MRI Risks

Posted On: August 5, 2010
Comments: 63 Responses

MRI Scan

I had my MRI scan with Vista Diagnostics just outside Waterloo Station, London (www.vistadiagnostics.co.uk). By this time my symptoms were 80% resolved but being a chiropractor I was aware of the feeling of low back instability and knew something wasn’t right.

How Does an MRI Scan Work?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. There is no ionizing radiation (the type from an x-ray, or from flying or watching TV). Radio waves are 10,000 to 30,000 times stronger than the magnetic field of the earth are sent through your body. This affects the body’s hydrogen atoms (those found in water), forcing the nuclei into a different position (flipping them). As they move back into place they send out energy in the form of radio waves. The scanner picks up these signals and a computer turns them into a picture.

ionising radiation

Types of ionising radiation

Mri Claustrophobia

First of all I recommend that you bring your own ear plugs as I wasn’t offered any by Vista Diagnostics. I think this is poor. I had no idea just how loud the machine was going to be (some MRI scan labs offer you head phones with music). Think night club base mixed with slow pounding jack hammer on the pavement. This is far more stressful than having to stay still or going into a tube. If you are having a spine MRI (for your low back) then you really don’t go into the tube all that far. My legs were sticking out from about the knee down. I kept thinking stupid thoughts like what if someone tickles my feet? It is a great idea to close your eyes as soon as you lie on your back before you start going into the tube. Don’t open your eyes to look at your confined space (this made claustrophobia a non-issue for me).

MRI tube

Inside an MRI

Drink bottled water after your MRI scan. There is no official stance on water drinking after an MRI scan. It just makes sense that if you are playing around with your hydrogen ions you might just want a top up supply!

Are MRI Scans Safe?

This is what I think. There is no way that having a magnet 30000 times the pull of the earth flipping your hydrogen ions around is completely desirable. We may not ‘feel’ it is doing anything but anyone sensible knows that many health problems come without any symptoms. I am not saying don’t have an MRI. You have to weigh-up the benefits and risks. We know the benefits but I am just not convinced if we know the possible risks. They don’t let pregnant women have an MRI scan and when I asked the radiographer at Vista Diagnostics why not, she said ‘because we just don’t know the possible effects, although we are quite sure it is safe.’My body got very hot during my MRI scan. I am not talking a little warm all over, or a bit stuffy but my back was hot as if lying on a hot plate just starting to heat up. I assumes this was from the energy released from my body during the hydrogen ion flipping. I also experienced fasciculations (muscle twitching) in my triceps and latissimus dorsi muscles. I couldn’t control them. I just kept thinking damn, I am not suppose to move. It lasted about 60 seconds. I have googled a few other opinions on MRI scan side effects:

I recently had an MRI, this is the third or fourth, any time I go though the anti-theft devices at stores. The alarm sounds when I have nothing on me.
Submitted by tania (not verified) on Wed, 11/01/2006 – 11:16am. My husband also had a similar situation as yours with horrible headaches following the MRI, please let me know what u found out
I had an MRI for my hand injury about 3 yrs ago and after that the first night in my bed I was hearing buzzing and ringing in my ears. The sound have been subsiding until 3 weeks ago which has become worse. Could that be a side effect due to that MRI?
I had my first MRI of my brain yesterday and I felt very weird, spaced out, and VERY tired and got a terrible migraine afterwards. I had earplugs in, but they didn’t help a whole lot. While I was in the MRI I felt pressure on my forehead and it also felt like an energy swirling in the middle of my forehead. VERY uncomfortable. I still feel like crap today.

Read more about safety/side effects of MRI scans

So there you have it. I still wouldn’t hesitate to have an MRI, but I also strongly believe that the only ‘safe’ medical procedure is no medical procedure!

Keep the comments coming. This type of open discussion might just pave the way for future research!

sam

I had an interesting experience from an MRI. During the MRI I fell asleep and was in a deep dream state. Felt fine afterwards. The same night of the MRI, I had the exact same dream as I had while sleeping through the MRI, only it was extremely lucid and full of bright colors which I had never experienced before. I also experience an amazing feeling of euphoria for a couple of days. I am trying to find a reason to get another MRI!

