How Does An MRI Feel?
There's a lot to say about how an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan works, or what the scan is supposed to show. Since everyone experiences testing in different ways and at different levels, it can be hard to prepare for the MRI or understand how easy the process can be once you're in the right mindset and condition. Here are a few MRI technical details along with a patient's point of view to understand how the process plays out and what you can expect.
How Does An MRI System Work?
The short answer: magnets create radio waves that bounce off the water in your body. The bounced off waves return with a picture of your insides.
The more in-depth answer: An MRI system creates a magnetic field that aligns with the nuclei of the water molecules in the body. The MRI scan only "sees" the nuclei, and specifically sees the change in the proton "spin" or rotation that happens on a molecular level.
This gets fairly deep into physics, and it's completely understood. What matters is that because of the way an MRI systems' magnets interact with the water molecules in your body, certain organs, substances, and components of the body give off a different reading. They essentially "talk back" to the MRI system to give specific visuals.
Some conditions may require a contrast liquid to make different things inside the body show up better. The contrast liquid is a dye of sorts, but isn't poisonous or like ingesting ink; it's designed to pass through the body harmlessly and may give different sensations such as a slight warming sensation, cooling sensation, tingling, or itching.
Magnetic safety is a concern for some people, but don't worry about the magnet strength. If you've held a refrigerator magnet, that's as strong as the field gets--around 0.2 to 3 teslas depending on the test.
What About The Enclosed Space?
If you have claustrophobia--either diagnosed or personally observed--it's understandable that you may not like the MRI system. One way to get more comfortable with the system is to look carefully at what you'll get inside.
You'll notice that most models are not entirely trapping your body, and those that do cover you fully will only capture part of your body. Full-body MRIs are mostly done for speed and convenience rather than a condition that covers the entire body.
If that doesn't make you more comfortable, but you just want to get the MRI over with, sedatives are available. You'll need to submit your medical information to make sure that the sedatives react well with your body, as some people are allergic to some sedatives, but there are multiple options.
Contact a company like DirectImaging to learn more.
