don’t think it’s worth getting a pay day loan for. Your son is growing fast it may all be different in 6 months time. All the family has hyper mobility my teenage son sees the orthopaedic consultant but they can’t do anything about it until he stops growing and they think the pain will then go by . We all have daily pain - nothing that can be “fixed” ie operated on as fixing one joint would make another worse

Exercise and stretching tend to help

@sunshineandsuddenshowers I was like this as a child. I finally went to the GP when I was about 32 and said that I think it's EDS (I have some related gastro issues as well) and got a referral to rheumatology who apparently are the ones who diagnose EDS. OP's sons symptoms sound similar.

If it's any consolation, my childhood issues wore off a bit from when I properly hit puberty (and probably pretty much stopped growing - I'm short!) and we're minimal for about ten years and since then have been fairly joint specific. I have no issue with shoulder, elbows, knees but my ankles, a hip and back are problematic.

OP, if I was in your position and really wanted an answer I'd probably push for a rheumatology referral as much as possible before taking any loans out.

I was just going to say is he hyper mobile. You need to insist on a rheumatologist referral. Dd has EDS and is forever popping joints and bones out of place, the issue is as they pop back in there wouldn’t necessarily be anything to see on anMRI so could be a waste of money.

google the beighton test and see if anything there seems applicable. I scored Dd myself before taking her to the GP and telling him what her
beighton score was and that he needed to refer her. Though not sure why I bothered as no treatment or help, got a diagnosis, a leaflet to read and discharged! 🙈🤷‍♀️

GP wouldn’t refer to rheumatology when I was concerned about rheumatoid arthritis because all his bloods were normal.

what would they be looking for?

the ankles are not red or swollen - they look normal and this happens in both although one much worse than the other