Have you ever had an MRI?

Question

I had one last year of my forearm, after a muscle lost its mooring. They put all of me in the tube to scan my ARM.

I'd been warned about the noise, but something Dragon said in another answer reminded me of this.

I found the noise very rhythmic, and almost fell asleep during the process, because I was hearing in my head music to go with the percussion section.

(The muscle couldn't be saved.)

Peanauthead -- That's pretty close to hubby's description of it.

Gracie -- The Dr. had me do P.T. with weights to strengthen the other muscles in the forearm to compensate. I don't miss the large one at all, the others are doing its work.

Answer 1

I've had so many...at least seven. Had a major panic attack the first time, so for the next couple of ones I opted for the Valium. Got to be pretty good at it, though, and found that if I dressed lightly~so as not to get too warm in there~really helps. One tech' even folded a wash cloth and put it over my eyes, which also worked well. The last three were done at the orthopedic center, and they give you head phones and tune the radio to your favorite station. Dims the noise from the machine and makes all the difference in the world!!!

So sorry about your arm...what happens next?

Edit: Glad to hear that the PT worked!

Answer 2

I'm sorry to learn about your arm muscle. And I hope you still
will have use of that arm. Boy this aging thing, "sure ain't for
sissies", as Betty Davis was qouted to say.
The answer to your question, is that yes, I have had them
three times now. Once for my head, and two for a lower
back mass near my liver. They are watching a tumor to see
if it gets larger. That is strange to hear about them putting
you into the tube for your arm. They should invent a smaller
unit just for limbs. Since some people are claustrophobic
going in entirely. I know my hubby reacted that way last year.
He was having his knees checked. He said he felt like he
was going to smother with being so close inside. I remember
focusing on the beach with the tide coming in. So that I
wouldn't think about the closeness. I didn't want to have to
re do the scan if I moved. Or so I was warned.

Answer 3

Yes; I had one to check for lower back nerve troubles. I am a bit claustrophobic, and the sight of that tube bothered me. The technician put a face cloth over my eyes and that helped. Someone else said they had a fan blowing gently and that helped them deal with the thought of the confined space. Also, I have very wide shoulders, so I was really stuffed in the tube.

The noise was bothersome (even though I was wearing ear plugs), because I was in the tube for a total of 45 minutes, and my head was beside the noise-maker.

Sorry to hear about the loss of your muscle.

Answer 4

Yes I got one done too; only to find out if I had a growth in my brain (& also if I had a pressed nerve in the spinal column). The noise scared me a lot; i visualized my kids, my husband, my parents and even people i am not too closely related to, just to get diverted from that; I also had imaginery conversations with them. The worst part was, they did it in two installments!!! Once for the head & the other for the spine. As a result, I had to go through the entire process twice.

Answer 5

I'm so sorry about your arm felines. Yes, I've had several over the past years. I tend to be a little on the claustrophobic so it wasn't my favorite thing. But I too, nearly fell asleep with those loud noises going on. I think I actually did at one point. I had my last one before my knee surgery last week.

Answer 6

I had quite a few. Some of my cervical spine and some of my lumbar spine. I can't stand to be closed in, it is claustrophobic for me. The last time i had an MRI I freaked because it was a 2 hour test, they gave me valium at the end.
It is very noisy and I couldn't bear being in the machine that long.

Answer 7

I have had three. One closed,an awful experience, and two open. The last one for the rotator cuff injury was the easiest except for my choice of music to listen to. Of several hundred albums to choose from, I had to listen to "California Dreaming" over and over. I like the Mamas and Papas, but this was too much for even me, a native Californian. However, this diagnostic procedure does seem to be very helpful in most cases.

Answer 8

In 1999 I was diagnosis with a brain tumor, since than I have had many MRI's and when it's done on the head and you already have a headache, the noise is horrible... glad yours turn out well. Stay healthy.

Answer 9

I've had a number of them for a small pituitary tumor. The noise didn't bother me, but I'm claustrophobic, so it took me awhile to find a way to get comfortable in the "tube."

Answer 10

Yep! Had it done and after spending all that time in that most uncomfortable position, and spending all that money for the procedure - - - "they" added insult to injury by telling me that they could not find anything wrong with me.

The following week I had a different kind of test done and was immediately told what was wrong. That test cost 1/10th of what an MRI did! THESE DOCTORS!@#$%^&*()__+_)(*&^%$#