And I have never been told to "hold my breath' during an MRI, that is a CT scan.
I had a right hip MRI Wednesday and they strapped my feet together and it lasted 25 minutes and it was intensely painful a nd still is four days later. Cannot sleep in the bed it hurts so bad... This was done after a 45 minute back MRI... is this pain normal or expected?
I must say..I had an MRI today on my shoulder (no diagnosis yet), from the descriptions on this page it was a low field machine. I was the MOST PAINFUL experience of my life...burning all the way down my arm. They had to halt a couple of times because the pain was so severe. I am shocked to read that perhaps the MRI caused it reading so many similar stories on this page. I have a high pain threshold, but this was way, way beyond. Why are there no warnings????
John, 1) please stop using the term "microwaves". MRI uses "radio frequency waves". 2) To you and others complaining of Technologists "pretending" to have never heard of these very painful sensations, I have been a Technologist for 19 years and I have NEVER had a patient complain about these sensations. That isn't to say your complaints aren't valid or that you're making it up, but if we say we haven't had a patient with those complaints before then we cannot comment on it. With that said, the Technologist had a responsibility to give you this information that I have researched for you below and he or she failed to do so which is disappointing. Also, the low-field scanners are not any more "dangerous" than the high field magnets. Neurostimulation can happen no matter which scanner you're being scanned on.
NERVE STIMULATION
Currents induced in the body by dB/dt can cause peripheral nerve or muscle stimulation. This stimulation may result in a slight tingling sensation or a brief muscle twitch that may startle the subject, but is not recognized as a significant health risk. Threshold sensations such as these should not be ignored, however, because this sensation may escalate to unpleasant or painful at higher levels of dB/dt. Since the margin between barely perceptible and unpleasant has been reported to be on the order of 1.5 (Schaefer et al., 2000), it is important that subjects report any sensation during scanning so that corrective action can be taken.
The FDA has altered its guidelines for dB/dt based upon recent research. In their 1998 document (U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 1998), the FDA stated "The original MRDD Guidance had established a level of concern for dB/dt at 20 T/sec for pulse duration over 120 microseconds. As an alternative, a manufacturer could demonstrate that the rate of change of the gradient field was not sufficient to cause peripheral nerve stimulation by an adequate margin of safety. The development of echoplanar and similar fast imaging techniques, and the clinical benefits which they provide, caused a re-evaluation of this policy. Evidence was presented that although peripheral nerve stimulation could potentially startle a patient and cause motion which could interfere with image acquisition, the sensation is not harmful. However, painful stimulation should be avoided." Thus, the current FDA standard is based upon the threshold for sensation, rather than a specific numerical value. With regard to dB/dt, values below that resulting in painful stimulation are considered non-significant risk by the FDA (1997). This reflects, in part, the difficulty in calculating the distribution of current with the body, a process that relies upon elaborate modeling.
The best means to address the discomfort of peripheral nerve stimulation is to instruct subjects not to clasp their hands together during scanning, and this causes a conductive loop that may potentiate dB/dt effects. Subjects should also be instructed to report any tingling, muscle twitching, or painful sensations that might occur during scanning.
It is theoretically possible to induce currents of sufficient to influence cardiac function and, in the extreme, cause ventricular defibrillation. Reilly (Reilly, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993) investigated the dB/dt necessary to produce cardiac stimulation. His studies indicate that there is a large margin of safety between the dB/dt levels necessary for perceptible nerve stimulation and necessary to cause cardiac stimulation for ramp durations below 1000 μsec. In examining the experimental literature obtained in studies of dogs and the simulation curves of Reilly, Schaefer and colleagues (2000) state that the cardiac stimulation threshold for the most sensitive 1% of the population should require 20 times the energy required for peripheral stimulation. Furthermore, the mean defibrillation threshold should require 500 times the energy required for peripheral stimulation. For subjects experiencing a dB/dT sufficient for peripheral nerve stimulation at a 100 μsec ramp duration, the probability of cardiac stimulation is only 2 x 10-29.
