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?

You may be right. I can only share my experience which is that I get severe pain in my left foot only from lumbar nerve impingement when I wear flat shoes . The body has complex ways of trying to balance itself.

I have mixed probate and nhs care for my daughter. Initial mri, then went private to see the same consultant we would have waited 18 months to see, paid for private X-rays, got report from private consultant and used this to get the mri she required on the nhs. Dependant upon the results we will either pay to see consultant again privately or wait for nhs appointment.

I have friends who have done similar. Usually my go is just happy we've got things quicker. Plus it saves the nhs money. Don't assume the bulging discs are causing the pain however. My daughter had a few abnormalities shown in her mri but these didn't actually cause the problems we were concerned about.

Speak to your GP. Show them the results.

I know you are pissed off with the physio - and I would be too - but the priority now is to get you the right treatment.

Does your GP already have the report from the private hospital? I agree with seeing the GP first to consider a referral to ortho.
I know lots of people have said you can mix private with NHS but my experience was different. I was already under NHS gynae and needed a scan. When I asked about paying for it privately I was warned in no uncertain terms that if I did that I would not be allowed to remain on the NHS pathway.

I'd like to know what the actual rules are because I was recently referred to respiratory. The wait time is about 40 weeks so I saw a consultant privately. He gave me a management plan which my GP has accepted but he advised me to still keep the NHS referral and go to the appointment when offered. I was planning to take the private consultant report with me.

The GP does not know about the MRI yet. She only knows I had virtual physio and it did not help. I have a f2f GP appt the first week of June (that was the earliest I could get!). I had a phone conversation with her though, in which she advised me to "engage with Physiotherapy Services" despite the disappointing experience (I told her about the UGG shoes, etc.), because they are the ones who can refer on. So maybe my GP can't even refer me on to an orthopedic or spine surgeon/consultant... 😢

I don’t really understand why you’d consider not giving the physio the information. If you want to ensure that your get the correct treatment, everyone involved needs the correct information.

Plus, the treatment for your bulging discs is most likely going to be non-surgical. So more physio which means more exercises.

Update: I gave the PT the MRI report, as this was the consensus here. She gave me 3 options, one of which was to refer me to a specialist, which I took.

Thank you so much, everyone, for the advice yesterday, it was hugely helpful! 💜💐