will see what my gp says tomorrow, to be fair he is really really good and actually seems to care about his patients

 

You should be able to see a good consultant with your nhs scans for £100/150, as a starting point. I was about to have an invasive op on a finger, with a bone graft, and my wife persuaded me to get a second opinion at the physio centre where she worked. It was David Warwick, brother of the racing driver!! He immediately gave a (correct) different diagnosis , so it was money well spent.
You wouldn't blink at spending that amount on your car, would you?