NERVE STIMULATION
Currents induced in the body by dB/dt can cause peripheral nerve or muscle stimulation. This stimulation may result in a slight tingling sensation or a brief muscle twitch that may startle the subject, but is not recognized as a significant health risk. Threshold sensations such as these should not be ignored, however, because this sensation may escalate to unpleasant or painful at higher levels of dB/dt. Since the margin between barely perceptible and unpleasant has been reported to be on the order of 1.5 (Schaefer et al., 2000), it is important that subjects report any sensation during scanning so that corrective action can be taken.
The FDA has altered its guidelines for dB/dt based upon recent research. In their 1998 document (U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 1998), the FDA stated "The original MRDD Guidance had established a level of concern for dB/dt at 20 T/sec for pulse duration over 120 microseconds. As an alternative, a manufacturer could demonstrate that the rate of change of the gradient field was not sufficient to cause peripheral nerve stimulation by an adequate margin of safety. The development of echoplanar and similar fast imaging techniques, and the clinical benefits which they provide, caused a re-evaluation of this policy. Evidence was presented that although peripheral nerve stimulation could potentially startle a patient and cause motion which could interfere with image acquisition, the sensation is not harmful. However, painful stimulation should be avoided." Thus, the current FDA standard is based upon the threshold for sensation, rather than a specific numerical value. With regard to dB/dt, values below that resulting in painful stimulation are considered non-significant risk by the FDA (1997). This reflects, in part, the difficulty in calculating the distribution of current with the body, a process that relies upon elaborate modeling.
The best means to address the discomfort of peripheral nerve stimulation is to instruct subjects not to clasp their hands together during scanning, and this causes a conductive loop that may potentiate dB/dt effects. Subjects should also be instructed to report any tingling, muscle twitching, or painful sensations that might occur during scanning.
It is theoretically possible to induce currents of sufficient to influence cardiac function and, in the extreme, cause ventricular defibrillation. Reilly (Reilly, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993) investigated the dB/dt necessary to produce cardiac stimulation. His studies indicate that there is a large margin of safety between the dB/dt levels necessary for perceptible nerve stimulation and necessary to cause cardiac stimulation for ramp durations below 1000 μsec. In examining the experimental literature obtained in studies of dogs and the simulation curves of Reilly, Schaefer and colleagues (2000) state that the cardiac stimulation threshold for the most sensitive 1% of the population should require 20 times the energy required for peripheral stimulation. Furthermore, the mean defibrillation threshold should require 500 times the energy required for peripheral stimulation. For subjects experiencing a dB/dT sufficient for peripheral nerve stimulation at a 100 μsec ramp duration, the probability of cardiac stimulation is only 2 x 10-29.
I recently got a upper and lower spine scan, the one I was in looks like two big hockey pucks. One on top and one on bottom. I didn't feel any discomfort until they scanned my upper spine and neck. It started with tingling on the back of my head, then down both arms into my hands.my arms and hands started twitching by theirself. Then I started to feel burning pain in my neck. the pain lasted for the rest of the scan, and continued until later that night. So I guess that was the damaged nerves that were being stimulated in my neck.
