Area to be scanned is on my leg between knee & ankle- What should I expect? Who has a 'story' to share? Hurry! ;)
2006-10-09 14:24:32 · 6 answers · asked by Merry 4 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
i have worked in mri for seven years. The mri scanners used today (assuming you are going to a modernized facility) have a tunnel that is about four feet long. The part of the body being scanned will be in the center of the tunnel. For your exam, your head should be outside of the tunnel. You will be able to talk to the person doing the scan at any time(you can listen to music at some places). You will probably be given earplugs because the mri machine makes a series of various loud noises while you are having your test. If you are being scanned for any type of "mass" or "ulcer" on your leg, they may give you an injection of a contrast media called gadolinium.(They will start an iv in your arm for this). The dye does not contain iodine and has a very low risk for allergic reactions. It will make certain parts of your leg light up on the scan. If your are simply being scanned for pain, then you may not receive such an injection (every facility has different policies). There is no preparation for these tests. The machine is a large magnet and you will be asked to remove all metal from your person before entering the room. No keys, coins,credit crads watches etc. If you can stand the noise-you could even take a nap!
2006-10-09 15:01:54 · answer #1 · answered by erin 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I am an ICU nurse and have had to monitor many people in the MRI room.You will not be placed all the way inside for just the leg area, just the portion of the affected leg is all that will be inside. You cannot wear any metal and must not have a pacemaker or any rods or metal in your body to have an MRI.It is loud but most places offer some headphones to drown out the noise with music you choose. You must be very still for the MRI to not have to be repeated. Good luck. God Bless.
2006-10-09 14:43:26 · answer #2 · answered by sands6270 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Had two myself. Once the knee once the shoulder. It's loud, which I was not aware of. Kind of sounds like a jack hammer, only not quite as loud. Other than that, it's pretty relaxing. They do take longer to do than what I expected too. Nothing painful or scarey though. The place I went to made sure I was very comfortable since I had a dislocated shoulder one time and the other was a dislocated knee. Let them know where your pain is and if you're put in a position that is painful. GOOD LUCK.
2006-10-09 14:31:02 · answer #3 · answered by BIZ Z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I felt like I was a torpedo in a tube and the mechanism misfired so they were working on the outside of the tube with a jack hammer. I couldn't wait to get out of that tube, but they had other ideas. Good luck.
2006-10-10 00:30:46 · answer #4 · answered by JOHN M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just had one and it was not as bad as people had led me to believe. You have headphones on and the tech will talk to you between cycles. You also have a panic button near your hand. Being its your leg involved, you may not even be all the way in.
2006-10-09 15:14:42 · answer #5 · answered by Pam 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you tend to be clostrophobic (panic in closed places ) take two vallium 1/2 hour before you go in. You need a prescription. Otherwise you may not be able to complete it the first time.
There is no discomfort. they give you earplugs, it is noisy, and it seems to take a long time, be patient.
2006-10-09 14:32:17 · answer #6 · answered by jekin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