Lower back MRI Scan, nerves and piercing

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Merry Christmas all.

Please could someone help settle my mind about an upcoming mri scan I have on my lower back please?

I've not had one before and am very nervous. Will my head be in the scanner? I also had my nose pierced last month. I don't think the material of the piercing is magnetic but would I have to remove it anyway? I have other ear piercings too, which I can remove.

Am I able to call the centre before hand (it's a Spire one) and ask about the MRI scanner? Will they let me see it before hand? I'd like to see it and also get them to explain the process, whether my head will be in there and if I need to take a piercing out. I hope I don't have to.

Thanks all and have a great Christmas x

Thinking the piercing isn’t magnetic isn’t good enough. If it is it can wreck the equipment and your nose. If they are in any doubt they won’t do the scan. You need to know. I’ve always removed mine as I don’t want them to refuse the scan on the day.

when I’ve had my back scanned I’ve always gone in head first.

id imagine they’re quite busy so may not have the time for you to pop in and see it. To be honest seeing it from the outside is no representation of what it’s like when you’re in there. It’s quite claustrophobic and noisy but I just shut my eyes and pretend I’m in a tanning sunbed.

I have just remembers I have metal fillings too, will that affect it? Very nervous.

I'm a piercer and you're jewellery shouldn't be magnetic however they will likely make you remove everything just incase

Ask your piercer to get you a glass retainer that you can wear temporarily.

Hi, I had an mri in my lower back this time last year by the nhs. I recieved a letter and some forms to fill in before the scan. It had a number on to call if you weren't sure about anything.

I needed to call as I have two fixed metal retainers behind my teeth. They weren't concerned about them and let me keep my underwired bra on. They did say that if the scan had been on my upper body I would have had to remove them as they interfere with the imaging.

I did go in head first, it is quite clostrophobic but they give you a panic button and they can talk to you while you're in there. Please try not to worry too much.

If call them before to confirm regarding the piercing and ask any questions but I think they'll be incredibly bust so may not have time to let you view. They may have 5 mins before tho to go through it with you.

Also, my results came back very fast which worried me needlessly, the nhs was just on the ball. Good luck!

I've had three lower back MRIs, two private and one NHS.

I think you will have to remove piercing. Your head is just in but I could usually tell it was only an inch or two.

I have metal in my mouth but that was fine.

You have to either wear a soft sports bra or remove if underwire.

Duration depends, NHS was about 30 mins but private was about an hour and a half. They talk to you during it to advise how long. Sometimes you can get headphones to listen to the radio.

The noise is quite rhythmic, I'd suggest closing your eyes and trying to go into a relaxed state, focus on your breathing and easy steady breaths.

I've had several lower back ones. They are noisy but not that bad. Just zone out and keep as still as you can. They'll sort you out as to pierces, filings etc.l Wear a soft bra.

Hi OP, my young DD has had loads of MRIs, they're fine, when I had one it was quite relaxing and I nearly nodded off! There are some really good videos explaining the process like the one which can help you know what to expect.

Fillings are fine, bra underwires etc are not. You'll most likely have to remove all piercings, but just give the dept a call to ask if you're not sure. Hope it all goes OK 😊

Wear a soft bra. They probably will ask you to remove your piercing. Head does go in but mine was quite near the other end and they said to just tip your head back slightly and that felt much more open Failing that just close your eyes and try and visualise something. That being said I’m not claustrophobic so I don’t know what it would be like if you are.

I've just had an mri scan on my knee and they didn't put my head in, it was up to my chest

I have facial piercing (inc nose) and they checked and said I didn't have to remove them, they did check.

If you're nervous tell your gp and they should give you a sedative to take such as diazepam.

They will tell you will happen, walk you through the process and give you ear defenders. Affor a few mins I relaxed and actually started to doze off

I had a MRI on my lower back about 18 months ago. All piercings had to be taken out. They even check your hair bobble doesn’t have any metal!

I wore a soft stretchy bra and they gave me scrubs to change in to.
My whole body was in the scanner. The one I was in had goggles that they place over, but not on iykwim, your eyes and they had a selection of films you could watch. There were also headphones so you could hear the film/drown out the MRI noise.

Definitely phone them up and ask questions. They might be able to have you with your head out if possible so do ask.

I would have happily fallen asleep during mine! I found it weirdly soothing. 😁

Good luck, and merry Christmas!

