Ever have an MRI?

[Jim Alfredson]

So I had an MRI done today on my lower back. My poor wife has had several MRI's the past year and she had tried to explain to me how uncomfortable they are, but I was not prepared.

There should be a little checkbox on the form, along with all the yes/no questions about stints, metal plates, etc. about whether one is claustophobic or not. That is one small space they shove you into. And the sound... it was like torture.

I stayed cool by thinking about my daughter and all the fun stuff she and I can do once my back is better.

Have you had an MRI?

[Chuck Nessa]

I think most MRIs are made to pay for the hospital's investment in the "current technology". Hope it works out for you.

[Big Deal]

After I slipped and fell at work (tried to do a push-up with just my forehead), I had a MRI. Turned out to be the best thing I ever had happen to me at a hospital. I slept while it went on and then afterwards I was able to tell everyone, " Yes, as a matter of fact, I do have a brain."

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I had an MRI and they let me wear headphones to listen to some tunes. Luckily I anticipated this and brought some of my own CDs. Their "Jazz CD"? Kenny G!

I am pretty claustophobic (having two older brothers stuff you into closets/hampers etc. will do that to you) but I just closed my eyes and listened to some tunes... just vegged out.

Kevin

[7/4]

I had one about 9 years ago. I was quite medicated at the time so I kept falling asleep. I remember it was kinda tight, but also...they asked me if I wanted to listen to the radio. So it's fundraiser time on WNYC (NPR) and there's all this crazy clanking noise coming from the MRI, yet I'm still falling asleep.

I don't think I can have another one, I have a metal plate in my leg now.

[Chalupa]

I've had two MRIs and two CAT scans. The two CAT scan were for a sinus condition. The CAT scans were a piece of cake. Probably 15 minutes for each and they only stick you in up to your shoulders. The first MRI I had was for a lump on my jaw(turned out to be a muscle that has bunched together from grinding my teeth/clenching my jaw) - that sucked. First they stuck a needle in me and injected me w/some kind of dye. Each scan took about 40 minutes - 4 total. It was hot, LOUD(I had to wear earphones and the docs got to pick the music - lame top 40 station, ugh.) and uncomfortable. Even though they were looking at my jaw I had to have my whole body in the machine. The other one was on my knee(torn meniscus) and that was fine - probably took 5 minutes total and I only had to stick my legs in.

You can get an "open" MRI if you are claustrophobic. I'm not claustrophobic but I can see how if someone was that they would have a very hard time getting scanned. The heat, noise, and the tiny little coffin space - yikes. However, for me the worst part of it was the boredom factor.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/checkup-2004/oct-mri.html

Edited February 9, 2006 by Chalupa

[rachel]

I have to get one annually and have done so for about 10 years. Mine is usually about 90 minutes long, and I have found the key is to have good lumbar support, so I always make sure they give me some extra padding in the small of my back as well as a pillow under my legs. Head phones have never worked for me--I can never hear the music. I have learned over the years to just completely zone out and relax; I usually fall asleep and even find the tapping, knocking, drilling noise to be hypnotic. I have also found that by having a cloth placed over my eyes it completely takes away the claustrophic feeling. You can open your eyes under the cloth and not be aware that the top of the tube is just inches from your face.

When the MRI starts, I always think of the drum intro to "Back In Black" by AC/DC.

Edited February 9, 2006 by rachel

[Chuck Nessa]

What I said earlier.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Chuck's probably right, but if something comes out of it that could not be seen otherwise then obviously it's all moot and more power to ya.

I had my first one just last week. I brought Sun Ra w/ me as it seemed appropo when slid into the ship. The sonics sucked big time and I attempted to just meditate after I told the tech to cut the toons for me - I just pretended Mickey Hart was trying to get in.

Tomorrow I go to see what the deal is and whether it was worth it.

Hope it all turns out alright Jim ...

[Chuck Nessa]

Chuck, as a cancer survivor, my annual MRI's are a necessary part of my treatment. My doctor isn't ordering them to 'add to the hospital's bottom line', as it were. How would you suggest that I be followed if not by an MRI?

I was not talking about any person's experience. I was reacting to the number of "positive" responses to the thread which I believe demonstrates the reason for my "attitude".

I think MRIs are wonderful things overused by the "industry" to "recover" the expense. No reason for 4 of these machines in 15 miles of my home.

[scottb]

Only four? There is a street here in town (population 50,000 by the way) with no less than 4 magnets! Small planes should probably detour to avoid the tractor beam effect.

By the way, there such things as open MRIs for those who don't like the tight fit.

As far as their overuse, I think it's not really that bad. Insurance companies often require prior authorization and can refuse to pay for one without a proper reason. Seeing a neurologist without an MRI would be like seeing the cardiologist without an EKG. they are also great for orthopaedics. Much better than the alternative which is getting dye injected into your joint or worse, your spine!

[Guest]

I've had several and a few CT scans. I used to hurt myself a lot.

