I have an MRI scan soon for a back problem and I was wondering if it's expected to wear a face mask in the scanner, if anyone had had a recent scan I would appreciate your insight please. I'm a bit claustrophobic and find MRI quite stressful, and as an asthmatic I find masks make me feel a but breathless, so a combination of both scares me a bit. In my head I know I will be fine, I had 2 in 3 months 2 years ago when I injured my lower back, and now I'm having issued with my neck and shoulder blade so the GP wants scans of the top and middle areas 🙁, it all feels a bit much on top of having shielded for a year.
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I’ve had a couple over past year and yes you have to wear a mask until you lie down and are put in position, but then you can ask them if it’s ok to push it down. If its neck and shoulder blade only a bit of you will be inside, so that might also be easier for you.
Thanks, I was wondering, my last was before covid arrived. Unfortunately when I had a previous shoulder scan I was all the way in. The logical part of me knows I'll be fine but it doesn't make it easier. RA is the disease that keeps on giving, and just when the meds appear to be working it has a way of biting back, working hard at not feeling sorry for myself at the moment.
Hi. I had one last month and you can take the mask off. When you are sorted into the correct position outside,you can take it off then, before they move you into the tube.I am claustrophobic too and the best thing to do is to make sure your eyes are closed before you go into the tube and do not open them again until you are out again.That way you do not see how close the scanner is to your face. If the MRI is for your neck and shoulders you will be going in head first but I think you will only go in as far as your chest.The scanner is very noisy but I try and imagine I am trying to relax on a hard sun lounger and that the noise is from builders nearby !!
That's good advice, thank you. Last time I closed my eyes and sang quietly to myself, I imagined I was at community choir with lovely folk making happy noise, it helped take my mind off how much pain I was in.
I have just asked my hubby and he said you have to wear a mask as per normal. The normal blue ones are what everyone has to wear. He doesn't have underlining health problems so if your asthmatic you might not have to . Ask when you get there. Good luck.xxxx
It varies with each hospital...Why don’t you phone & ask to be put through to the department & ask ahead of time to set your mind at rest ....I’m sure there are a lot of people who feel the way you do.
Just a few words from someone in the department should help.It’s surprising in the present condition of wearing masks ....they haven’t actually issued a statement about what happens when you have to go into a scanner
Hi I had an MRI at Addenbrookes last year during the worst time in the pandemic. It was a very safe procedure, the medical face mask supplied had the metal band removed so it was suitable for the MRI. you will be fine it’s just a very noisy procedure. Good luck and stay safe. This was info from my husband.
I am a bit claustrophobic too. I had an MRI couple of months ago. Wearing a mask over your eyes helps. The last thing you want to do is see the inside of the tube. I took also a covid mask but that has metal in so the face me another which had the metal strip removed. They also said if I had a problem with too many masks take off the covid one as they would be in the next room anyway. She was really helpful so do make sure they u understand your anxiety.
I had an MRI scan just recently and yes I did have to wear a mask throughout the scan. However just to put your mind at rest the nurses are very aware of the added anxiety of wearing a mask and it may be worth you mentioning that you have asthma as they may let you take it off when they go behind he screen.
Hi rounder, I had an MRI last summer, had to be masked up until in position but could then demask whilst in the scanner itself. Sounds like policy on this is different from one hospital to another so I think AgedCrones suggestion to ring the one you are attending is a good one, so that you can put your mind at rest as much as possible before your appointment. Good luck xx
I had several MRI and Ct scans as an inpatient, radiographer removed before lying down, nurses on the ward removed the tiny metal from the nasal bridge, before Porter took me down.
I had a MRI scan of my lower back and pelvis a week ago and yes, I had to wear a mask all the time. All of my head was at the end of the tube, so there was no feeling of claustrophobia. I could see the ceiling. I have my eyes closed anyway and do breathing exercises. Just concentrating on my breath and nothing else matters. Good luck, I hope you'll make it and get a good result.
I had to go in for a neck mri and I did go feet first. And I had a plastic collar thing on my neck. They were very helpful and I took music, Queen lol , as they played it into earphones and the scan didnt take long. I too am very very claustrophobic so I know how worrying it us. All I can say is close your eyes I find that helps and I got some anti anxiety drug from the gp. They give you a buzzer too if you want to stop. I recently had a knee one which was just legs in and they gave me a choice on wearing a mask. I wore mine as I was more worried about covid that day lol but they cleaned and bleached everything ! That one was no problem but I was still anxious about having it !
But it gives them the info they need so it's worth it. Annoying until it , I've been shielding and hurt my knee ! So annoying. Xx
Oh dear hope your knee settles soon, my arthritic knee is making its presence felt lately so you have my sympathy.I have some nerve pain meds that knock me senseless , maybe I could try taking some, I mostly avoid them unless the shoulder pain is extreme.
I had an MRI recently on my lower back and didn't have to wear a mask. I am having one on my chest soon and assumed that I wouldn't have to wear one then either. You can take along a CD for them to play for you if you would like and it hides the noise inside there and makes you feel more relaxed. I have found that if I just close my eyes, relax and listen to the music then the time soon goes. Good luck with it rounder. xx
I'm claustrophobic and had a mild sedative it could be worth asking about that. The world went sort of pink and hazy purple. It was rather nice. lol xx
I fear I'm in for a long one too, GP has requested cervical spine and thoracic spine, the appointment letter says expect to be in the department an hour or so.
I had lumbar spine , SI joints and both hips . To be honest I kept my eyes shut the whole time whilst pretending I was somewhere else with someone else . Would’ve been easier if I wasn’t freezing too .
It’s all worth it though to identify and treat problems .
It is, not sure that knowing will help greatly to solve the problem which is potentially nerve improvement in the spine. I really dislike the nerve pain meds because they scramble my brain, but the intensity of the pain is horrible.
You don’t have to wear a mask. Especially if you wear the kind that has a little metal nose band. No metal allowed in MRI. Those blue and white paper masks have a tiny metal strip in the nose piece. Wear one of those and they will make you remove it. 😃
My daughter had an MRI and was told to keep her mask on even though it had one of those metal nose pieces in. So not necessarily the case that you have to remove it.
I find that surprising. Last time I even had to remove my pain patch which doesn't have metal in it. It's amazing that every hospital seems to make up policy as it goes along.
I was slightly surprised, I phoned the department first to find out if we needed one without metal and was told no it would be fine. I then double checked when we arrived and again was told no it’s fine. They said because it’s aluminium and small it’s not an issue.
Just noticed Tedx below was also told to keep her mask on.
I had an MRI five weeks ago for my back I was extremely anxious about even going into the hospital environment and the mask wearing. The staff were amazing reassured me everything was cleaned etc. I was advised to wear a mask but said it was ok to pull it down if I felt I couldn't breathe properly (which happens when I lay flat anyway) try to relax and it will be over with sooner than you think. Don't forget to take your own bag to put your clothes in as where I went they don't provide bags now as another precaution. Unfortunately my results are not very good - seems I'm cracking up all over the place and shrinking in the process ........ I keep telling myself that's why I'm looking a lot rounder and it's not all the lockdown over eating !!!
Oh bless you, I too am getting rounder and shorter.......Too much baking to fill the time in lockdown. Thank you for your insight, I will pop a carrier bag in my pocket to put clothes in. I already have slipped discs and misaligned vertebrae in my lower spine so suspect something similar, aligned with arthritic changes are the root cause. The GP won't refer to physio egg without a scan , and acknowledged that normal pain killers won't help so it's limbo land for now.
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