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Original poster

MRI on lower back- will my whole body and head have to go in?

45 replies

dipsy210987 · 09/10/2023 14:53

Finally got an appointment for an MRI after months of on going lower back problems (suspected slipped disc in lower back)

and now I am pancaking! I've had one MRI before on my knee and my head did not have to go in

will my head have to go in the machine?

I'm not bothered about the rest of my body, the the thought of my head being in there is making me seriously anxious and claustrophobic

OP posts:
PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 09/10/2023 14:58

Yes, it might have to. I'm properly claustrophobic and had to request an 'open' scan when I had one. This is a different type of machine which is open at the top so you don't feel quite as trapped. You can also ask for a sedative from either your GP or the consultant if you speak to the secretary beforehand. Though that was pointless in my case as all the GP would offer was one valium!

Hope all goes ok!

goldierocks · 09/10/2023 15:16

Hi OP

I was in an accident a few years ago which resulted in a rather impressive set of nuts and bolts holding my lower spine together. I have an annual MRI check-up.

I've been in a number of different types of MRI machine over the years, all at the same hospital. The very old ones (15+ years ago) were strictly head-first, but for the past 3 or so years the machine is much thinner and the opening is wider. On one of the scanners I go in head-first but my head & upper chest come out on the other side (so I can see the ceiling). On the other scanner I go in feet-first.

Some hospitals have the special MRI machines for people who are severely claustrophobic....they don't have one of this type at my hospital.

If you're nervous, have a chat with the radiographer when you go into the room. All the ones I've met have been amazing. They can arrange for mild sedation if they think you'll need it.

Good luck!

Snittler · 09/10/2023 15:18

Yes, I suspect they will put you in head first.

My advice would be to close your eyes as soon as you lie down and don’t open them again until you’re out. I peeked once and it did feel a bit claustrophobic, but my head was also strapped down which didn’t help
the feeling. At least eyes closed I couldn’t tell the “ceiling” was 2 inches away from my nose!

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Toottooot · 09/10/2023 15:22

Yes - I’ve had it done twice for disc issues and full body was in.

Soontobe60 · 09/10/2023 15:23

You most likely will go in head first as they may well want to do the whole spine. I have had several MRIs on my jaw - after the first one where I had a full on panic attack, I was advised to get sedatives from my GP. So I spoke to the GP who prescribed 2 diazepam. I took them both about 1/2 an hour before my appointment. It helped a bit!
The other thing is that some scanners have special glasses that you wear that mean you actually ‘see’ outside of the scanner so dont get the sensation of being enclosed. These are fabulous! Can you check if they use those?
https://www.mriequip.com/store/pc/MRI-Non-Magnetic-Deluxe-Prism-Glasses-p928.htm#:~:text=Prism%20glasses%20enable%20wearer%20to,Avoid%20the%20Closed%2DIn%20Feeling.

MRI Non-Magnetic Deluxe Prism Glasses

https://www.mriequip.com/store/pc/MRI-Non-Magnetic-Deluxe-Prism-Glasses-p928.htm#:~:text=Prism%20glasses%20enable%20wearer%20to,Avoid%20the%20Closed%2DIn%20Feeling.

Shadyboots23 · 09/10/2023 15:24

I've had loads (herniated L5/S1) and yes but if I slightly tilted my head up, I could see outside it which helped
The other thing is you can actually get out at any time by pressing the button, you're not trapped which is what I said to myself
I ended up making little tunes in my head to the banging noises BlushGrin

Homewoes22 · 09/10/2023 15:31

Hi, when I had to have an mri on both hips, they knew I was nervous so out me in feet first which helped me hugely. You could always ask can they do the same for you.

Pixiedust1234 · 09/10/2023 15:33

PunishmentRoundupWithJoon · 09/10/2023 14:58

Yes, it might have to. I'm properly claustrophobic and had to request an 'open' scan when I had one. This is a different type of machine which is open at the top so you don't feel quite as trapped. You can also ask for a sedative from either your GP or the consultant if you speak to the secretary beforehand. Though that was pointless in my case as all the GP would offer was one valium!

Hope all goes ok!

I wish I'd known this!! I had to stay inside the damn thing for nearly 50 minutes. I kept having panic attacks for the next two days.