JENNIFER

I waited six months on the wait list at the local hospital to have an MRI of the brain so that ‘if’ they found a tumour-benign, they could finally treat me for the increased prolactin that my pituitary gland (in brain) was producing, which was tossing my usual lifestyle into disarray.
Hence, I looked forward to the MRI, so that maybe then I could be treated with something that was going to knock the prolactin down and hopefully get onto the path of resuming my once-upon a time state of health without the side effects of the prolactin.
On the 18/05/09, I had my MRI- I experienced the hammering noise to the degree where it felt like a jack-hammer in my head which increased in intensity and bearability-but decided it must be normal and why should I think it anything else as obviously everyone experiences it. That was until the noise was so sickening that I started experiencing ‘piercing/stabbing pain in my ears like a syringe jabbing deep into my ear canals. I tolerated it for the sake of finally or hopefully finding a solution to my medical problems related to the rising prolactin. My MRI went for around almost an hour and although I had what I refer to useless now (headphones) without music, I guess I always will wonder why they offered the next patient his favourite music! Anyway, from that time and that day with never any history before of any problems with my ears, I experienced the following: I felt nauseous, my ears were roaring like an ocean, I was disorientated enough that I could not even put my shoes on and just wanted to get home. My husband was there, thankfully as I know I would not have been able to drive. He wondered what had happened to me as he knew it was ‘JUST AN MRI!’. My balance was affected immediately so much so that he had to hold my arm to steady me, walking to the car. The noise persisted that night in addition to the nausea and what I now know is tinnitus/vertigo/sometimes falling sideways or forward, but hey I am supposed to enjoy this new form of life! ( Especially since the noise is 24/7 and most times sounds like the engine compartment of an aircraft-moreso when it is silent). It has been our money that has had to pay for follow up tests only to conclude I have ‘lets say the symptoms of severe acoustic shock- revealed from private testing at a neurosensory unit. The Tinnitus ( 24/7-from then until current has never left-has near abated and I have been given maxolon for nausea, stemzine for the dizziness and falling). The stimuli of trying to decipher ceiling fans, external other noises and people talking, shouting, screeching cars etc, in addition to the comforting (JOKE) sound of my head (which has been tested to reveal, its bilateral/central) is a living hell. No one is taking any responsibility except for the advise I have been given to lets say (THE MRI didnt do it, I DID!!!!!) We musnt speak out against the MRI, in fact we have been programmed by an ENT to call it ‘the event’. From what I perceive is being said, I must have reacted somehow to the EVENT!- considering I was not nervous at all, not claustrophobic and looking forward to some kind of a result- I guess it is MY FAULT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So much so, that the ENT phoned his colleagues at the hospital because he tried to convince my husband and myself that the medication I am taking for the tumour has a side effect of tinnitus! Considering I did not get an outpatient appt. to even be given the drug for the tumour until weeks after- I will leave it up to you guys for discussion. So guess what, I get a phonecall from the doctor at the hospital to cease the medication and other medications-despite the tumour and being told I couldnt just go off the drug one week and then all of a sudden’ change of mind’. To prove their point, I go off the drugs, only to blow up again like a fish and feel the effects of the prolactin again and all the symptoms. That’s kind I guess- so I cease the drugs for a month and guess what? You guessed it- MAKES NO DIFFERENCE AT ALL!!!!! Then I was labelled as not complying!!!!!! when I took the (main drug for the tumour-after abstaining for a month). I am now told I don’t need the tumour drug at all, after previously being told I needed the drug to abate the amount of prolactin the tumour was producing, oh as well as being told that the tumour is likely to grow larger without medication!
By the way, I won’t even go there about flickering lights around me. MUST BE MY OVERACTIVE IMAGINATION!!!!!!
Thanks for listening- my life is forever changed and I am supposed to be happy???????????? Who will employ me now!!!! THANKS for listening- this is the only place I have found where I guess we are all FULL OF BS! (NOT!!!)

JENNIFER

I would like to add an edit to my last entry as I did not bother to edit before publishing- the line that reads:
The tinnitus (24/7-from then until current has never left- has near abated SHOULD READ, has never abated, please excuse typo. thanks, Jennifer.
cheryl

Oh wow Jennifer that’s horrible and someone should be made to take responsibility.
My 11yr old daughter gets MRIs every 6months and has so for the past 3yrs(plus the extra ones in between if required)because she has an artery disease that causes her arteries to narrow or swell(often in same area..odd I know).
Now i’m more concerned than I was.
She doesn’t experience the same effects as you though thank goodness,she does have quite a few grey hairs and hair thinning,but not the ear problems or anything.
I will be on guard alot more after reading your posting so thank you for sharing it.
Sadly she has to have these MRIs,we have no choice since the disease can be life threatening,but I wish the possible side effects were made more clear to us before they are given!!!.

