Help!! Been awake all night sick with worry 🥲

[PrancersDancer]

I know this is a long shot and I hope I’m on the right board. Sorry if not x
im going out of my mind and don’t know what to do. I’m hoping someone can help me sort out my mess.

I’ve been in constant pain with my knee for months, seen the gp who eventually sent me for an x-ray after the initial ‘see how it goes take some paracetamol’

I was referred to a consultant at a private hospital that also takes nhs patients. The waiting list was 31 weeks. I’ve been ringing weekly to check if there had been any cancellations and this week I just could take it anymore. I can’t walk and the pain is horrendous. So I asked if I could get a sooner appointment if I paid to see the consultant. They said yes and booked me in yesterday. He’s referred me an urgent mri scan for today and talking about probably needing an op, he thinks it’s a torn meniscus.

I’m now worried out of my mind that I’m going to have to pay for everything including an operation / aftercare etc. I don’t have private health insurance and there’s no way I can afford to pay for an operation.

what can I do? 🥲🤢

Once you have the results you can ask for them to be referred back to your GP/ other NHS contact for further review. You don't have to stick with private the whole way.

Sorry you are suffering! Private consultants can refer you to the nhs. DP had the same surgery to repair a torn meniscus and all done on nhs. He waited a few weeks I think but this was back in 2016.

You could get it quicker privately I would think but yes if that's not an option they can refer. Hope you're okay - get a knee support if not already and a walking stick helped DP. I'd ask for stronger pain meds in the meantime too!

Feel better soon

All you’ve done is see the consultant sooner. You’ll go back in the nhs waiting list for the op now.

hope your knee gets sorted and they’ve Given you some pain killers

Also, and I'm not 100% sure, but if you've been referred as an NHS patient you shouldn't need to pay for the MRI either. Another friend had scans and surgery at a private hospital but it was nhs funded. Not quite sure how it all works but it will be alright - just see if you can find out more today, they are not going to slap you with a huge bill with no warning.

If you've been seen as a NHS patient at a private hospital, there are no bills. If you have gone to the private hospital as a private patient you can pay as you go and decide to be referred back into nhs at any point- which is common. Many people go private for diagnosis and once they know its nothing serious, join the NHS waiting list for treatment

You can be referred back to NHS care at any time. Lots of people do this - just explain to the staff at the hospital that you need to do this.

I had this about 18 years ago. I had my consult and mri privately on my dh’s insurance but he got made redundant so I had to transfer to nhs and had the op at my local nhs hospital. Obviously times have changed and the wait will be longer (I was actually due to have it with the private surgeon but on nhs, but they offered me a last min cancellation a few months earlier with someone else so went with that).
it’s really painful so I sympathise greatly.
Agree with others who said if it’s nhs in private hospital there’s no charge, only if you’re a private patient.

Thank you all for taking the time to read and respond 💐
I received an invoice for the consult which I’ve paid, and been for the mri today. I’ve not received an invoice for that yet but I’m sure I will as it was my choice to pay to see someone sooner than wait.

I was informed after the mri that the consultant is going on annual leave and the first appointment with him is 12th sept. I explained that I’d been referred by the nhs and the receptionist asked if I wanted to go back into the nhs pathway going forward. I said I would, so just hoping that it is that simple.

I will try to get a telephone appointment with my gp to discuss it as I won’t find out what if anything needs to be done until September now.

Pain meds have been difficult. I’m asthmatic and had an attack after taking naproxen and I suffered with adverse effects with codeine. I’ve been trying to cope on paracetamol that barely touch the pain and using a topical gel to try to ease the inflammation.