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Original poster

MRI scan and the ring that won't come off

33 replies

MRIquestion · 16/04/2021 10:13

I have an MRI booked and I have also put in a stone or 4 two over the last few years.

I have a ring (white gold with a teeny diamond) that absolutely will not come off, will I have to cut it off for the scan or is there something else I can do?

The hospital line is automated so I cant ask the department until I get there.

Thank you.

OP posts:

Zalk · 16/04/2021 10:16

Go to a jeweller for advice. If it needs cutting off a jeweller knows best on how and where to cut to cause minimum damage/ease of fix. The hospital cutting it off will give no cares.

user1471505356 · 16/04/2021 10:17

As long as the ring does not attract a magnet it is OK, The MRI is a very large magnet.

Zalk · 16/04/2021 10:17

Alternatively, you could look up advice videos on YouTube or similar. I'm sure there must be a million How To videos.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health

stressbucket1 · 16/04/2021 10:17

What is the scan for? If its a brain scan it shouldn't be a problem as gold isn't magnetic it wouldn't be affected by the scanner. It would only be a problem if they were scanning your hand.

Daisydoesnt · 16/04/2021 10:18

I have had a couple of mris recently ( for my back) and I didn’t have to take any jewellery off.

AuditAngel · 16/04/2021 10:18

Get a long piece of thread, or preferably embroidery thread.

Take one end and force it under the ring so the short piece is under the ring and towards your palm.

The taking the long piece, tightly wind it around your finger from ring to knuckle. It will squish your finger. Try to wind it closely so you don’t have bits squishing through.

Then go to the short end and start unwinding it from behind the ring and it will pull it down and over your knuckle,

I prefer embroider thread as it is thicker so each strand covers more of the finger

sashh · 16/04/2021 10:18

Theoretically as long as it can't be magnetised you should be OK. Metals that can be magnetised go flying spectacularly into the magnet. Google images, it's quite impressive.

The other thing is what is the MRI for? If it is your hand they are looking at then you are better having it cut off (ring not hand) but if it is something like your feet you should be fine.

Do let them know as soon as you arrive.

I assume you have tried soap / oil / ice etc to remove the ring.

Clymene · 16/04/2021 10:19

You can leave it on. Gold isn't magnetic.

Zalk · 16/04/2021 10:20

You should still try to remove a too small ring though, MRI magnets or not.

sashh · 16/04/2021 10:22

You can leave it on. Gold isn't magnetic.

But most jewelry is made of an alloy, 9K gold has 60% other metals, which may be magnetic.

Original poster

MRIquestion · 16/04/2021 10:27

Thank you all, its a full body scan as they don't know what the hell is wrong with me, or where to start looking.

I've tried all the usual suspects for getting the bloody thing off but I'll definitely give the thread trick a go later.

Next stop will be losing weight (which I've been saying since about 1996).

Its white gold so hopefully I should be OK with it, I double checked it with a fridge magnet and its fine with that.

Thanks everyone.

OP posts:

poppym12 · 16/04/2021 10:27

Which part of you is being scanned? If its head/upper body it should be ok to leave on. I've had many brain MRIs and had to leave a stuck ring on in the past.

poppym12 · 16/04/2021 10:28

Sorry, x post. Hope everything is ok.

Daisydoesnt · 16/04/2021 11:02

OP I don’t want to alarm you but have you had an mri before? It sounds like you will be in it for quite a long time if it’s full body. I had the most awful claustrophobic panic attack on my first mri. For the second one I had some sedatives from the doctors and it was much, much better.

I just bring that up in case it hasn’t already been mentioned to you.

Original poster

MRIquestion · 16/04/2021 12:27

I haven't had one before, the letter says it will take about an hour but the machine is open at both ends and I'll be given headphones with music playing. Is there not much room in them?

OP posts:

PompomDahlia · 16/04/2021 12:35

Honestly, I found once I was in the thing it was actually very relaxing. It was all the prep that made me more nervous, and I had to leave my glasses outside so I couldn’t see well to get into it.

I take it you’ve tried very cold water to contract your skin and loosen the ring?

Roselilly36 · 16/04/2021 12:40

I always wear my wedding ring in the MRI, I have at least one MRI a year, never been a problem. Good luck OP.

KnottedFern · 16/04/2021 12:45

I'm a radiographer and in our trust we advise everybody coming for MRI's to remove jewellery just incase there are other metals present. I'd give the department a ring to find out. A fridge magnet is no where near the same strength as and MRI machine.

Franke · 16/04/2021 12:52

AuditAngel's thread trick should work. I had a similar problem and used 5mm elastic instead of thread. It hurt, but it worked.

notahappybunny123 · 16/04/2021 12:56

I will agree with daisydoesnt. I had an mri last year and have never had any issues with claustrophobia previously but there isn't much room in the scanner and I panicked, had to come out, the radiographer was very reassuring and I managed to go back in but it was very tense 20 minutes on the edge of panic. If I had to go in again I'd request sedation

makingmyway10 · 16/04/2021 12:57

I have MRI scans every two years and am allowed to leave my wedding ring on

Dartsplayer · 16/04/2021 12:59

I can't get mine off and was allowed to wear it on the day but I had to go in with my arms over my head so they didn't go into the actual scanner. Definately keep trying to call the hospital as they will advise

ParoxetineQueen · 16/04/2021 13:02

MRI regular here, close your eyes as you go in, practice slow regular breathing and think about something nice, they may play music but be aware that there will be bangs and crashes and the bed sometimes vibrates. You will be given an alarm to push if it’s all too much. The radiographers will chat to you so you don’t feel abandoned.

radness75 · 16/04/2021 13:21

I am a mri radiographer. We tend to keep all rings on if they are gold, silver or platinum as they are not attracted to the magnet. This obviously changes if we are scanning the hand area. If you are having a whole body scan they hands will probably be down by your side so the signal void that metal causes may mean they cannot get a signal in area where the hand is resting ie thigh so it may be a good idea to try any methods others have mentioned to remove it. Mri scanners are narrow but a lot of hospitals have wider ones now so it shouldnt be too bad. Our whole body scans take around 1 hour 20mins to do but you do move in the scanner as they scan the different parts. They should give you music and speak to you during this. They will also give you a buzzer to squeeze if you need to come out. Any questions they please message me!

hopeishere · 16/04/2021 13:27

I was able to keep my platinum wedding ring on.

It was very noisy. I agree about deep breathing. I was also gradually moved into it and by the end I did ask how much longer it was going to take as I was practically all the way in.

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