If you can't lie down for an MRI due to pain or claustrophobia, your options include wide-bore MRI machines, open upright MRIs (allowing sitting/standing), or even mild sedation from your doctor, along with calming techniques like deep breathing or listening to music, to manage anxiety and discomfort in traditional scanners. It's crucial to discuss these alternatives with your doctor or the imaging center beforehand to find the best solution for your needs.
Patients with certain conditions that may prevent them from staying still in the MRI machine, such as claustrophobia, anxiety, or a condition that causes physical pain, may have an MRI with anesthesia. It is also common for children to have an MRI with anesthesia, since it is often difficult for them to remain still.
For some patients - for example those with restricted mobility, who are overweight, or who suffer from claustrophobia - this can be difficult or uncomfortable. Open MRI provides a stress-free, relaxing alternative compared to the traditional MRI scanner.
You will meet the anesthesiologist and they will obtain your consent for anesthesia prior to the MRI. They will explain possible complications and side effects.
Unlike the most commonly used traditional closed MRI scanners, the open Upright MRI, commonly called the Stand-Up MRI, lets the patient sit, bend, stand, or even lay down for their scan.
Patients can be positioned in several different ways.
The Upright MRI is the only MRI scanner that can image patients in any position, whether it's sitting, standing, bending or lying down. This allows it to image any part of the body. All other MRIs can only scan patients while laying down.
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.
If you feel that you need something to help you relax during the examination, your GP may be able to prescribe this for you. You must be escorted home by a friend or relative if you have been prescribed sedation for your scan and you must not drive yourself home.
If you are concerned about how you will tolerate your MRI exam, we urge you to ask your doctor to develop a plan to help you. If you are having a MRI appointment, your doctor may prescribe an oral medication for you to take to minimize your anxiety.
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.
Be aware of when you start to feel twitchy or uncomfortable, be on the lookout for it so you can tackle it head on before it takes over. Smile, breathe and tell yourself: You are in complete control. If you needed to, you could be out of the scanner within seconds.
At certain times during the scan you will be able to listen to music and close your eyes, while other times we need to turn the music off and have you open your eyes. You may also be given a box with buttons before entering the MRI.
5 ideas for what to do during an MRI to relieve anxiety
Patients requiring sedation were compared by these criteria to all non-sedated members over 18 years of age in the cohort who acted as a control. Of the 939 patients 134 (14.3%) required oral sedation, IV sedation, or general anesthesia to tolerate MRI.
What if I am claustrophobic? If you suffer from claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), talk to your doctor when your MRI is ordered so you come to the scan with some type of sedation, such as Xanax or Diazepam (Valium). “Do not show up for your MRI and expect your technologist to have any sedation on hand.
If you are claustrophobic and anxious about getting an MRI, you are not alone. Claustrophobia affects about 12.5% of the population, but getting an MRI can pose significant issues for more than 9% since MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans involve inserting the patient into a large magnetic tube.
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.
Propofol will be given through an I.V. to induce sleep. This medication has a short duration of action and a rapid recovery time and is administered to make sure you remain asleep during the entire MRI study.
As a patient, it is vital that you remove all metallic belongings in advance of an MRI examination, including external hearing aids, watches, jewelry, cell phones, and items of clothing with metallic threads or fasteners.
A patient may take a sedative 'an hour' before their assumed procedure, to then attend the hospital to find their procedure has been delayed, therefore the timing of the anxiolytic being sub optimal.
If your claustrophobia is severe, talk to your doctor about taking a mild sedative before the scan. This can help you stay relaxed throughout the procedure. By following these tips, you can manage your claustrophobia and make your MRI experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
Schizophrenia: MRI can show changes in brain volume and the structure of particular brain regions like hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Bipolar Disorder: Structural MRIs can help detect subtle abnormalities in brain regions involved in mood regulation.
You will be required to lie completely still during the MRI exam. Depending on the body part being imaged, you may be instructed to hold your breath for up to 30 seconds at a time.