i am having an MRI scan on my back,has anybody else had one,what is it like?

Answer 1

Yes I had one done, it lasts about 20mins you are inside like what I would decribe a long box, you have to be really still, it is quite noisy, but it is really worth it, not scary at all good luck

Answer 2

An MRI is a very simple thing. You will being laying down and asked to be very still. Some places will give you music to listen too, because the machine that does the scan is very noise. I hope that all goes well with the test and that your back feels better!! I know how it can be to have a bad back. I've dealt with mine for over 10 years....

Answer 3

just had one eight weeks ago to investigate a sudden horrendous back pain. (no accidents, falls, just happened) Anyway MRI is Noisy, and I wasn't offered any earphones or musical options. What i was offered however was a nice triangle shaped pillow for behind my knees. There is no way, with the back pain I was experiencing at the time, that I could have laid flat out for the 20 - 30 minutes the scan took. So depending on your pain situation, you may be looking for a wedge pillow too.

Honestly, I just kept my eyes closed the whole time, and might have fallen asleep except for the incredible pounding noise. I could sense flashing lights but just ignored them. (unsolicited note: i'm a smoker with the associated smoker's hack, so i had a cough drop before i went in to quiet that and not disturb the test, and have to redo it.)

Answer 4

Depends on how modern the scanner is, most of them are extremely noisy - they'll give you headphones to wear. Usually takes 15 minutes to complete a scan, and most people get quite hot as the scanner is quite closed in, some people get claustrophobic - but it will only be you body that will be inside it, you head should be outside so you can see round the room, and there is a panic button if you suddenly find you can't finsh the scan. Most people don't have a problem though and there is nothing about it that hurts. Hope you get sorted, Nurse in Spinal Surgery.

Answer 5

You must stay still in the machine. I dont know if you have the option of an open mri but those are great less noise, and less clautrophobia feeling and you can stand up. In either case you have to stay still, no metal on your clothes and it lasts about 20 minutes.

Answer 6

I've had several. it will be claustrophobic, so mention it if you have that. And it will be noisy as 'all get out'! It will be a bang, bang, bang, bang, bang... etc. for about an hour. I understand that some provide headphones to listen to music rather than the banging. I like to close my eyes, I'm not upset about the tight space, but I can imagine I'm in a bigger area and that someone above me is doing renovations. Another time, I counted to myself in Russian (harder for me that way) And I think I ended up counting to 100 twice. I didn't have headphones, so I had to amuse myself somehow since the banging did not allow to drift off to nap. LEAVE ALL/ANY JEWELRY and/or PIERCINGS AT HOME! or in the car. You will be told to take it all off. (I lost a favorite charm that way by putting it in their lock box... I missed it, while putting everything back on.) That's about it. Good luck on your test.

Answer 7

I had one! I thought it was pretty cool! Yes, you have to be perfectly still. It sounds like an unbalanced washing machine around you. Some places will headphones and tell you ahead of time that you can bring a CD with you. It usually doesn't take really long though. Completely painless...no worries...till you get the bill...got insurance?

Answer 8

Yes, I agree with all the other posts, I had one on my back in July. The worse parts are feeling hemmed in and having to lie still.

I suggest you have your own CD if pos to play through the headphones so you do not get the radio stn that happens to be (fine if you like it) my friend was having hers on July 7th last year and heard about the bombs on the radio when she was having it!!

Just try to relax, I found closing my eyes and thinking about something nice was helpful.

Answer 9

I've had several MRI scans, it's no problem, just feels like you are buried alive in a very noisy coffin!

Answer 10

Try this......Imagine your just laying in a tanning bed albeit a NOISY one. I had headsets one with music when I had mine on my lower back 1 1/2yrs ago. I didn't get them on the last one of my upper back/neck though. Anyway, just remember to be still and it will all be over soon enough.