For some MRI exams, depending on the body part being imaged, we may not need to have your head inside the scanner at all. This dramatically lowers the expectation or experience of claustrophobia.
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.
You will lie down on a table that slides into the MRI machine. The table slides through a large magnet shaped like a tube. You may have a plastic coil placed around your head. After the table slides into the machine, a technician will take several pictures of your brain, each of which will take a few minutes.
The test usually takes 30 to 60 minutes but can take as long as 2 hours.
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.
The MRI of the brain requires you to lie down on the scanning table, head-first.
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.
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.
Depending on what needs to be scanned, your test will take between 20 to 90 minutes.
A MRI scan typically takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes to perform. You will be asked to change into and wear an examination gown provided for you. As a strong magnet is used, all metallic devices MUST be removed before entering the MRI room.
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.
The examination is relatively long and takes 15–30 minutes to complete. The patient needs to remove any metal and lie flat within the bore or 'tunnel' of the magnet. The head and neck are enclosed within a rigid radiofrequency coil; this coil does not touch the patient but is close to the face.
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.
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.
Many people are fearful of MRIs because they have seen the machines before and worry about feeling trapped, especially if they suffer from claustrophobia. The traditional MRI machine is a closed machine, but open machines are becoming increasingly available.
The MRI scanner is a large tube that is open at both ends. The scanner consists of a large magnet with a hole in the middle.
Patients with certain conditions that may prevent them from staying still in the MRI machine, such as claustrophobia, anxiety, or a condition that causes physical pain, may have an MRI with anesthesia. It is also common for children to have an MRI with anesthesia, since it is often difficult for them to remain still.
Versed (generically known as midazolam) and fentanyl are two medications commonly used in conjunction to alleviate pain, aid relaxation, and reduce a patient's memory of the procedure.
On very rare occasions, a few patients experience side effects from the contrast material. These may include nausea, headache, and pain at the site of injection. It is very rare that patients experience hives, itchy eyes, or other allergic reactions to the contrast material.
Before your MRI, you should also know that some of the MRI-claustrophobia-related stories you may have heard are likely no longer accurate. Modern MRI machines are not dark, closed off tunnels. They are well-lit, open on both sides of the tunnel, and they are wider than they once were.
People with claustrophobia tend to feel heightened levels of distress over dark or confined spaces or feelings of being trapped. They may also exhibit intense fears of suffocation. With that in mind, it's also somewhat common for people to experience claustrophobia episodes during an MRI 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.
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.