Shall I tell (useless) NHS Physiotherapist about the private MRI?

[Reader123]

I have had sciatic pain and foot pain since December 2025. I have access to virtual physiotherapy through work (meaning speaking with a live physiotherapist over Zoom) and did about 3 months physio with no improvement. Asked the GP for further investigation, but I was told only the Physiotherapy Services could initiate that and to self-refer myself to Physiotherapy Services.

I did, got an appt. about a month later. Told the Physiotherapist everything, including gave them a printed-out copy of the virtual physio plan (which the PT did not even look at and gave back to me). PT did a few tests, then told me that my foot problems are due to the UGG shoes I'm wearing (despite the fact that the problem is only in one foot); that the weakness and shaking is due to essential tremor (again, it's only on one side). PT's advice: walk 20 mins every day. And asked me if I wanted the next appt. in person or on the phone. Really. Oh, and PT said they were a foot and ankle specialist.

So I went and had an MRI privately. MRI shows at least 4 disc bulges and all sorts of other issues in my lumbar spine. (I guess my UGG shoes are off the hook?)

Question: I have an appt. with the NHS PT tomorrow. Do I give them the MRI results and ask to take it from there, or do I stay quiet about it and take the NHS process to take its course? What are people's experiences?

Give them the MRI, what’s the point of not sharing it.

OP, I’d give them the scan results, as otherwise, they’ll be pressing on with their diagnosis of uggs and essential tremor to blame.

If you share it they can give you some exercises that might help a little or at least not give you exercises that would do harm.

I think it's helpful to share the information and ask them to rethink their approach in view of it
I would ask them to give you a treatment/exercise plan based on this new diagnosis.
If you are calm and factual there is no excuse for them not responding professionally (although I do think a fair number of physios are pretty useless)

Yes 100% share.

I hope the physio apologies for their dreadful diagnosis. If PT is dismissive towards you, I’d report them, god knows what other damage they’re causing to patients by their inadequate work.

Thank you very much for the replies. My first issue is: isn't there a rule that you can't "switch" between NHS and private services? Also, I have already had 5 months of exercises, so it is unlikely that more exercises will help. I'll need to see an NHS consultant and will likely need surgery or some sort of treatment other than exercises. Will I get that sooner if I show them the MRI report, or will I be kicked to the end of the queue?

I'm not saying your physio is right or wrong but MRI scans need expert interpretation from an orthopaedic surgeon or neurologist with the patient in front of them as clinical correlation is important. You can't just say that 4 disc bulges mean that is the cause. You can scan any number of people with no symptoms and you'd find abnormalities. Unless one of those bulges is compressing the L5/S1 Nerve root significantly it may not be what's causing your symptoms. I would not expect a physio to act on an MRI report but to suggest onward referral to another specialty. Also if you get referred on the NHS depending where you had your MRI they may not look at it but want to repeat their own. I've lost count of the number of "abnormal" MRI results I've seen that had nothing to do with the problem.
Good luck in getting sorted

Very dubious UGG boots story though!! Don't believe that for a second. You probably need a neurologist to assess you with the tremors.

You asked about others experiences, I went to a private physio first because I knew I’d a better chance of correct doagnosis. She told me she thought I had X and to get tests done on NHS.
I told my dr this info, they instantly referred me to the nhs, no problem at all.

Obviously share it. Otherwise what’s the point of using NHS resources for an issue you don’t have and that is wrong for your condition?

You've hit the nail on the head: since I got the MRI report, I've been feeling anything but calm and factual when I think of this PT...😡

What if I get penalised because I had the opportunity for the private scan and will be told to get whatever treatment I need privately, too?

Of course you share what you know, otherwise you're (a) wasting their time, having them treat you without all pertinent knowledge and (b) postponing effective treatment, prolonging you condition.

I have the actual official report from the MRI scan (and I also have the images themselves).

Yes you cant mix private and nhs, but if youve had x rays done on nhs for example, the private lot wouldnt repeat the same xray (they would be exposing you to unnecessary radiation) . If you recently had blood tests done privately or on nhs and sought help from the "opposite side" so to speak, they can still use the recent results to inform treatment.

You might have the official report but it still doesn't mean that those changes on the scan are causing it your clinical symptoms. I'm not saying they might not be and I don't think you've been treated well by the physio but you need either a neurologist/neurosurgeon or orthopaedic surgeon to put it all together. At the end of the day, you need referring on. It was more just a cautionary tale about MRI scan results...I've seen some that looked awful but the surgeon said nope it isn't the cause or no you don't need anything else doing.

You won’t be penalised for having had a private MRI, it doesn’t work like that. How could they possibly penalise you. Take your MRI to your gp and ask for referral to spinal/ortho. They will refer you based on the fact you have obvious disc bulges and you’ll be seen by a surgeon who’ll go “great, you already have up to date MRIs, no need to rescan you, let’s do x y z to help.

you can’t be penalised for using private care, you can absolutely switch back and forth throughout your care as you see fit. Your “clock” ie how long you’ve been waiting on the NHS won’t be affected either way by your use of private care. Worst possible thing will be you rock up to NHS clinic and someone hasn’t requested your scans from the private care - none of the systems link up and someone in admin will have you request the scans and report and upload them to the NHS system. This sometimes falls down, but mitigated if you email them to the secretary/or remind the booking team to do it. Potentially repeatedly.

other than that, no impact.

love from an orthopaedic and spinal surgery manager.

There is no such rule!!! My GP is delighted to do my private referrals or read my letters from private consultants I've seen.

@Catsonskis , thank you so much. 💜I will show the MRI to my GP. Does this mean there is no point in showing it to the Physio though? 🤔

@Yourcousinrachel , what does it exactly mean that you can't mix private and NHS? The responses here seem to say otherwise... maybe I just don't understand.

You can show the physio they know exactly the injury you’re dealing with and ensure the exercises and advice they’re giving you are appropriate to the injury/your condition. 100% show them. They won’t care if the scan is done privately or NHS at all, won’t even question it if you don’t declare it’s pp.

Thank you, @Catsonskis. Unfortunately they will immediately know it because the hospital on the header is a well-known private hospital in the region. But I will show them.

You have had the MRI and need to get it in the mix somehow. I would show it to the gp and explain that you got desperate because of still being in pain after following exercise plans.
BTW as a fellow sufferer from spinal problems I can say the the wrong footwear makes a huge difference to my pain levels and the Ugg boots mat not have been right for you.

Yes. The private clinic may well have written to your GP anyway. And your physio would have access to your medical records.
They will need to know what the private clinic diagnosed.

@Bettermuseli , yes, I will show it to the GP, too.
The problem attributed to my UGG shoes is that my toes are constantly gripping the ground. If it was my UGGs, I assume it'd be on both sides, not just the one foot.

@Monty36 , they didn't. They leave it to patients to share or not to share.

I can’t be bothered with NHS physios any longer, the private physio in have does both massage and gives further exercises between appointments if I need another appointment and I’m always left feeling better, like I’ve actually had help

They literally won’t care, other than to be pleased you’ve been seen and scanned and that will help them treat you