[BERIGAN]

Chuck, I am sure that some MRI's are unnecessary, but how many? My Dad had a Kidney removed years ago, The MRI showed the tumor. It showed my Mom's Cancer, and while she did die, I am sure she would have died much sooner if she never had one. I have had several. One on my neck(No disc problem) one on my back in 99 (Bad disc) and one on my back last month(another herniated disc) Before I got this one, I had a swell ER doc ignore the fact I was having trouble walking, or urinating. Finally, he ordered an X-Ray which showed... I had vertebraes! Waste of damn time.

I do think the tests are too expensive.

Jim, I feel your pain. This last one I had was much worse than any of the others. Way smaller inside, elbows against the side. I asked for headphones(Which I had back in 99) and they said they didn't have any, so just earplugs. Still pretty damn loud. Not normally claustrophobic, but I had to keep my eyes closed this time. Must have been an old machine. Will ask for an open MRI if there is a next time.

[catesta]

I had one over 10 years ago when I was having some fucked up headaches.

The test for me was negative, but my doctor has since died of complications from a brain tumor.

[Alexander]

I've had two. One was about ten years ago when I was suffering some severe dizzy spells and double vision. The results were inconclusive. On the one hand, I did have a lesion on my temporal lobe, which could mean MS. However, it was an old lesion and it wouldn't account for my symptoms. In time, the symptoms went away and I haven't had a problem since. You have to have at least two attacks in order to be diagnosed with MS, so I never have been. My wife has MS, btw. She was diagnosed about a year before my attack (it's not contagious). She's on medication (has to give herself an injection daily) and is largely symptom free.

The second MRI I had was about three years ago. I was hit in the head by an automatic garage door (fortunately, it was opening rather than closing). They didn't find any internal bleeding, but apparently I have a deviated septum AND a bone spur in my sinus cavity.

Anyways, I've never found MRIs to be too horrible. I just close my eyes and wait.

[Herb]

I had one about five years ago. I was told to bring my own CD's, so I had tunes that I liked. I was fine as long as I kept my eyes closed; but if I opened them, I would start gasping for air. I never thought of myself as claustrophobic, but it was mighty close in there!

[Chuck Nessa]

Sorry my posting occupied so much of the thread. It is a great device but I have a huge problem with the "health industry" as it exists.

Many culprits - greedy MDs, hospitals and clinics wanting to maximize income, lawyers looking for clients, the US government trying to thwart same, etc.

[J Larsen]

I haven't had an MRI, but only because my insurance refuses to pay for one. I have had a CAT scan of my brain, though (there was concern that my migraines may be a symptom of a tumor, but that proved to not be the case). It was very uncomfortable, very noisy, and given the purpose of the test, very terrifying.

Edited February 10, 2006 by J Larsen

[sheldonm]

I've had one CT scan and one MRI. I'm not claustrophobic but if I were, this would not help?

m~

[PHILLYQ]

I had an MRI done of my left knee ten years ago to confirm a meniscus tear. The hospital where I had it done didn't offer music or any other amenities, so I laid there and it was NOISY, dull and boring. Halfway through it I needed to pee, but of course I had to hang on until the end. I've spent worse hours, so it wasn't that bad. I had the arthroscopic surgery and my knee has been great since then.

[chris olivarez]

I had an MRI when I tore up my rotator cuff. No cd's,no radio just the sound of the machine. It's not an experience I remember fondly.

[chandra]

15 years back, I was part of a team that developed software for these MRI machines. Usually we test with dummies of various shapes, sizes and internal structures but once in a while we will hop in there as well just for the heck of it ( though it is frowned upon ). I have never gotten comfortable there even after numerous attempts. The thought that my own software is controlling the darn thing does not help either The confined space and the thumping noise is just too wierd.

On a lighter vein, there is a method to the noise that it creates and one can load different 'programs' to it ( which are all medically significant ) which will vary that noise pattern. But you can also feed in 'programs' that are not medically relevant but have it make sounds of different frequencies. On a couple of occasions, we had the perverse pleasure of having this multi million dollar beast play 'twinke twinkle little star'

[47 West 63rd N.Y.C.]

Last year I had:

Angio MRI (very high resolution MRI w/dye injection)

lower and upper pelvic MRI

lower and upper thorasic MRI

brain MRI (w/dye injection)

lumbar puncture aka the dreaded "Spinal Tap" (never again)

I'm off to the Mayo Clinic in March.

Edited February 10, 2006 by 47 West 63rd N.Y.C.

[Free For All]

Last year I had:

Angio MRI (very high resolution MRI w/dye injection)

MRI - lower and upper pelvic

MRI - lower and upper thorasic

Brain MRI (w/dye injection)

Lumbar Puncture ala "Spinal Tap" (never again)

Damn!

Hope everything is OK, or at least getting better.

[47 West 63rd N.Y.C.]

Thanks, Free For All ;-)

I have some weird, chronic, painful neuropathic condition in my left leg that they can't seem

to diagnose definitively. I take MS Contin 60 mg daily (aka The Rush Limbaugh Special) and

it hardly makes a dent in my pain.