NWR: Has anyone had an MRI?

JCbride2015 · April 2014

So, my march through the gauntlet of medical tests continues. According to the EMG test (and God if you can avoid having one, avoid it) I have a pinched nerve in my neck. Now the doctor wants me to have an MRI of my neck. I have heard varying degrees of how claustrophobic/loud/terrifying this will be. Anybody had to go inside one of those MRI tubes? How was it? If you brought somebody with you to the appointment, could they talk to you at all?

ShallowSeas · April 2014

Its been YEARS since I had an MRI, but I don't recall it being awful. I get claustrophobic very easily but I don't remember feeling that way when I had it done. It was pretty quick also. I did not have anyone in there with me.

cupcait927 · April 2014

I have no experience but just wanted to say good luck and I hope you get some relief soon without too many more tests!

FMIL12 · April 2014

I've had a multitude of MRIs due to a medical condition I live with. Before the first one I told the person scheduling my appt. that the idea of the confined space was freaking me out and they recommended an open machine and were able to schedule me in one. For another appt. I needed an MRA that can not be done in an open machine. I went to a location that had a large bore machine that would accommodate a person a couple of hundred pounds heavier than me so it wasn't so confining. Since the image was of my brain they also only put me in up to my shoulders and allowed my husband to stand next to me and hold my and which helped. Talk to them and see what they are willing to do

. It is extremely loud and noisy so no talking really. One place gave me headphones for music, the other did not.

pinkshorts27 · April 2014

I was young when I had an MRI. I just closed my eyes and focused on breathing and planning my day. It shouldn't be too bad if you don't get overly anxious.

JaxInBlue · April 2014

I had a neck CT (not an MRI) to investigate a bulging disc about two years ago. I'm extremely claustrophobic - was incredibly vocal about it - and asked to be given something since I knew my head would be inside the darn machine. DH came with me but couldn't go beyond the waiting room. The techs were great about trying keep me calm and relaxed but I really think the only reason I got through it was the high dose of whatever (I think it's in the same family as Benadryl). The major issue for me wasn't the noise. It was that my head was being held in place in a relatively confined space.

Can you asked to be prescribed something mild to help you relax or ask if the facility you are using has an open MRI set up? I've heard the open MRI can cause less anxiety for some people.

jdluvr06 · April 2014

I had an MRI a couple of years ago. It wasn't too bad. The anticipation of it was much then the MRI itself. The worst part for me, was that they needed to put an IV in and they had trouble finding a vein and they kept poking me.

AuroraRose41 · April 2014

I have had a few MRI's in my lifetime, and one was an open machine, while the other was not. I am not someone who normally gets claustrophobic, but I do remember feeling a little confined in the machine that was not open. I was given headphones both times, and asked what type of music I liked to listen to. I was able to listen to my favorite type of music, keep my eyes closed, and just focus on deep breathing for the entire time to keep myself calm. It is loud, and you can hear it, even through headphones, but it honestly isn't as bad as some medical procedures can be. They will ask you periodically how you are doing too, as the techs understand that it isn't a pleasant experience. Just make sure to tell them if something is wrong.

kaos16 · April 2014

I just had one on Wednesday. I don't think they are bad at all. You lay on the bed, slide into the tube and there is lots of clunking noise for the duration of the test. My last one was like 35 minutes. I always try to keep my eyes closed and rest. My place lets you listen to the radio through headphones which makes the time go faster.

Remember. . . . no metal! wear comfy clothes without zippers/buttons/grommets etc so you don't have to wear a stupid gown.

KeptInStitches · April 2014

I had an MRI on my head when I was in high school. I'm not claustrophobic, so it wasn't a bad experience at all for me. The worst part was the acrylic stair-step biting block (of hatred) that I had to hold in my teeth (they were checking for severity of TMJ). That part SUCKED.

emmyg65 · April 2014

Yep. Fortunately, it was just my ankle, so I didn't have my head in the machine. It was still nerve-wracking for me, but they gave me headphones and played classical music. I tried to breathe calmly and it was over before too long. I've definitely had less pleasant medical tests (involving injections of dye, etc.). The machine is really loud, so I don't think you could hear someone. Also, I doubt they'd let someone stand near the machine just to provide you comfort because of radiation risks. But as long as you concentrate on your breathing, you should be fine. (Unless of course you have a history of legit claustrophobia.)

pinkcow13 · April 2014

I never had one, but FI did. He did not think it was that bad, just boring and annoying. I think it depends on whether or not you tend to have anxiety or issues with some level of claustrophobia. Good luck, though. I had a pinched nerve in my hand a few years back and it's not a fun thing.

JCbride2015 · April 2014

Thanks everybody! I don't have a history of claustrophobia but of course, who likes small spaces? I guess they probably won't need to put my whole body in which will help.

FutureMrsN3312 · April 2014

I had a neck MRI done about 2 years ago to confirm 5 herniated disks. I was freaking out before hand. I'm usually not claustrophobic but my mom was able to take me so I popped a muscle relaxer before I went. I was able to wear yoga pants and a tshirt. They also gave me a nice warm blanket, ear plugs, and I brought a cd for them to play.

My scans took about an hour and a half total. The most annoying thing was they told me I couldn't breathe too hard and I had to hold my neck in a position that was uncomfortable. If you move at all they might have to start the scan all over again. The lady would intercom into the tube and tell me you have 3 mins before the next scan. It was nice because I could relax for a few mins in-between.

Ask the imagining center if they could put your images on a CD. It's easier to take a CD around with you instead of films. Good luck! And feel better!!

mbross3 · April 2014

I'm sorry! I've had a few in my life, a couple of my head and one of my wrist. If it's your head or body then you will probably have to go into the machine. it's not too bad but it can be loud and you can't have any metal and you can't move at all or they have to start over. You probably won't be able to talk to anyone while you're in the machine, but it shouldn't take more than 1 hour.

