Which scan do I need: ultrasound or MRI?
Ultrasound is the right first look for tendons, muscles and anything near the surface. It shows structures moving in real time, with same-visit answers. MRI sees inside the joint: cartilage, menisci, discs and bone. Start with the router above, or call 0203 904 4441 and a clinician will tell you honestly which answers your question.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can self-refer for any ultrasound and book online today; injections follow a diagnostic scan, and MRI bookings get a quick included clinical review first.
Can I be scanned and injected in the same visit?
Often, yes. The diagnostic scan confirms the target first; where an injection is clinically appropriate, the same consultant can perform it under ultrasound guidance in the same appointment, one visit, one answer, treatment started.
Will I get my results the same day?
For ultrasound, yes: explained before you leave, with the written consultant report on your portal the same day. MRI is reported by a subspecialist, typically within 24–48 hours.
Are the prices really all-inclusive?
Yes. Each price includes the appointment, the scan, the consultant’s written report and aftercare advice. No hidden reporting fees. Injection prices are itemised per agent on their pages, equally plainly.
Why does ultrasound guidance matter for injections?
Because the needle is placed under live imaging, the medication goes exactly where it is needed, not roughly where it should be. The evidence favours guided over landmark-guided injections for accuracy, and it is the only way we perform them.
Are these scans safe?
Ultrasound and MRI use no radiation at all, and REMS measures bone density radiation-free. That is its whole point versus DEXA. Injections carry the small, honest risks listed on each procedure page, always discussed before anything is done.
What happens if you find something?
The consultant explains the finding in plain English at the scan, a tear, a tendinopathy, a cyst, the report sets out what it means, and the next step is arranged there and then: a guided injection, an MRI, or a surgical or physio referral where that is the honest answer.
How much does a shoulder ultrasound cost in the UK?
Private joint ultrasound prices in the UK typically run £150–£350, often excluding the report. Here every joint ultrasound is £280 (REMS bone density £250), all-inclusive: scan, consultant report and aftercare advice.
What does a shoulder ultrasound show?
In one sitting the scan examines:
- The rotator cuff tendons: tears and tendinopathy, seen moving
- The subacromial bursa: the classic source of impingement pain
- The biceps tendon and AC joint
- Calcific deposits: which can also be treated here by barbotage
How long does a scan take?
Around 20 minutes per joint, with results explained before you leave. A scan-plus-injection appointment takes about 40 minutes including aftercare advice.
Where can I get a joint scan near me in London?
We are at 99 Harley Street in central London, W1, minutes from Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Regent’s Park stations. Same-day and next-day appointments are usually available: book online or call 0203 904 4441, no GP referral needed.
Can an ultrasound show a rotator cuff tear, and can a tear heal on its own?
Yes. Ultrasound shows the rotator cuff tendons in real time and distinguishes a full-thickness tear from a partial tear or tendinopathy, with the shoulder moved to see the tendon working. Partial tears and tendinopathy often settle with physiotherapy; a full-thickness tear does not heal on its own, but many are managed well without surgery. Your consultant tells you which you have and what that means.
Can ultrasound diagnose frozen shoulder?
Ultrasound shows the thickened ligament and capsule changes of frozen shoulder, and, just as importantly, rules out the conditions that mimic it, such as a rotator cuff tear, calcific tendinopathy or arthritis, which need different treatment. If it is frozen shoulder, a guided injection or hydrodilatation can often be arranged at the same visit.
Can ultrasound see a meniscus or ACL tear in the knee?
Only partly. Ultrasound shows the outer edge of the meniscus, the collateral ligaments, the tendons, bursae and any fluid or Baker’s cyst very well, and it can suggest a meniscal tear. The cruciate ligaments and the inner meniscus sit deep inside the joint and need MRI. If your symptoms point there, your consultant says so and arranges the MRI rather than scanning for the sake of it.
Can a hip ultrasound show arthritis or a labral tear?
Ultrasound shows fluid in the hip joint, the bursa and gluteal tendons at the side of the hip, and the early signs of arthritis such as joint fluid and bony lipping. A labral tear is inside the joint and needs an MRI arthrogram to see properly. The scan is still the right first step for most hip pain, and it can guide an injection into the joint or bursa at the same visit.
Do I need to prepare for a joint or muscle ultrasound?
No. Eat, drink and take your medication as normal. Wear clothing that lets the area be reached easily, such as shorts for a knee or ankle and a vest top for a shoulder; a gown is available. Bring any X-ray, MRI or physiotherapy reports if you have them, and allow around twenty minutes.
Can shoulder or arm pain be a sign of a heart attack?
Rarely, but it matters. Pain from a shoulder injury is usually worse when you move the arm or lie on it. Call 999 if shoulder or arm pain comes with chest pain or pressure, breathlessness, sweating, nausea or pain spreading to the jaw, especially if it started suddenly at rest. Those symptoms need an ambulance, not a scan.