I had an MRI of my lower back at a Spire hospital. I went feet first into the scanner up to my chest. I had to remove all my jewellery, including gold wedding band and gold earrings.

It was a very comfortable procedure. The room was very chilly but the 'bed' was heated and they propped me with foam wedges wherever I needed to ensure I was comfortable and able to lie still. Once they had inserted me I was allowed to relax my arms and rest them against the inside wall of the scanner, which was padded. I had a light blanket over me and a pressure switch in my hand so that I could talk to the operator at any point. I used it once when I needed to cough, so they stopped the scan while I coughed, but kept me in the device. They gave me headphones and had me select a playlist before the procedure.

I had to take my bra off and remove jewelry. I had to go in head first because mine was my whole back . I found it very claustrophobic. They gave me ear plugs to put in because it's noisy. I shut my eyes counted in my head up to 100 then back to 0 then up to 100 back to 0 until it was over. Take deep breaths and you must stay very still so the images are clear. They give you an emergency button you can press if you panic. It makes you feel in control. You won't need it.

I've had three MRI's, the first and second were OK, but I totally freaked out on the third, I really don't know why. They got me out, talked to me about what had happened, and then the consultant came in and talked to me, and asked if I'd feel better going in feet first, I said I thought I would, and he also gave me a black out mask, this really did the trick, so if you're worried, maybe ask to go in feet first, otherwise they seem to assume you'll be OK going in head first.

Dental fillings aren't an issue, but your jewelry is. Those MRI scanners cost millions, the cost of an MRI scanner that is out of action is immeasurable, and you are irreplaceable, so just remove your jewelry.

As for nervousness, your doctor can give you a mild sedative. Particularly for claustrophobia as the tube is quite narrow. It's mostly just noisy with the magnets moving about.

As pp said you might even find you doze off. Good luck.

I had a pelvis and lumbar spine MRI and I went in (and out, in and out 🤣) feet first. I did remove all jewellery in case but the person did say my nose, tongue and ear piercings should be fine as I was feet first. I also have a permanent retainer behind my teeth but also caused no issues.
It is super loud, even through headphones, I could hardly hear their music. Mine took about 40 mins but it wasn't so bad since my head didn't go in.

I think you have to remove all metal. I did when I had an MRI.
They are very noisy and you have to lie very still. I had music on my headphones, but I think you can take a DVD to watch if it is a long scan (no good for me as I need to wear glasses to see the screen)

The last time I had a MRI the nurse checked all my piercings with a magnet that they had specially for that purpose. I didn't have to remove any of them. Hope all goes well for you - happy Christmas.

I had an MRI on my foot and ankle a couple of months ago (obviously much lower down the body!) and I phoned them beforehand to ask if my head was going to be in the scanner and whether I needed to remove my titanium helix piercing. It was no to both (I didn't even think of my bra!) and they were happy to talk me through what would happen. I also wanted to check about gel nails as I'd heard some people say it would have to be removed and I had gels on my toes. Again that was fine, it could stay.

Also happened to me on my third one! I've still not had it done because they're going to try sedating me.

No piercings allowed. No underwired bras. Teeth fillings aren't a problem.

I actually fell asleep last mri scan and was a bit annoyed when they woke me up 😀

I have had so many MRIs and have a very initimate piercing which I can’t do with removing every time so have had it replaced with a plastic bar. Which obviously is fine.

You go all the way in the scanner
its loud , but they give you ear defenders but you can still hear it.
They put a button in your hand to press if you need them .

Uf panic sets in , you can always come out

I've had various ear, tongue, nipple, clitoral hood piercings and have never had to remove jewellery once, all titanium. They will make you take them out if you don't know what metal they are though. Do you not have a pre scan form you need to send back?

Thank you. No, not had a form or a date or anything yet, just the approval that it's going ahead. I'm a bit worried about the nose piercing as I've only had it a month. Other piercings should be ok. Hopefully I can put a plastic retainer in the nose for the duration of the scan.

That's good about my teeth though as I have so many ancient fillings.

I will try and do some medication and breathing exercises to calm me down. Ideally, my head won't even be in the scanner but as it's my lower back I wasn't sure if my whole body would go in.

I had a lower back mri, I went in feet first up to my chin, I was dreading it but it was fine, I had a diazepam before going in and the lovely radiographer stood next to me as it was being done as I was absolutely bricking it!