Lumbar Spine MRI

[Jenvenza]

I have to have one of these bad boys done this Friday and I am really nervous about it. They said it lasts about 30-45 minutes and I can have a Valium if I need one.

How bad are these? I hate closed spaces and am a little worried about it being hot in there, too. Closed spaces plus it being hot is not a good combination for me.

Help ease my fears!!

 

[JessicaR]

I have a few some were open is that an option near you? I even had a standing (upright) lumbar MRI and my surgeon loved the results! They were able to position me in flexed, extended and neutral positions.

If you have to have a closed MRI don't sweat it and if you are take the valium! Ask to listen to music and visualize a happy place. The knocking noise is supposed to be there so dont let it worry you. I was never hot inside one before and they can stop it at any time if you so desire.
http://www.fonar.com/
http://www.uprightimagingmri.com/Services/UpRightMRI/PositionalImaging/tabid/64/Default.aspx

 

[C.Ann]

The MRI itself is not a big deal - although a bit on the noisy side..

Your biggest problem will be with the confined space (I can relate because in the past few years I have developed severe claustrophobia).. Do you have an "open" MRI facility you can go to? It's still not "completely" open - unless they use the one where you are sitting up - but it's better than the closed ones..

The valium is probably to calm you down.. If you have no issues with valium, take it..

Also be sure to ask if they have the two-way speaker system - so you can tell them if you're becoming to anxious to continue - and don't allow them to strap your arms down (in case you have to wave them around to get their attention).. DD recently had an MRI where they strapped her arms down (I've never had that before) and she was trying to get their attention, but couldn't..

I'd check into the open MRI or the sitting up one.. I think you would be a lot less anxious..

Best of luck!

 

[Jenvenza]

The MRI itself is not a big deal - although a bit on the noisy side..

Your biggest problem will be with the confined space (I can relate because in the past few years I have developed severe claustrophobia).. Do you have an "open" MRI facility you can go to? It's still not "completely" open - unless they use the one where you are sitting up - but it's better than the closed ones..

The valium is probably to calm you down.. If you have no issues with valium, take it..

Also be sure to ask if they have the two-way speaker system - so you can tell them if you're becoming to anxious to continue - and don't allow them to strap your arms down (in case you have to wave them around to get their attention).. DD recently had an MRI where they strapped her arms down (I've never had that before) and she was trying to get their attention, but couldn't..

I'd check into the open MRI or the sitting up one.. I think you would be a lot less anxious..

Best of luck!

Strapping my arms down will not be an option, because I would just go somewhere else if they tried to do that! That is crazy! Your poor DD!

I have an HMO, so I had to get a referral to do this, so I am not sure what kind of options I have. An open MRI sounds much better.

 

[Jenvenza]

I have a few some were open is that an option near you? I even had a standing (upright) lumbar MRI and my surgeon loved the results! They were able to position me in flexed, extended and neutral positions.

If you have to have a closed MRI don't sweat it and if you are take the valium! Ask to listen to music and visualize a happy place. The knocking noise is supposed to be there so dont let it worry you. I was never hot inside one before and they can stop it at any time if you so desire.
http://www.fonar.com/
http://www.uprightimagingmri.com/Services/UpRightMRI/PositionalImaging/tabid/64/Default.aspx

Hopefully I wont be hot in there - that will make it much worse if I am. I think I will be taking the valium.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I'm mildly claustrophobic and had an open MRI on my back last year. I would suggest taking the Valium, because open MRIs aren't THAT open. You also have to stay very still, so the medicine will help with that, too. I seem to remember it being very cold in the room. Also, like the PP said, they will let you listen to music, so that kind of takes your mind off of all the knocking and clicking sounds.

I was afraid to have an MRI, but I was in so much pain that there was really no choice. I had surgery a few days later, and my back has never felt better! Good luck to you!

