Have you had an MRI?
 

I had mine 10 pm last night in a hospital an hour away! Got home at midnight.

The guy who went in after me couldn't hack it so came out saying no one was going to put him in a tube.

I managed it, the whole 20 mins. I was counting and kept my eyes firmly shut. However no one warned me that it burns you. My ears and knees felt burnt and when I came out I couldn't walk. Then came the tears, I cried non stop for 40 minutes!

I feel so rough today, anyone know why? Is it just because I was so tense the whole time or is there another logical reason to do with the magnetic fields or something?

In my experience with 5 or 6 MRI's, there is a tension from the whole process. Dealing with the claustrophobic situation takes a lot of mental effort. The noise of the pounding is also a big stressor. To me it is like spending 5 or 6 hours in a crowded airplane. The constant noise, intense fine vibrations and limited movement makes it impossible to relax fully.

So, at least I understand how your body and brain are fatigued from the experience.

Hi peachy
 

Sorry the MRI caused stress. Did they have music for you.? I brought my own CD, my favorite, and that made the experience much bette:hug:r. If you ever have another, mayb try that. I wish you will. ginnie

Not that bad
 

Noisey and a little bewildering but they played relaxing music and I knew I could press the help button at any time. Staff were great. Try to look at it as a positive action that is only a short investigation. Why not book a lovely meal or massage for after and focus on that.

I'm so sorry you had a rough time, Peachey. I was terrified of having mine but the staff were very supportive, let me listen to music and talked to me throughout. Did you have anyone to go with you?

I agree with waterwillow - go treat yourself to a nice meal or massage or something. I bought myself a nice breakfast after mine :)

They put on music but I couldn't hear it and when I could it was a singer I don't like so it caused more stress. My husband has been really understanding.

I went alone because I had no idea that I would feel so rough after.

Thank you

I am not claustrophobic, and have had to have a few "tube" MRI's in the past.

A few years ago, I had the lovely experience of an open air MRI, and I must say, I loved it, and will NOT ever have a "tube" MRI again:

- the open air is quieter
- the atmosphere is more relaxed
- the personnel are more pleasant, since you can see the outside world
- the airflow - which I never before realized being a factor, was such a relief to experience.

If at all possible, find one in your locale, and demand its use. Why Hospitals do not recognize the need to have them in their facility is beyond me - they accomodate those folks who are not able to deal with the closed "tubes", as well as the folks who are suffering with their weight.

With open MRIs the magnet is not that powerful. Right now many facilities are upgrading to 3T vs 1.5T. With open MRIs they are about 0.6T so obviously pictures are not clear and for brain/neck is not of much value.

But on the other hand open bore MRIs (it is a tube but both sides are open so you don't get that much claustrophobia) and they do have 3Ts.

I have done about 6 or 7 MRIs of brain (with and without contrast), cervical spine, auditory canals, sinuses and even for TMJ :) Brain MRI with and without contrast took more than a hour. First time towards the end I completely freaked out. Some times I took Xanax (there you go again) to relax. TMJ brain was the toughest one. They give you device which you keep clicking to open your jaw, they take picture, again click to open wide, take picture and goes on and very painful.

Open bore MRIs are very tolerable even though in a tube. With new 7Ts MRIs on research you really have to go into a very long tube and many cannot tolerate. My friend ( a research guy in Philly) mentioned some even in the MRI room got nausea/dizziness before getting inside. But he can lay still there for 3 hours there. All depends on each individual I guess.

Open MRIs will be last option who really cannot tolerate and doctors usually don't recommend it.

I didn't know whether I became claustrophobic because of TBI or I already had it.

Cheers!

@pcslife

Interesting - I had an 'open bore MRI' then because mine was open at both ends. I have to say that once the initial anxiety wore off and I got into the music I didn't really want to get up :cool: I knew about Open MRIs but didn't realise they had different 'standard' MRIs.

The open MRI's, with only a 0.6 Tesla will not show any fine injuries. They can image a bit smaller than a BB. The 3 to 6 or higher MRI's can image the fine damage from a concussion if done well. Learning how to tolerate the claustrophobic tunnels can greatly enhance diagnostics.

I have commented before about closing your eyes long before going in the tunnel. Even before the cage is put over your head. Try to think of something besides the MRI. Hold your arms across your chest with each elbow held lightly with the opposite hand. This will prevent your elbows from touching the sides of the tunnel. Get comfortable like this. You may even ask the tech to wrap your arms and body with a soft comfy blanket to create a cuddly feeling.

I am very claustrophobic and have learned these skills to allow me to do may tasks where my claustrophobia would be a problem, I made my living climbing under kitchen and bathroom sinks. I learned how to prevent the anxiety attack when I would get stuck temporarily.

With some practice, the closed in tunnel can be tolerated.

I posted a few weeks back that I had to abort my MRI because it was so uncomfortable lying on the table with the cage and my head and neck wedged in an extended position.

