Has anyone had an MRI on their Lumbar spine ??

[AJM]

So I mentioned in another thread that I have a displaced L5 vertebrae that has been causing a lot of pain for the last few months and after talking to my PT today she suggested an MRI.
Now I've had so many MRI's over the last year for my knee and ankle injuries from the "Awfully big crash" that I've lost count but of course with those apart from the agony of trying to keep still they are pretty straightforward ie just the legs and pelvis go into the machine and a few clunks and clanks and its all over but I'm presuming with my lumbar spine I'll have to go completely in

As you can probably guess from the that I'm more than just a little bit freaked out about this !!
I suffer from intense claustrophobia and its my biggest nightmare coming to fruition.

I'm hoping I can be face down and legs first, that along with some sedatives and I might just manage it.
Has anyone else had one that can give me a heads up as to how you go in ?

 

[tinymoose]

I haven't had it done for my spine, but they did do an MRI on my brain as a kid (30ish yrs ago) to figure out why I was so small (trying to get a good look at my pituitary gland). It was fine (the pituitary gland), and it wasn't a big deal (the MRI); granted, I'm not super claustrophobic. They either gave me headphones to wear or piped in music to distract me from all the machine noises; I can't really remember which, but I remember music.

 

[AJM]

Yes they give you music here to but its not usually enough to drown out the clanking which isnt an issue for me its the claustrophobia that will get me.
For some reason I feel if I can go in face down it might not be so bad.

 

[ski diva]

I had an MRI on my lumbar spine a couple years ago and went in face up, on my back. And while it wasn't my idea of a good time -- it IS pretty claustrophobic -- it wasn't that awful. For me, what helped was keeping my eyes closed for the duration and doing some visualization and deep breathing exercises (I meditate regularly, so I put those skills to work here.) They may have given me earplugs or something for the clanking -- I honestly can't remember. Really, you'll be fine. Just keep telling yourself it's not for that long, they're actually not DOING anything to you, and you'll be out soon. Good luck!

 

[Jilly]

I've had MRI's on both knees. But I'm sure anything where I have to be in that machine, sedatives better be good. Planes bother me after 4 hours, and I can move around them...

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I've had a few of spine and of pelvis, most recently in January when I broke the latter. Not a bearer of great news. For me it was face up and head in first.
For certain you should inquire with prescribing doctor about sedatives if that would help you or anti anxiety meds. They help me a little bit for flying, plus muscle relaxers and a little THC in board. Had two emergency landings and flying is my major claustrophobia panic inducing personal hell.
Eyes closed may help and the noise as you know is much louder than the music. I oddly fall asleep in there. Find it numbingly relaxing. Maybe my outside life is a bit too stressful .
You've got this! Practice relaxation techniques now...every time you start to worry about it. Then the practice will be stronger and more effective. Pick one that suits your interests and style.

 

[Jilly]

Agree - with find your "happy place"!

 

[badger]

I worked in the MRI department for 10 years putting people into the machine. For a spine, yes you are on your back and in the core of the magnet. Your doctor can prescribe an anxiolytic for you to take prior if that would make you more comfortable. I am assuming that no contrast will be given therefore your exam should be about thirty minutes or so depending on the machine. Many MRI machines are larger in bore circumference than in the past, which helps considerably.

There are Open MRI, a very different machine ,and was really designed for obese patients, not for claustrophobia. Problem with those is that they can take longer because they are not surrounding your body, and sometimes create more claustrophobia due to the top coming down closer to your face than a regular MRI. (Think hamburger bun). best thing to do is close your eyes going in and stay that way. They can provide an eye covering if you wish. Music may help but it's still a noisy machine. A lumbar spine test will get your head almost to the end since your lower back needs to be in the middle of the bore, and there are mirrors that can be employed at the head end which may or may not help. You'll do great most likely!

 

[Christy]

Done it. Get a Xanax. I have no history of real claustrophobia and no expectation the scan would be an issue for me but once I was slid into the machine I said nope nope nope and pressed the emergency button. So they slid me back out and said, okay, you can get your dr to prescribe a Xanax, that's very common, but you'll need a new appt etc etc. So I thought okay, put your big girl pants on, focus on breathing, plus they put a washcloth over my eyes which was strangely comforting. So I did it but I need another one and next time I will absolutely take that Xanax. If you don't want to do that, at least get the washcloth. It can't hurt.

It really is very personal as to how you tolerate it; a friend with MS has to get one on her brain annually and they put her head in a cage for it--and she's doesn't freak out. The noise didn't bother me--it was just the (lack of) space.

 

[santacruz skier]

I've had an MRI on the lumbar spine, but @badger described it perfectly (and way better than I could have). I shut my eyes.

 

[AJM]

Thanks gals, I took Xanax for the first one I had last year on my knee and it was LOVELY but I didnt take one for the subsequent ones after although I wished I had as I had a really hard time keeping still ... you know what its like the more you concentrate on keeping still the more you want to twitch !!

