What is it like to get an MRI?

If you are at all claustrophobic, have them use another test.

@CaptainHarley The MRI is being done for my shins, so won’t my head be sticking out of the end?

@mirifique

Oh. Ok, yes, most likely.

It’s not that bad. It’s basically a really noisy bed. If you’re not claustrophobic, you’re fine. They’ll make sure you don’t have any metal or anything that will mess things up, so just relax and enjoy if you can.

You should not be nervous at all.

First, you are not allowed to wear any metal, including jewelry. You will change into hospital gowns and then they will have you lie down. The bed you are in will move you into the machine, kind of like a tube. They control it from just outside of the room you are in, but you will be able to see them through a glass window most likely and you will be able to communicate the entire time through speakers.

The person running the test will tell you what is going to happen before it happens. Including telling you that they are about to start scanning, when they are about to start, and you will hear a lot of clicking and banging noises while being scanned. You have to stay very still for the MRI to be accurate. They will run the test for a minute or maybe a few minutes, and then stop. They will check you are feeling ok, give you a chance to move a little before you need to be still again, and then most likely start another scan where the banging and clicking will start again. Probably they will repeat that process a few times. There is absolutely no pain, nothing is touching you, you are just lying there while the machine takes pictures. Again, you will be able to talk to them at any point if you get nervous.

If you have some claustraphobia you can ask for medication ahead of time. I advise you to close your eyes during the process and just rest.

The whole test takes about 20 minutes.

Are they giving you dye/contrast for the test? Then you will have the added step of getting/taking the dye beforehand.

Tell the person that it is your first time, and they will be extra vigilant in telling you what will happen next. Oh, and I forgot to mention they will give you ear plugs for your ears.

@JLeslie Can you verify whether my head will be stuck in the tube if I am just getting my shins scanned?

@mirifique Great question. I am not sure. I had my back done a long time ago in the old machines and my whole body including my head was inside. But, my head was at the end where the opening is, I went into the machine feet first.

I just had my head done in the newer “open” machines, so of course my head was in. I really don’t know the answer. It might be. Are you claustrophobic?

You certainly could call the diagnostic center and ask the question.

Meh, it will be just like any other time you’ve laid still for a few minutes, except there will be clicking noises.

Dye is primarily for a CT scan. There’s generally no injections with an MRI.

If you wiggle, itch, or scratch they’ll make you do it again. A big magnet thing that you cant see is whirling round and rund in the chamber thing and your mechanical bed inches forward. They will only scan the bit they need. The only time I had it done, it was my head, though and I hasd sinus problems and that was awful I think they had to do it twice. I have a great picture of my infected sinuses.

You just lie there, close your eyes, and tolerate a loud noise for 30 minutes. Be sure and close your eyes because the space is really small.

stay still…...It sounds like a construction zone for trump tower.

I have been Mri’d shoulders….open end and closed. The machine is awfully close in the closed machine…....you feel like a dick in a rubber.

Open machines your face is 3 inches from top and the sides are open, so you just feel like a symore…..the marshmellow part, sandwiched between the graham cracker.
Then give you ear plugs and it is not so bad. I dont know why people freak out on them.
It can show some great info.

If you are doing the shoulder, they put a foot long needle in the ball of your shoulder for the contrast, called an arthrogram…..If you have severe arthritis….it is hard to insert needle, I nearly passed out. Took 20 minutes to insert dye. I dont like the arthrograms at all and refuse them now.

@jazmina88 I hope I never . . .

And sometimes they presribe you valium before hand. If you have never taken it, have someone drive you. I saw this one old man drunk as hell on the valium, very entertaining.

No sweat. It’s over before you know it. I’ve had two. They were the old style in the tube.
I covered my eyes with a towel and just concentrated on breathing steady. Like meditating except with a Jack hammer right above you.
You’ll be fine.

I’ve been used as a guinea pig for MRI testing and I quite enjoyed it (although it helped I was getting paid for it).

Like others have mentioned- no metal, the doctor needs to be aware of any screws or such in your body and they will give you medication to help with nerves if you want it.

As for the dye, it depends on the procedure and why it is being done. My mother is given dye for her MRI (not a CT scan by the way) because she has MS. Not all MS patients are given the dye though, I think it might be a preference of the doctor and something depending on what they are looking for.

They do have ‘open’ MRI’s now, that are more similar to the shape of a CT scan (when I see them all I can think about are the star gates from those series LOL) and are easier for those who have issues with small enclosed spaces.

If your feet or legs are being scanned, they will definitely go into the machine first and your head will be sticking out the other end. If your head or neck are being scanned, they will be in the machine and that’s when it may get a little claustrophobic. I didn’t find it that bad, and I’ve had MRI’s of my head, shoulders, and feet. (Not at the same time, thank goodness.) Once, the radiology suite even had MRI-proof headphones and I got to listen to some music to drown out the banging.

Really, it’s nothing if you can just relax in a somewhat confined space.
I am claustrophobic, and I was fine with it.

@mirifique How did it go?

It went fine. 25 minutes with my head sticking out listening to music. Could not have been more relaxed. It was quite loud though, and it would have been a little more claustrophobic if my head had been in the tube. Thanks all for the advice and info.

@mirifique Great. Hopefully you get the result you want/need from the test.

I just had an MRI for a rotator cuff injury. Because of that, I had to go deeper into the machine.
I am still trying to calm down.
The earlier test was looking for a brain tumor, so I didn’t have to go in too far.
I hated this with all my heart.