Give them a call OP. You might be given options if you can't do it. Mine never told me anything until I was strapped in but when I came out another person was being sedated prior to going in.

monkeymoox · 09/10/2023 15:40

I had an mri in 2021 for gynae problems and I had to have a full body one. I suffer from severe anxiety and was terrified. My doctor prescribed me a strong sedative - not diazepam it was stronger than that (can't remember the name) and they were great.

It does seem to feel like you're in there forever but the machine does move up and down your body (or it did for me), so you aren't always enclosed. You get music too so I just concentrated on that.

Wishing you the best x

Xrayspeccyspecs · 09/10/2023 15:41

Your best bet is to give them a call and see - you might even ask to visit the scanner before hand if practical to put you at your ease. Modern scanners are less confined than older ones and as another PP says, the prism glasses are great. Scans are also quicker these days. A word of warning though - the radiographers will definitely not be able to give you any sedation; GPs are also reluctant to prescribe a one off dose. Ask for some music to distract you, and focus on the fact that you will be one step closer to a diagnosis and getting better 😊

gamerchick · 09/10/2023 15:41

Close your eyes before you go in and keep them closed. Dont open them under any circumstances. I'm horrendously claustrophobic and it was the only way I could get through it

Floralnomad · 09/10/2023 15:42

My sister had one for disc issues in her lower back and went in feet first and my husband had one last week for prostate ( pelvis ) and that was feet first .

KnightError · 09/10/2023 15:48

I have had various MRIs of my lower back over the past 10 years. After the first one, for which I was fully unprepared and which completely traumatised me, I've always had Diazepam prescribed - one the night before, one on the morning, and one an hour before the scan (unless the scan is in the morning). I now look forward to MRI scans. Grin

CrystalMaisie · 09/10/2023 16:12

I had one on my hips and lower back 4 years ago, feet first and my upper body didn’t go in.

Jifmicroliquid · 09/10/2023 16:13

I went in head first on the one on my lower back.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 09/10/2023 16:38

They play music while you're in and they can put what you like on. The last one I had I requested the How to Train your Dragon audiobook and they found it for me 😆 . So I lay back, shut my eyes and listened to David Tennant for half an hour.

OldTinHat · 09/10/2023 16:42

I've had several MRIs, most recent was 3yrs ago, for the lumbar region. I've always gone in head first.

I have another one next month for my neck.

Hate, hate the things!!

littlebirdieblu · 09/10/2023 16:54

I've had several for my lower back, the last one in Feb this year, always a full body with head going in first. My advice is to keep your eyes closed and concentrate on your breathing, it's very noisy too, so I found focusing on keeping my breathing calm really helps.

Gymmum82 · 09/10/2023 16:56

Yes. I’ve had several on my lower back and every time you go in head first so your head stays in.
They give you headphones. It’s still very loud though

Vinorosso74 · 09/10/2023 16:57

I've always gone in feet first but not had a lower back MRI (had 1 breast and 2 liver). I thought I'd have to go right in for the liver but I didn't need to; they sort of arranged the pillows so I could see above and behind the machine which made it ok.

justasking111 · 09/10/2023 17:48

Feet first both times. Took under twenty minutes. I had noise cancelling headphones so it wasn't too bad sound wise. They'll want to check your whole spine which is a good thing

HarryBlackberry1 · 09/10/2023 18:00

I had this done a year ago. Head first and whole body. They had to pull me out the first two tries as I was panicking. Third go was ok. I wore an eye mask, and what helped massively was my husband held my feet the whole time. It kept me grounded and I knew that he could pull me out at a moment's notice! Also listened to Oasis throughout! Good luck.

Growlybear83 · 09/10/2023 18:03

I've had three lower back MRI scans in the last 18 months and my head and full body went into the scanner each time. I understand thst some hospitals have open scanners for people who are really claustrophobic.

booktokbear · 09/10/2023 18:04

A tip is to keep really still. If you move it ruins the image and they have to redo that bit so would take longer.

The radiographers can't give sedation themselves.

AprilMayBeJune · 09/10/2023 18:14

the thought of my head being in there is making me seriously anxious and claustrophobic

@dipsy210987 I’m incredibly claustrophobic so when I needed an MRI on my lower back they simply put me in feet first. The tunnel actually takes images too so it meant I didn’t have to go all the way into the machine and my head was just in the entrance of the tunnel.