So much for my dream of face down feet first
Thankfully the two places I've had them at both have large bore machines so I'll request going to either of those. They also have eyemasks so I'll be grabbing one of those as well.

 

[Blondeinabmw]

I had a lumbar and Thoracic MRI both - face up, on my back. They put a pillow behind your knees and give you ear plugs. I am a little claustrophobic too and was worried about it ahead of time, but it was no big deal. There's constant airflow in the form of a gentle fan blowing through the machine, and I had a panic button if need be. I just closed my eyes and took a nap, honestly.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I've had a couple: one in the claustrophic tube, one open (easy). No music because they come "online" to advise you of what noises you'll next hear. I had to keep smiling, because the patterns were like something of a contemporary cacophony symphony. Overall tolerable, since this is the Gold Standard of diagnostic.

 

[AJM]

I've had a couple: one in the claustrophic tube, one open (easy). No music because they come "online" to advise you of what noises you'll next hear. I had to keep smiling, because the patterns were like something of a contemporary cacophony symphony. Overall tolerable, since this is the Gold Standard of diagnostic.

I've had so many on my knee's I now know whole uninterrupted symphony It was 4 part symphony and I could tell exactly how far along they were in each scan .... and how much longer I had to go without twitching !!!
I've always had the music even though it dosen't block out the noise and if they need to go online to tell me "Keep Still !!" or "We're gong to have to run that scan again " they just pause the music.
Fun Times but thank goodness I wasnt paying ... I gather they are quite expensive machines to run.

 

[TNtoTaos]

I had an MRI on my lumbar spine a couple years ago and went in face up, on my back. And while it wasn't my idea of a good time -- it IS pretty claustrophobic -- it wasn't that awful. For me, what helped was keeping my eyes closed for the duration and doing some visualization and deep breathing exercises (I meditate regularly, so I put those skills to work here.) They may have given me earplugs or something for the clanking -- I honestly can't remember. Really, you'll be fine. Just keep telling yourself it's not for that long, they're actually not DOING anything to you, and you'll be out soon. Good luck!

Same here -- it's the noise, more than anything that bothered me. Do you know if it's an open MRI? Badger's post is great.

 

[AJM]

All the ones that are local to me are the tube ones, I've never heard of an open one but I'm for sure going to ask around !!!

 

[Chuyi]

I thought u had a good surgeon who said no surgery? If so You don't need an MRI. Ur PT overstepped their scope of practice ur PT should have discussed MRI with ur surgeon. but if u want an MRI yes there are open MRI that are less claustrophobic & accommodate bariatric patients. I would recommend changing PT & go where they have water therapy then do water aerobics.

 

[AJM]

I thought u had a good surgeon who said no surgery? If so You don't need an MRI. Ur PT overstepped their scope of practice ur PT should have discussed MRI with ur surgeon. but if u want an MRI yes there are open MRI that are less claustrophobic & accommodate bariatric patients. I would recommend changing PT & go where they have water therapy then do water aerobics.

I should've made my self clearer, I was talking with my PT about the possibility of a cortisone injection for my L5 and she said that to get the maximum efficacy they usually like to do an MRI prior. She was simply explaining the process to me, I'm off to see my specialist at the beginning of Dec to follow up on my PRP treatment for my knee and also to revisit my back. Unfortunately where I live its a 100km round trip for any water therapy so that's pretty much out of the picture for me apart from maybe the occassional trip.

 

[ski diva]

I should've made my self clearer, I was talking with my PT about the possibility of a cortisone injection for my L5 and she said that to get the maximum efficacy they usually like to do an MRI prior. She was simply explaining the process to me, I'm off to see my specialist at the beginning of Dec to follow up on my PRP treatment for my knee and also to revisit my back. Unfortunately where I live its a 100km round trip for any water therapy so that's pretty much out of the picture for me apart from maybe the occassional trip.

I've had cortisone injections in my L5 three times -- that's why I needed an MRI (I have spinal stenosis). And though at first it really freaked me out, it was absolutely fine. They rub some anesthetic on your back before you get the shot, so you only feel a slight pinch. (It also helps that you're lying face down, so you don't see anything.) I was told the effects of the injection can last anywhere from three months to who knows how long. My first one didn't help at all. This happens sometimes, so not as weird as it sounds. The second helped for about three months; and the third, well, it's been almost a year. It may also help that I've been doing back exercises every single blasted morning. Who knows. Anyway, I will definitely get it again if I need it. (Side note: I'm a bona fide chicken, so it can't be that bad.)

 

[snoWYmonkey]

@ski diva Nice to hear the lumbar injections are fairly easy, like the shoulder ones I have had, as that is possibly in my future as well. My cervical spine injection was less so. In the OR with two people pulling vertebrae apart so doc could get needle in. At least I was on my back for that one. Stenosis can suck. Mine is impacting the foraminal canals to arms but also the central canal where the spinal cord passes through. Every run is a special bonus treat! More skiing, along with more cowbell! Always!