This looks good http://www.uprightmri.co.uk/

They mention in their spiel that for some conditions siting MRI's actual give better results

The upright MRI is only a 0.6 Tesla magnet. It will not show small damage.

While I agree that they were not available in the past.

The SWI 1.5 T is available in Open Air MRI's now, and hopefully will become more readily available in facilities in the future for TBI clients.

Search for : Open Siemens Espree 1.5T magnet MRI in Google > is already being used in facilities in Kentucky, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Wisconsin, Texas, and Melbourne, and I just couldn't look up Europe or UK to figure them out, but Siemen's is everywhere.

The facilities are hospitals and outpatient facilities - so management is getting the picture of the needs.

Please keep it in mind, write it down, if the "tube" bothers you particularly, have the family help you, and ask the doctor's team to help you set it up - its worth the trip.

Good luck.

I wonder what is expected to be imaged at even 1.5 Tesla MRI's? The damage from a concussion is not imageable until the MRI gets to a 6 or 7 Tesla magnetic field.

Concussion - Thanks. I was little surprised it was good they have open MRIs with 1.5 T :) But Open MRIs are different than Open Bore MRIs.

The Siemens MAGNETOM Espree High-Field 1.5T MRI is the only Open Bore (tube) MRI that combines expansive patient comfort with no compromise in scan power.

Even though it is open bore you still be in a tube but both sides are open. First one I went has only one side open and sure freaked me out. Now they come out with 3T MRIs with open bore. So why go for 1.5T when 3T available and if you can tolerate the tube.

Siemens is a pioneer in 3T MRI technology, offering:
The first 70 cm, Open Bore 3T MRI
Tim4G+Dot for high image quality and consistency

For some one who cannot tolerate any tubes then the option is
Open MRI.

Open MRIs has no bore in it. You can view it here.

http://www.marylandopenmri.com/


Cheers!

Whether it is a 1.5 T or a 3 T MRI, it still does not image the fine damage of a concussion. It will possibly show some residual bleed areas.

The value of an MRI is to rule out other causes for neurological problems.

A Diffusion Tensor Image ( special type of MRI ) can show some issues.

An MRI/MRA can show vascular structure. A PET or SPECT scan can also show some interesting images but still is not of high value for PCS. I have had all of the above images done.

A better test might be for Tau protein or S100b protein. These are not routine tests. I have only heard of them used in research.

PCSLife, is that Open MRI in Washington a 3T, because I had not found one in my locale in Maryland, could only find 1.5T; if so, I have no problems traveling to it when needed. Thanks.

Mark, I agree, the higher Teslas are much better, its just going to come down to the facilities moving off the buck, and public concerns/ safety managements addressing the ongoing/growing concerns on safety issues sprouting around more and more use of MRI by practitioners.

Have they been using the protein testing more and more in TBI , I haven't been involved with that arena, its been more with Neurology and Alzheimer studies from my recollection.

Medication, and what little family time I can handle............. take care.

The Tau or S100b protein test just indicates an injury.

My point is that imaging, even when it is with a high strength magnet, does not change the fact that there is nothing that can be done. Imaging is just a tool for screening out other causes of mental struggles. In rare cases, it may be able to show an inner ear injury.

If they are trying to diagnose a structural injury to the neck, the imaging may be helpful. But, research shows that spinal/cervical injury has little relation to images taken except in the obvious injuries. The finer injuries are a struggle to identify. It may be a problem with the radiologists' skills. It's like the fight between spinal surgeons and chiropractors. Each discount the need for the other.

Concussion: Yes, it is 3T MRI at Arlington Hospital Center. Seems like you can even read a book in this open bore MRI and can accommodate large patients too. Nice !!

http://www.virginiahospitalcenter.co..._bore_mri.aspx

If you really into 7T you go to clinicaltrials.gov and search for 7T and you can see trials going on for many conditions even at NIH Bethesda, MD.

I can get a 7T MRI if I go Philadelphia where my friend works but as Mark pointed out not much can be done in my case. I had a brain contusion and brain softening (minimal encephalomalacia at temporal and very minimal at frontal) which still can be seen with 1.5T MRI and I suffer with PCS symptoms on a daily basis. For conditions like Perilymph Fistula it may be helpful since current MRI is not that powerful to show any damage. I am sure for some other conditions 7T MRIs can be useful!

I took a CT scan few months ago (due to panic attacks, pain etc.,) which didn't show anything at all and report looks perfect. This is the same place where they found bleeding 3 years ago. So who ever wants to take some imaging after few weeks/months it is best to go for MRI than CT scan (based on my personal experience :))


Cheers.

Thanks Mark,

I did think of closing my eyes because I have learnt to deal with other stresses in the same way. I am good at sorting thinks out in my head rather than on paper, therefore my artistic job.

I think Im recovered from the MRI but yes it needed acute vision to spot the suspected problem the doctors believe I have, they said often even an MRI will not pick it up. Do you know of a more intense scanning process that may detect a detached ligament in my neck?