If it's a limb--they have smaller machines you just stick your arm/leg into. You can probably talk to someone during that, but honestly I just napped. If it's just an arm/leg then as long as you don't have metal on that limb you're fine (earrings would be ok, etc).

Good luck! I hope it goes well!

doeydo · April 2014

I did. It was fine. They put a thing of headphones on me and I selected a music genre; I think they can talk to you with those headphones, as well.. Then you lie on a board and your head is secured somehow (I think) so you can't move it around, thus messing the MRI up. Then the board slides you into the MRI and you think "This is really close to me. I wonder how large a person has to be before they can't fit in here?". Then, you lie there for a while waiting for it to finish. I fell asleep. Then the board slides out and you are free.

Cookie Pusher · April 2014

I have had quite a few of them, some scheduled while I've had a few emergency ones where there was no time to give me an anti-anxiety for my claustrophobia. As a kid, I freaked out a lot, but I'm pretty okay with it now. I keep my eyes closed and try to think about other things while the test is going on.

Blergbot · April 2014

I had one. I was expecting it to be claustrophobic as everyone says, but I was totally fine. It was loud, though.

theartistformerlyknownas · April 2014

I had one on my knee years ago...they put me in feet-first so it wasn't as bad. I think for your neck you don't have to go ALL the way into the tube, so that should help. It was loud, but so monotonous that it actually lulled me to sleep.

kmmssg · April 2014

pinkshorts27 said:

I was young when I had an MRI. I just closed my eyes and focused on breathing and planning my day. It shouldn't be too bad if you don't get overly anxious.

This is exactly what I did the first two times. Close the eyes before the table starts moving. Open the when the test is done.

The last MRI I had I could look up and see the rest of the room through a window thingy. It was great, no issues whatsoever.

themuffinman16 · April 2014

I have had an MRI. The sound was the most unsettling. It is extremely loud. I have 6 herniated discs in my back (at that time, only three). I was 17 at the time, and my step-mom sang to me, the whole time, to make me less nervous. I will always remember that, for as long as I live. Maybe you could bring someone who can talk to you, and ease you through it.

CMGragain · April 2014

I have had several, including one to check for a brain tumor (negative). Thy gave me sound cancelling headphones during one, and they helped with the noise. The first thing they did was to take my glasses, and without them I can't see anything, so I can't say about claustrophobia. It really isn't that bad.
Now, trying to get a blood sample from my rolling veins - that is bad! Red Cross told me to go home, and said they didn't need my blood that bad when I tried to donate years ago. Now, I'm ineligible to donate any body parts or blood!
It will be fine. Really.

aspoonfulofsugar · April 2014

I had one a few years ago for my neck (my sister actually did it, as she's an MRI tech) and it wasn't bad for me- I just got to relax and listen to music.

I know some people have difficulty with the claustrophobia aspect of it (my Dad and Grandmom among them), so if you think it will be really tough for you, research Open MRIs and see if they have any of the open machines in your area.

Aray82 · April 2014

I just had a PET scan. It's a shorter, less intense version of an MRI and in a shorter tube. It was weird, but not bad and it was early in the AM and I hadn't had coffee so I was tired and therefore had no problem being still. As with flying and other things that make me nervous, I schedule things like this for when I'm tired and don't have the energy to worry

Btw, if you haven't gotten this info already, you might check with your doc and read up on whether there are certain foods you need to avoid beforehand. No one told me anything about the PET scan other than not to eat for 4 hours before, but then when I read up I learned that certain foods could affect the clearness of the scan! Even foods you eat 24 hours in advance!

Sending positive vibes your way for good results!

JCbride2015 · April 2014

Thanks again, everybody. It helps to hear so many of you have had them and were OK! Thanks @Aray82, I will look into the food thing. I haven't heard anything but you never know.

Sugargirl1019 · April 2014

As a nurse who sends patients to MRIs every day, I have never heard of the need to avoid certain foods for the test. So you're good there

Otherwise we would hold our patients for several days before the MRI waiting for this food to pass. And we don't. We do for anticoagulants and lumbar punctures, but not MRIs.

Our MRI has a picture screen (usually the sky, birds flying by, clouds passing) on the ceiling that you can see through the window of the MRI - headphones are also provided for music

mrs4everhart · April 2014

I've had two. I don't love small, cramped spaces, but truly, neither were that bad. I think for most people the anticipation or the "horror stories" they hear from the truly claustrophobic and/or exceedingly dramatic folks in their lives freak them out more than anything. If you've ever been in a tanning bed, I'd say they are slightly more spacious than that. They are loud and make weird noises so relaxation isn't completely possible, but it's truly not this crazy awful experience some make it out to be. Obviously, depending on the body part(s) they need to see will determine how far in you have to go and how long it will take. Both of my MRI's happened to be performed at the same hospital. They offer headphones so the tech can talk to you but you can choose the type of music played through them in between the tech asking questions or giving you instructions. My biggest fear was that during my first MRI I was going to fall asleep and move or jerk around and screw the whole thing up, so I was fighting a pain med nap the whole time.

bethsmiles · April 2014

I had one a few years ago. It really wasn't bad at all. I didn't bring anyone with me so I just sat (well I guess I was laying) in there and thought about how I would escape if zombies attacked - I was on some pretty awesome drugs and hadn't been allowed to eat for 2 days at that point though so I was really out of it.

If you don't get claustrophobic I don't think you have any reason to worry

Feel better soon, going through medical tests sucks!

NWR: Has anyone had an MRI?

Re: NWR: Has anyone had an MRI?

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