Patient lying on a scanner table with two clinicians beside the scanner

Lower Back MRI Scan in London

Scans at partner imaging centres in London and across the UK. Consultations at Harley Street and Harrow.

A private lumbar spine (lower back) MRI, reported by a consultant musculoskeletal (MSK) radiologist, usually within 24 hours. Same-day appointments are available at partner imaging centres in London and across the UK, from £375 (scan and report only).

From £375 · scan and report only
Same-day appointments
Report usually within 24 hours

Call 0203 633 5040 Book online

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Bupa Fee-assured
CQC Registered Sites
GMC / FRCR Dr Prashant Sankaye, Consultant MSK Radiologist

What a lower back MRI shows

Disc bulges and herniations (a "slipped disc")
Pressure on a nerve root, the usual cause of sciatica
Narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis)
Facet joint arthritis and disc degeneration
Spondylolisthesis and stress fractures (pars defects)
Rarely, infection or a tumour

When you might need one

Back pain with pain down the leg (sciatica) that lasts more than 6 weeks
Numbness, pins and needles or weakness in a leg
Pain that hasn't improved with physiotherapy
Before a spinal injection or a surgeon's opinion
Back pain and stiffness that are worse in the morning and ease with movement, lasting more than 3 months and starting before age 45 (you may need a sacroiliac joint MRI instead; we'll advise)

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you have back pain or sciatica with: numbness or tingling between your inner thighs, or around your genitals, back passage or buttocks; new trouble passing, controlling or leaking urine; loss of bowel control; new sexual problems; or pain, numbness or weakness in both legs. These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, which needs emergency care. Do not wait for a private scan.

What happens

1

Book

Call 0203 633 5040 or book online, and tell us briefly about your symptoms.
2

Safety check

We check that MRI is safe for you (for example pacemakers, implants or metal fragments) and that the scan suits your symptoms.
3

Your scan

At a partner imaging centre in London or elsewhere in the UK. It is painless, uses no X-rays and usually takes 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the area scanned.
4

Your report

A consultant musculoskeletal radiologist usually reports your scan within 24 hours.
5

Talk it through

Choose MRI with a consultation (from £425) and a consultant MSK radiologist will go through your findings and next steps with you.

Cost and what's included

Lower back MRI from £375

Scan and report only

With a consultation: from £425

Included in the price:

the scan at a partner imaging centre
a report from a consultant radiologist, usually within 24 hours
your digital images

See all prices

Pay by card; payment plans are available, so ask us for details. Using health insurance? Dr Sankaye is recognised by the major insurers and is Bupa fee-assured; call us and we'll help you check your cover.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a private lower back MRI cost?

A lumbar spine (lower back) MRI at LSRI costs from £375. That includes the scan, a report from a consultant radiologist, usually within 24 hours, and your digital images. It does not include a consultation or advice on treatment. For that, choose MRI with a consultation, from £425.

Will an MRI show what's causing my back pain?

MRI shows the discs, nerves, joints and bone in detail. But many changes, such as disc bulges, are also common in people with no pain at all. That is why a consultant radiologist reads your scan alongside your symptoms, and why we ask about your history first.

Do I need my whole spine scanned?

Usually not. A lower back MRI covers the lumbar spine. The neck (cervical spine) and upper back (thoracic spine) are separate scans, each from £375 (scan and report only), and the sacroiliac joints need their own scan too.

Do I need a GP referral?

Not if you are paying for yourself. Our team checks every request to make sure the scan suits your symptoms. If you are claiming on health insurance, your insurer may ask for a referral first.

How quickly will I get my results?

A consultant musculoskeletal radiologist usually reports your scan within 24 hours. If you would like to go through the results and next steps, choose MRI with a consultation, from £425. Whichever you choose, we will contact you if your report shows anything urgent or unexpected.

Testimonials

What Our Patients Say

"Very good. Excellent. I rang, got answered, filled in form uploading gp referral letter and consultant opinion, got MRI next day, doctor video called me next day … Extremely smooth. 48 hours from first phone call to doctor video conference."

Roddy C. · Google review · October 2026

Our clinics

Two clinics, one team

Dr Prashant Sankaye, Consultant MSK Radiologist, sees patients at Harley Street in central London and at our Northwest London clinic in Harrow. Call one number to book at either clinic.