An MRI machine is quite tight, often a narrow, donut-shaped tube around 60cm (2 feet) wide, which can feel confining, especially for claustrophobic or larger individuals, though modern wide-bore MRIs offer larger openings (70cm+) for more comfort, and some scans (like for knees) might not even need your head inside the tunnel.
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.
The only drawback of the closed MRI scanning machine is its enclosed, tube-like design. If a patient goes into the machine head first, there might be only a few inches between their face and the machine's interior.
The MRI scan uses magnetic and radio waves, meaning that there is no exposure to X-rays or any other damaging forms of radiation. There are no known dangers or side effects connected to an MRI scan. The test is not painful; you cannot feel it. Since radiation is not used, the procedure can be repeated without problems.
Additional coping mechanisms include listening to music or watching a video or movie, closing or covering the eyes, and holding a panic button. The open MRI is a machine that is open on the sides rather than a tube closed at one end, so it does not fully surround the patient.
If you are having a MRI appointment, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication for you to take to minimize your anxiety. During your exam, our technologist will see you and be in contact with you at all times. Speakers inside the scanner will enable the technologist to communicate with you and hear what you say.
When electricity passes through the coils, a magnetic field is created and the coils vibrate. The sound the MRI makes is the metal coils vibrating and banging together inside the machine, creating a very strong magnetic field. The sound may reach up to 100 Decibels, so patients are required to use ear protection.
Your questions are important. Call your doctor or health care provider if you have questions or concerns. We will ask you to hold very still as each picture is taken. Please keep your mouth and head as still as possible, since even swallowing can blur the pictures.
In that light, here are some MRI claustrophobia tips to help you keep calm during an MRI.
What are my options? Your comfort is our first concern while you are having a MRI scan. You will be in constant communication with the MRI technicians and you can stop the scan at any time.
It is a good idea to close your eyes and keep them closed before you are brought into the scanner and during the entirety of the scan, so you can picture yourself just sleeping on your own bed. In contrast, an open MRI is ideal for claustrophobic or anxious patients, pediatric patients, or patients who are large.
An open MRI is what it sounds like — it's open on three sides, making it the largest and least-confining MRI machine. Younger patients, those with larger body types, or those who are claustrophobic may opt for an open MRI over a wide bore or traditional MRI because they prefer a more comfortable experience.
Whether you'll be fully inside the machine depends largely on the area of your body being scanned. For some scans, only part of your body will be inside, but for other scans your whole body goes inside the MRI.
CT is also accessible to nearly everyone, even those with medical implants, which may not be the case with MRI. MRI does not use radiation, but the procedure takes longer and requires you to stay still in a more enclosed space, which can be difficult for people with claustrophobia.
Patients are not completely enclosed, which significantly reduces anxiety for claustrophobic individuals. Open MRI technology has advanced over the years, allowing it to provide high-quality images comparable to those of a closed MRI machine for many types of scans.
Increased movement can result in the images being blurred or of poorer quality but being in an enclosed space can cause some people to become stressed, and in some more extreme cases, cause panic attacks.
Although you may believe that taking deep breaths will help, this will actually make it even worse. Instead, take slow breaths. Having a support system may also help you get through your exam. In most cases, a family member or friend may enter the MRI room with you and stay with you throughout your exam.
We recommend that the physician requesting the study prescribe two (2) Lorazepam 1 mg tablets, and that the patient should fill the prescription prior to their MRI appointment. The patient should take one (1) tablet 1-2 hours prior to their MRI appointment.
Proper preparation ensures that the MRI images are clear and free from distortions. Eating or drinking before certain types of MRIs can introduce variables, such as movement in the gastrointestinal tract or the presence of fluids, that may compromise the scan's accuracy.
You must lie very still during the scan. If you move, the MRI scan pictures may not be clear.
It is very important to remain still during your MRI scan as any movement can cause blurring on the images. If you cough during the scan and the images are not clear, we may need to repeat the scan. We will give you a call bell so if you are going to cough a lot then you can press that and we will pause the scan.
Today, when it comes to getting an MRI, that innate reaction is considerably less helpful if your doctor says you need a scan to guide your treatment. The escape reaction leads some people to crawl right out the end of an MRI machine during the middle of an exam.
Quiet exams with Pianissimo and Pianissimo Zen
Pianissimo technology significantly reduces the noise in and around the MRI environment for every patient, every sequence, every time thanks to the vacuum chamber encasing the super slim gradient coil which suppresses acoustic noise.
Therefore, the noise generated by MR imagers may cause temporary hearing loss, and earplugs can prevent this loss. All threshold changes had returned to within 10 dB of baseline by 15 minutes after completion of the second audiometric test.