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Open MRIs: A Comfortable Alternative
Recently I needed another MRI of the low back because of a lot of burning pain in the lower thoracic and lumbar areas of my back. I remembered the last experience I had getting an MRI of the back and I felt very apprehensive about needing and getting another. I remembered the anxiety of feeling so tight and unable to move. There was only a very few inches between my face and the top of the tube I was in. And I couldn't see the other end of the machine at all from the position I was in.
I also remembered fearing I would not be able to get out of the machine once I was pushed all the way into it - although I was told by the technicians that they never lost anyone in their machine before. Everyone that went in definitely came back out!!
Well since that last MRI, I had actually lost a little weight and I was trying to remain hopeful that I would feel easier about this one. However I noticed that padding was added to the sides of the MRI since the last one I had and the technician also placed pads between the side of my body and my arms. He said it was to keep me from feeling too warm. Well with all of this extra bulk around me, I was unable to move into the MRI machine at all, so the test was canceled that day. Luckily I was able to find an MRI site with an open MRI and obtain an appointment for the next afternoon.
The next day I arrived at my appointment a few minutes early. I tried to keep my anxiety down. I am not sure what I expected. I still had to enter a "tube," however this one was larger and less confining. The length of the machine was about 4 feet long so I could actually see out the other side of the machine if I tipped my head back a little. What a difference! I was able to manage the procedure much more comfortably. My anxiety dropped considerably. The machine was just as loud but I had ear plugs and there was also a radio playing that I could actually listen to during the whole time I was in the tube. I had to have an injection of contrast dye again, however I had no problems or reactions to it. I was very relieved.
From now on, if I have to have another MRI, I am going to opt for the open MRI. It is well worth it.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: MRI, anxiety, back pain, health and wellness
I also remembered fearing I would not be able to get out of the machine once I was pushed all the way into it - although I was told by the technicians that they never lost anyone in their machine before. Everyone that went in definitely came back out!!
Well since that last MRI, I had actually lost a little weight and I was trying to remain hopeful that I would feel easier about this one. However I noticed that padding was added to the sides of the MRI since the last one I had and the technician also placed pads between the side of my body and my arms. He said it was to keep me from feeling too warm. Well with all of this extra bulk around me, I was unable to move into the MRI machine at all, so the test was canceled that day. Luckily I was able to find an MRI site with an open MRI and obtain an appointment for the next afternoon.
The next day I arrived at my appointment a few minutes early. I tried to keep my anxiety down. I am not sure what I expected. I still had to enter a "tube," however this one was larger and less confining. The length of the machine was about 4 feet long so I could actually see out the other side of the machine if I tipped my head back a little. What a difference! I was able to manage the procedure much more comfortably. My anxiety dropped considerably. The machine was just as loud but I had ear plugs and there was also a radio playing that I could actually listen to during the whole time I was in the tube. I had to have an injection of contrast dye again, however I had no problems or reactions to it. I was very relieved.
From now on, if I have to have another MRI, I am going to opt for the open MRI. It is well worth it.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: MRI, anxiety, back pain, health and wellness