 

[Jenvenza]

I'm mildly claustrophobic and had an open MRI on my back last year. I would suggest taking the Valium, because open MRIs aren't THAT open. You also have to stay very still, so the medicine will help with that, too. I seem to remember it being very cold in the room. Also, like the PP said, they will let you listen to music, so that kind of takes your mind off of all the knocking and clicking sounds.

I was afraid to have an MRI, but I was in so much pain that there was really no choice. I had surgery a few days later, and my back has never felt better! Good luck to you!

Can I ask what was wrong with your back? What the reason you had to have surgery? I am really nervous that surgery is what is going to happen with me, too.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I had a bulging disc between L4 and L5. I tried physical therapy and that worked for a while. Then one day I had a migraine headache and got "sick." (I'll save all the details...) When I got "sick" the disc ruptured, and the material leaked into my spinal column.

I was in excruciating pain. The ruptured disc also pinched my sciatic nerve and made me lose feeling in my right leg. I went to the neurosurgeon on Friday, and he scheduled the surgery for the next Monday morning.

They made a tiny incision, about an inch long, and did the surgery. I had immediate relief after I woke up, although I had some nerve damage in my leg from the pinched nerve.

I started physical therapy two weeks later, and I've never felt better. My right leg is still a tad bit smaller than my left, but I was able to build strength back up in it through physical therapy. The scar from the incision is almost gone as well.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jenvenza]

I had a bulging disc between L4 and L5. I tried physical therapy and that worked for a while. Then one day I had a migraine headache and got "sick." (I'll save all the details...) When I got "sick" the disc ruptured, and the material leaked into my spinal column.

I was in excruciating pain. The ruptured disc also pinched my sciatic nerve and made me lose feeling in my right leg. I went to the neurosurgeon on Friday, and he scheduled the surgery for the next Monday morning.

They made a tiny incision, about an inch long, and did the surgery. I had immediate relief after I woke up, although I had some nerve damage in my leg from the pinched nerve.

I started physical therapy two weeks later, and I've never felt better. My right leg is still a tad bit smaller than my left, but I was able to build strength back up in it through physical therapy. The scar from the incision is almost gone as well.

Hope this helps!

My mom also had a ruptured disc in her back and ended up with Drop Foot because of it. I have started getting shooting pains down my right leg and my toes go numb from time to time. So that is why I am thinking I might end up with surgery as well. They also have me scheduled for an EMG. I am not looking forward to that one either.

Thanks for the info!

 

[tonilea]

I can have a Valium if I need one.

How bad are these? I hate closed spaces and am a little worried about it being hot in there, too. Closed spaces plus it being hot is not a good combination for me.

Help ease my fears!!

I would take the Valium. My MRI was very painful - ruptured disc, so it hurt to lay flat on my back. I didn't like the closed in feeling either, but made it through.

When the results came back on my MRI I was immediately sent to a neurosurgeon. I saw him on Monday and had surgery on Friday. On the upside, even with surgical site pain, I felt 1000% better post op than I did before the surgery!

 

[HsvTeacher]

Unfortunately, back problems are sometimes hereditary. I had the same ruptured disc as my mom, at the same age, and surgery almost to the same day. (It was on my sister's birthday, so I guess that's how she remembered.) Thank goodness the surgery has come a long way!

My problems began with the tingling and numbness, too. But I let it go for too long, until the disc started bulging. My stubbornness got me on that one!

 

[tonilea]

But I let it go for too long, until the disc started bulging. My stubbornness got me on that one!

I can totally relate! I didn't go to the doctor (like a fool) until I had to ask DH to help me put on my sock.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I had a MRI a few months ago. I took the valium, good idea as I'm also claustrophobic. Also, they used a fan to blow air through which helped keep it cool. Good luck.

 

[C.Ann]

From what I understand, the sitting up and/or standing up MRI is actually much more accurate when it comes to back problems.. Any chance you could request that one instead?

 

[TeresaNJ]

Take the Valium! That's the most reassuring thing I can tell you about having a closed MRI.