Can physios diagnose or should I get a private ultrasound scan?

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

I've been having some hip and knee pain, put it down to peri aches and pains. It's increased however, especially in the last couple of weeks and I've lost some strength in the knee.
I can't decide whether to stomach the cost of an ultrasound scan to see if something is amiss rather than risk a physio having a bit of a guess.
Obviously I'm not going to see a GP initially as it'll take months for anything to happen .

Physios can diagnose, they’re autonomous practitioners and are generally very good at it

Find a good physiotherapist. If you need imaging, they will request it. Any lingering joint/muscle etc pain, my first point of call is physio. My GP just wants to medicate not fix.

what @mamakoukla said. Definitely. I do the same.

Some physios have an ultrasound scanner; best of both worlds?

Yes they can diagnose, if they think you need a scan they will send you for one.

The other aspect to bear in mind is that ultrasound might not be the optimal imaging modality depending on what the underlying issue might be.

Sometimes they diagnose, other they misdiagnose. @Ihopeyourcakeisshit

2015, I went to physio after a Kickboxing intense training, told them I had felt the pain right after a flying kick on the heavy bag, they diagnose ACL shortening and exercises but after a month when I got fed up with not getting better and paid for a private MRI and I had a 2.4 cm solid hematoma trapped behind the kneecap and affecting mobility and no amount of exercise would have ever reabsorbed it.

I don't think an ultrasound would have seen it.

I second Cormorant regarding misdiagnosis - I had acute onset knee pain. Physio said it was osteoarthritis, no imaging done. The pain didn't improve so back to GP. Eventually referred for scan and it was a torn meniscus, which had to be operated on. Unfortunately, the damage to my left knee being misdiagnosed lead to my right knee overcompensating and I ended up with a more severe meniscal tear in that one as well, which was also misdiagnosed as gout before any scans. They were operated on at the same time and nearly 7 weeks after surgery I am still unable to do what I did before all this. I'm only in my early 30s.

The best way to work out what's wrong is a scan.

When I injured my right knee and went to the Minor Injury Unit they had a physio on site so no referral was needed. Might be worth seeing if you have one near you.

It clearly depends on the physio.
Mine have been great. Often do a decent diagnosis without imaging and get me back up and running again. Other times they request MRI or ultrasound to confirm or rule out things. Always been very happy with the treatment from them.
Get recommendations is my best advice!

Thanks for advice, I don't know anyone to get recommendations from so I'll have to wing it. I'll hold off on a scan for the time being.