The MRI doesn't cause pain. I would imagin it was your own body causing the ouch during the procedure. Next time ask for a muscle relaxer, and tell your doctor you had trouble during it. Did they do one with contrast? Sometimes the dye used can cause an alergic reaction. Listen to your favorite music during the next one to distract yourself. If holding still is what makes you hurt, ask for a break. The gent doing the MRI can hear you inside that machine if you need something, or are having difficulity. Hope the next goes better. ginnie

for me it is the mri that causes my pain I have full body and can feel the vibrations like I feel vibrations with an ultrasound and also the loud pounding of the machine causes even more issues. This is just me but it is the machine that gives the issues where as like a ct scan doesnt bother me at all

MRIs cause terrible pain for me now, having contrast or not does not matter. I am also very sensitive to vibration. Cannot stand to listen to music for example. TENS unit is very painful to me now too. Have not had any ultrasounds, I imagine they would be to.

My doctors are good about doing other tests instead, if possible.

I did have to have one MRI a couple years back. Nothing else would show what they needed to look at. I had someone drive me, and my doc gave me dauladid, ativan and zanaflex to take well ahead of time, then more 45 minutes before. I still cried the whole time, and was in severe pain for days afterward.

I have had RSD about 15 years now, and the RSD has been in my spine for a few years now, and the head, neck and spine was where they did the MRI last time.

It will REALLY take a lot of convincing me to ever consent to another MRI, even with medication.

No way could anyone convince me to ever have another EMG. Absolutely no way.

When I went for the MRI I was already on a couple of muscle relaxants. plus I am claustrophobic so it was open..This is one I can lay down and take.. but it was open.. the vibration hurt yes, but at some points it felt like the pain was being drawn from my bones to the surface and it just hovered over me like an intense blanket of hot,stabbing,prickling piercing and scraping pain that saturated me.. I didn't ask to stop because I need these test. and no they do not use contrast on me .. this was by far not My first MRI nor will it be my last. in fact the spine dr is fighting to get me another test for my neck, but what the hell am I going to do. then.. the test of my lumbar spine was 30 minute test the one of my cervical spine is almost an hour.. as far as stress .. Im sure you all know what I mean when I say Im am always stressed out now. but I calm my self before the MRI,s because even though it is an open MRI the machine still constricts at points, when it comes around to the front. I have to remember to mention this to my neurologist.. .. all medical testing is becoming unbearable all the way around.. I went for another EMG 3 days ago.. again not my first rodeo with them.. and they always caused immediate pain but never long term.. this time I was in tears through the entire test.. and I still feel like the needles are in my legs and the shock probe is at my heals.. 3 days.. well ……..Thank you for your responses.. I hope you all fair better than this… god bless.. and be well