I had an MRI scan today

**bassybill** · #1 05-25-2010, 04:42 PM

It was to get some pics of the damage I've got in my right wrist.

It wasn't a great experience. I would have been fine lying in the tube thing in a natural position, but they got me lying on my front with my right arm stretched out in front of me and my palm flat down. It was a position my wrist just did not want to be in, but of course you have to keep dead still. After 5 minutes the pain was really bad, and the scan lasted for about another 20 minutes after that. Ouch, ouch, ouch. I have never been so glad to move as when they dragged me back out.

Still, at least they played some music for me through some cans while I was in there to try and alleviate the godawful noises the scanner makes a bit. I got some Genesis, some Doc Feelgood (ha ha) and some Toto, amongst others. Could be a lot worse, right?

Looking forward to seeing the pics when I go to see my specialist in a couple of weeks.

How many other TB folks out there have been in the tube for one of these scans?

**bassybill** · #2 05-25-2010, 04:46 PM

Oops - wrong forum. I'll shift this to OT.

etoncrow · #3 05-25-2010, 04:47 PM

Been in the tube probably a half dozen times. I have five vertebrae (L1-L5) fused. They actually found my bad back condition with an MRI while trying to find a tumor on my parathyroid gland. They never found the tumor until they cut my throat and looked but that does not surprise me if they were looking for it around L1 through L5. Go figure.

**RedsFan75** · #4 05-25-2010, 04:48 PM

Not for my wrist, but I have one soon for my lower back... (again) my rheumatologist said we needed to update the database, see how my degeneration had continued...

Lying on my back flat like they want me, for that length of time is extremely painful, so I don't look forward to it...

i_got_a_mohawk · #5 05-25-2010, 05:03 PM

I had one for my auditory nerves.

They really are noisy buggers. I dare say I was lucky because I got to lie down and the only discomfort was from the tube being a bit on the small side.

Hope you get good news about your wrist tho!

XtreO · #6 05-25-2010, 05:35 PM

I've only seen those machines on House. I doubt anyone I know has ever been into one. I hope I won't, considering you guys' recollections of the trips in there..

geeza · #7 05-25-2010, 07:22 PM

I have one every year - brain, c-spine and t-spine, with and without dye (I have MS). I'm in the tube for about 3 hours.

**bassybill** · #8 05-25-2010, 07:32 PM

3 hours!! Man, that's badass. Kudos to you, and hoping that it all works out in a positive way.

EagleMoon · #9 05-25-2010, 07:33 PM

I've had several on my back. Not a fun experience. I think I would prefer being on my stomach to being on my back, which is how I've been for my scans. I don't think it would be as claustrophobic.

beelzelboss · #10 05-25-2010, 07:34 PM

I've had two. One on my knee, and a catscan. I'm getting another tomorrow actually on my knee. They have to inject my knee with a dye, and then they take my MRI. Its going to suck I have a feeling. At least they don't put my head in the tube, just my lower half.

**lowendfriend** · #11 05-25-2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I've had several on my back. Not a fun experience. I think I would prefer being on my stomach to being on my back, which is how I've been for my scans. I don't think it would be as claustrophobic.

Ask for a valium if it bothers you, or go to one of the newer "Open MRI's"

EagleMoon · #12 05-25-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowendfriend

Ask for a valium if it bothers you, or go to one of the newer "Open MRI's"

I've done both. It still bothers me. The tech at the last one I had said that about half of the people who are scheduled to have MRI's can't handle being in the tube. I've not been that bad, but I do have to keep my eyes shut.

**cheezewiz** · #13 05-25-2010, 08:10 PM

I've had four of them, I think. All for my lower back. They weren't pleasurable, but I didn't find them that bad.

iamlowsound · #14 05-25-2010, 09:01 PM

I have never had one, but I would probably just fall asleep.

lowsound

treekiller · #15 05-25-2010, 09:05 PM

I had one several months after I was in a auto accident. I kept having lower back pain and it found I had two injured disks. They gave me ear plugs and I was flat on my back, so it was not a terrible expirence & at least I didn't hafta drink contrast(I've had 3 CT scans).

Hopefully they can accurately diagnose the injury to your wrist and help you overcome it!

Mike M. · #16 05-25-2010, 09:47 PM

I tip my hat to those who have made it thru the MRI experience. I suffered a bad back injury about 15 years ago and had to go in for an MRI. Okay, so I got there, saw the tube, I layed down, they pushed me in.......instant PANIC ATTACK!!!! I freaked out like I never have in my life!!! Walked out, got in my car and it took about 10 minutes for me to calm down before I could drive. I had no idea that I was claustrophobic until that day, but I found out real quick.

Made an appointment at another place where the MRI machine had open sides, but the top portion was still only about two inches from my face. Got a prescription before hand for some vallium's and I took two of them before I got there. I made it but I had to get drugged up before I could even think about getting in that machine.

Jeff K · #17 05-25-2010, 10:37 PM

I've had four. Both shoulders and both knees at different times over the years. The only one that really bothered me was my right shoulder. It was literally torn apart. (The doc had to drill holes in my arm and shoulder bones and tie everything back together.) The pain was pretty bad; and trying to lie still in an uncomfortable position for 20 minutes was like torture. So I know what you mean, Bill, about the discomfort factor! The other three were a piece of cake comparatively.

I have a friend who went to have one and he got so freaked out when they started putting him into the tube that he started screaming for them to get him out (which they did).

They then scheduled him for the "donut" machine scan. Even THAT freaked him out. He said he was sweating uncontrollably and his heart was racing so fast he thought he might have a heart attack. I'm glad I'm not claustrophobic!

unbridled · #18 05-25-2010, 10:43 PM

Yeah, the tubes suck. I've had at least two a year since '01 due to several spine conditions, surgeries, and MS. You get good at almost meditating.

**bassybill** · #19 05-26-2010, 12:05 AM

Wow, it's a real shame to hear about the hard times people have had with this. It just goes to show that it's not such an easy piece of cake as the hospitals would have you think.

I personally had no problem (or very little problem) with the claustrophobia aspect (keeping my eyes closed maybe helped). It was just the physical pain that made it difficult for me!

totallyfrozen · #20 05-26-2010, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geeza

I have one every year - brain, c-spine and t-spine, with and without dye (I have MS). I'm in the tube for about 3 hours.

Man! They should give you a special gown with some "Billy Badass" military type award patch on it! I'm sorry you have to deal with MS and the tube. I've had a couple of friends with MS.