You'll enter the scanner either head first or feet first, depending on the part of your body being scanned. In some cases, a frame may be placed over the body part being scanned, such as the head or chest.
Patients undergoing a knee or leg MRI can go 'feet first' into the open MRI scanner. We can usually offer this for patients having an MRI of their hip or pelvis, lumbar spine, or abdomen, as well.
For a lumbar spine, you will enter the scanner feet-first, and depending upon how tall you are, your head may be out of or near the entrance of the magnet.
You won't have to go all the way into the machine.
For a foot or ankle MRI, you usually only need your leg to be inside the machine.
Your whole body does not go in the machine, only the half or part that needs to be scanned. One thing you'll need to know is that the machine is noisy. It makes a lot of different noises, and some of them are extremely loud. Some patients say it sounds like a sledgehammer.
When not properly accommodated during an MRI, claustrophobic patients may experience panic attacks, which can bring on increased heart rate, difficulty breathing, chills, sweating, and other distressing symptoms.
Keep your eyes closed or even wear a blindfold.
It's much easier in an open MRI it's wider than a standard scanner, so patients shouldn't feel any walls touching them.
For patients who may experience claustrophobia during an MRI scan and require prophylaxis, the University of Wisconsin Department of Radiology suggests the use of Lorazepam (Ativan, Temesta), a short-to-intermediate duration benzodiazepine.
A MRI scanner has a donut shape and is about three feet long. MRI scans vary depending on the area of the body being imaged and whether or not contrast or sedation is needed.
How long does an MRI scan take? A single scan may take a few seconds or 3 to 8 minutes. You may be asked to hold your breath during short scans. The total scan lasts 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many images are needed.
Many MRI procedures don't require your head to go inside the machine at all, but if you need a head or upper spine MRI, you'll appreciate the fact our machine provides a full 12 inches of clearance between your face and the wall – relieving stress for our patients with claustrophobia.
Open MRI machines have two flat magnets on the top and bottom areas, with a large space to accommodate the patient. The open space in between often alleviates discomfort or claustrophobia, as the patient is not fully enclosed.
Typically you will lie on your back for an MRI. If it is painful for you to lie on your back or in the same position for long periods of time, you may want to speak to your physician about taking something for the pain before your MRI. Also, if you are claustrophobic, speak to your physician prior to your appointment.
The patient should lie in a supine position, and the center of the sternum must be aligned with the center of the spine coil.
During the scan
Once you're in the MRI exam room, a technologist will ask you to lie on your back on the exam table. If your upper body is being scanned, you'll lie down with your head facing the machine. If you're having your lower body scanned, you'll position your feet first.
Most people who have claustrophobia are able to tolerate the MRI scan in the open, upright MRI machine. This is the structure of most MRI machines that can only perform the imaging studies with the patient lying on their back on a table that is moved into the core of the magnetic field where the images are captured.
Traditional closed MRI units have long, cylindrical bores. The center of the body part being imaged has to be at the center of the bore/tube. Due to this requirement, the majority of the patient's body winds up being inside the bore. The downside is obvious: a small space for a long period of time.
Counting numbers or listening to music: Counting slowly or listening to a soothing melody can help distract you and make the time pass quickly while you are in the scanner. Talk to the Technician: In most instances, you can speak to the technician throughout most of the procedure.
CT scanners are different from MRI scanners and use very little x-ray radiation, unlike MRI scanners. CT scanners are open on both sides, and you can completely see around yourself during a scan. Claustrophobic patients might welcome CT scans more because they don't have to be in an enclosed space.
It's important that patients remove all clothing prior to their MRI exam. We ask patients to remove: All outer clothing, including shoes. Bras or any undergarment that could have metal in it.
If You Have an Overactive Bladder
This feeling of urgency can make it harder to hold urine in. While you may still experience this urgency to a degree, not drinking for several hours before your procedure can make you less likely to experience incontinence during the scan.
Since the MRI machines are magnets, it is best to not apply deodorants, antiperspirants, perfumes, or body lotions before the examination. These items contain metals that might interfere with the magnetic field inside the MRI machine and cause you to have distorted images and wrong results.
MRIs show common structural abnormalities among patients with depression and anxiety. Magnetic resonance images have shown a common pattern of structural abnormalities in the brains of people with major depression disorder (MDD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD), according to a study to be presented at RSNA 2017.