Would GP be able to see MRI scan results ordered by consultant?

[PuddingBasinHaircutForAll]

Apologies if this is a daft question

Last month I had a back MRI which was ordered by my hospital consultant. I am not due back with him until next month, but in the mean time the pain in my back is becoming intolerable. I saw a physio a few years ago who said she thought there was nothing mechanical, that I was just "guarding" it, but I didnt have any scans or anything back then. Back pain was put down to ongoing kidneys issues.

Fast forward to now, and I am really struggling to move from sitting to standing, cant walk for more than a few steps and cant sit in the same position for more than a few mins before the pain kicks in again. My consultant thinks it is more than likely related to my weight (20 stone and I agree to some extent. My weight is due to a combination of thyroid issues, unresolved childhood issues (abusive childhood which meant food was always an issue) as well as eating the wrong things and simply not moving enough.

My worry is, if I try to change the 'not moving enough' - I will damage my back further if there is something wrong. So I would like to ask my GP if she can see the results, not necessarily to come up with a treatment plan as such, more like to say 'yes you can do gentle exercise' or 'no I wouldn't just now until we get this sorted'. I am already referred to the weight management service as well as counselling, so feel that the emotional side of being obese is covered, I just need to figure out the physical side.

I just dont want to waste the GP's time asking for something she can't access.

The responsibility for acting on the result lies with the doctor that requested it. As to whether the GP can physically see it, it depends on the computer system used and whether it’s physically possible. Even if they can see it they may not be able to interpret it to answer your question. Honestly given the pressure the system is under I’d suggest contacting the consultant secretary until you get an answer, not the GP.

☝️ Agree with AFIK above. Spinal MRI’s are complex to interpret and will need correlation with your symptoms to answer your questions.

Hi there, I work as a practice manager, and the answer is no, until the consultant interprets the result and writes up his or her findings in a letter to your gp then no, the computer systems are not linked in that way, I wish they were given that it's 2022! But your gp may well have the letter by now and just not contacted you yet, worth ringing them to ask.

I can't answer the questions about the scans but have you tried a TENS machine to help relieve the back pain to make life more bare able while you wait for treatment? Mine made an amazing difference to my back pain

Ahh thanks for the responses, it is as I thought, I guess I will wait to see the consultant then. In the mean time, @Mysa74 I will try a TENS machine - fingers crossed!

Hi, you are entitled to get a copy of the MRI and the report on a disk if you request it. You can contact the hospital where you had it done and they should send you a form to fill in which will ask you to also send a copy of a form of ID such as driving license. This is easy to do (you can ask PALS at the hospital if you don't know how to contact the radiography dept) and this service is free.

Yes they can. I had an mri scan and was really anxious about the results. I called Gp and he said he had the results and that all looked normal apart from one thing but I still had to wait to hear what specialist consultant said but gp was able to reassure me that what from what he could see, all looked normal

I work in radiology. This is how it works in my trust - If your GP has referred you to a consultant, all imaging reports requested by the consultant go to the consultant, who may or may not pass these onto your GP. Your GP practice is able to request the report from the MRI though. They just have to contact the department, via email or phone, and it can/will be sent over by the radiology secretaries right away.

Most places I worked around the country, the report (which may be several weeks after the scan) will be viewable by the GP. The images generally won't be.

As others have said, interpreting MRI for back pain is extremely complex, if you're over 40 there's almost 100% chance the scan won't be 'normal'. If the scan shows abnormalities, it's almost 100% that they will be unrelated to your symptoms, or something that there is no specific intervention for.

I say this as an orthopaedic surgeon who was back pain regularly:

Max out pain killers, grit teeth, don't sit, walk slowly, work on core stability once the pain is settling.

Well, I have just had an appointment letter through for the spinal clinic so I guess the MRI showed something. I rang the consultant's secretary yesterday to ask whether I should rearrange my next appointment as the other scan they want me to have has been changed, but she was adamant that I should still attend to discuss my MRI results. Two weeks to go...

@FixTheBone that's helpful thank you Sitting is definitely the hardest, and moving from sitting to standing is so painful I could cry. Once I have walked a few steps it becomes a bit more manageble.