I was given a locker key for my belongings and it had a yellow bungie like bracelet for which I assumed was for wearing the key while you got your MRI. I literally had no idea that you weren't supposed to bring the key with you because it made no sense to me to lock my items away then just leave the key out, so I wore it in with me around my WRIST... let me tell you, I have had MRIs/CAT scans multiple times and never have experienced anything so painful. At first everything was fine, they talked to me through the headset and asked if I was comfortable and all set to start, then they warned me of the noises and such, then it powers on. I feel a buzzing almost electric shock feeling coming from something, but had no idea what was happening. That was just the beginning.. they ask me if I'm okay again, I reply, "I'm fine, I think?" (should've said NOOO GET ME OUT). Then they tell me to be still. All of the sudden I feel electricity pulsing through my bones, my wrist felt weighed down by the key (which was so scary) My chest was heavy like I could feel the magnetism all around me. I couldn't breathe, then it stops. They say we are starting up again be still, I didnt have time to say anything! The second round I figure out it was this key the whole time and it was literally buzzing like crazy!! I would touch the key with my fingers and i could feel a current flowing through me. I was very young when this happened and extremely confused (and concussed, thats why i was there) so I couldn't explain to them what happened. I hope that didn't do anything to my insides, I'm still alive today and it was years ago but WOW. I thought I was done for. If I get cancer or some strange tumor inside of me I wouldn't be surprised. I've come close to dying many times so this hardly fazed me, although it probably should've. If you're reading this and something similar has happened please reply, I remember this event every now and then and still wonder how I wasn't severely injured from having a metal key right next to my body whilst inside a giant magnet.
I had an MRI of my foot yesterday. The technician had to do one stage 3 times. She said I kept moving. The only thing can figure is possible slight movements because I felt a heaviness on my chest and would take deep breaths. This morning my foot and ankle are bruising.
You most likely have a lot of heavy metal in your body. Try chlorella and turmeric tincture, it'll help your body get rid of some of the metals (from "enriched foods") naturally. Make sure you buy from a credible company!! Good luck
I had an MRI last week on my left knee. During the event I felt slight pain, pulling and throbbing. I thought it was my imagination. It's been a whole week now and the pain has not disappeared and is more intensed.
Had an MRI yesterday on my right shoulder and neck. The moment it turned on the pain hit and became more and more intense.Once read a lot of science fiction and it truly felt like all the nerves in my back were hooked to whatever currents were in the machine. I had to request to be taken out the first time.I had requested an open MRI but was told this was all they had now and I would have to reschedule. Had a DR appointment next day so this wasn't really convenient. The two aids keep explaining to me that MRIs don't cause pain. Anyway back into the machine. Immediately the pain became so bad I was actually screaming. The pain was so extreme that my shoulder kept spasming. They took me out again and explained that I just had to be still because they couldn't get what the needed. I finally was able to fight the pain and got this ting done. I was so shaken I couldn't stop trembling. But these two young women couldn't even be troubled to help me off the table. Just pointed to the dressing room and went about their business. Great customer service. My shoulder still feels very bruised and sore.
I just had an MRI today of my left shoulder. It was so painful, I could not finish the test. They put something around my arm and laid a heavy object across my hand to hold it against my thigh. That caused pressure to my shoulder which caused excruciating pain all up and down my arm. I held on for about 15 minutes, and then I could not take the pain any longer. I was instructed to ask my doctor for pain meds and reschedule.
Thank you for stating this. Mine was an awful experience as well. I had expected it to be easy - per others comments. Worst test I have had yet.
I just had a second MRI of my knee and the first one was pin free, but this one was extremely painful about 10 minutes into the scan. I tried so hard to bear it and had to call the tech in when the pain was causing tears to flow! Waking out was way more difficult than coming in, pain is way worse than before the scan, and there was some weakness and instability that wasn’t there before.
The tech couldn’t give me any answers other than these things happen.
Why would an MRI hurt when there was nothing invasive? Absolutely perplexed right now?!??
The tech couldn’t give me any answers other than these things happen.
Why would an MRI hurt when there was nothing invasive? Absolutely perplexed right now?!??
I just had an MRI in my shoulder which had been operated on in August. The surgeon has said that there is no metal in my shoulder but I experienced EXRUCIATING pain during the MRI and it was not related to how I was laying. I asked the tech and she acted like I was crazy. I left crying.
I am so interested to find out if anyone can tell you - I have had many many MRI's in my life and today was the first day I felt like I was being tortured. I left crying and nobody could tell me why it hurt so bad.