pelicanst

I had an MRI scan of my lower abdomen 3 days ago. The scan took an hour and they inserted a catheter in my arm for the dye. I am so surprised at my reaction to the scan- I enjoyed it! It didn’t feel like an hour. I kept my eyes closed to eliminate claustrophobic feelings. It was extremely noisy but despite the noise I felt very relaxed and daydreamed during the entire procedure. The most surprising aspect was the euphoric feelings I have had ever since the scan. Three days later my frame of mind is much more “up” than usual. I am glad to read another similar comment in this blog recording the same side effect of euphoria. I am keen to have another scan!

james

i just had an mri, and the technician told me not to have my hand resting on my chest, as my arm would make a loupe shape. This loop supposedly will concentrate the energy of the mri, causing your body to heat up…. i wonder if that is what you experienced?
Terry

My wife had an MRI today. Tonight we took our same walk we take ever other night through the local mall and she set off three different store shop lifter detectors. At the third store she just put her hand out and the detector went off. Called the hospital and of course they all laughed. She is not a happy person right now. She indicated the scan made her body very warm. We are both Engineers and know there is something not right. I have to have a MRI in a couple days on the same scanner. I think I will go to a differnt hospital and try theirs.
Alex

I just had an MRI today and I feel really ill. I thought I could get back to studying this evening, however I have a migrane, am nauseated and slightly disoriented, not to mention that I definately feel very tired. Not what I anticipated at all!
PAT

I had an MRI yesterday and I am having intermittent tingling in parts of my body. This is very puzzling since it was my elbow that was examined and this not where the tingling is occuring. Has anyone else experienced these symptons? If so, how long did it last?
Kev

I had an MRI for a possible rotator cuff tear during the scan I experienced quite a bit of pain in my shoulder, my arms went dead numb, my chest muscles twitched uncontrollably and my heart and chest hurt. This was my 4th MRI, I have had 3 before for a herniated disk (L 4 L5) during those scans I did not experience anything like this. I told the tech that I was having a lot of problems he blew the concerns off and attributed them to stress. I was not stressed about the scan at all I have been through them before. This was a real bad experience and I still feeling strange 4 hours past the event.
Mark

I had a brain MRI a few weeks ago and I am also setting alarms off as I enter or leave certain stores. The earlier post of the hospital laughing at these claims makes me angry, believe me it’s real. I haven’t experienced any other side effects other than some anxiety from feeling claustrophobic in the machine.
DK

I recently had a MRI and and while the hospital states they don’t know what happened to me, it felt as if I had been shocked. I felt current moving through my hands and arms seconds into the scan and screamed for the procedure to stop. After being freed from the machine, I was very confused and disoriented. Actually quite spaced out. My hands and arms tingled and felt like they were buzzing and burning as if I had been touched by an iron. I had and continue to have a mild headache, I can’t wear my rings because my hands will swell tingle and get splotchy. A few days later, deep bruising showed on my hands and left arm. My memory has been affected and something with me is different. This happened two days before Thanksgiving 2008 and I am still having problems. I’m angry because the hospital says I’m a medical mystery and they’ve never heard of anything like this. I had only to go on line and find people with similar stories. Maybe not as severe but with many similarities. I had the procedure done in another machine with no problem but I am very reluctant to get another MRI for any reason.
http://none Shari

DK
I JUST left my MRI and had to run home because I thought I was NUTS… I felt my MRI after about 15 minutes or so and freaked out.. The first 20 minutes was without contrast and the last few minutes were with contrast..
I am suffering with Endometriosis and my ovary attached itself to my uterus so that was the area the MRI was focused on. I was sitting there for about 15 minutes or so and all of a sudden I felt sharp wave like sensations in my left ovary area. Then it got to feel like snow flakes dropping sharp on my organs. I freaked a little bit because I’ve never heard of such a thing. I hit the call button and she came back in the room and said that there has been cases reported to people “feeling” the waves during the MRI. She then asked if I was ok to have the injection of contrast and I agreed ( i needed this MRI for surgery) and so they gave me the contrast and put me back in and after 5 minutes I felt a sharp knife feeling in my uterus so I hit the button and said OK i felt it again, I”M DONE… I was so freaked out..I mean it wasn’t like death pain but it was a pain the I KNEW I should’nt have been experiencing. STRANGE..omg… I have had MRI’s before and never felt it.. Felt fine after still feel fine after but it was during..very very freaky..
Adele

I had a pelvic MRI today. It lasted 25 minutes. Didn’t feel a thing. However when I got up my vision was seriously blurred and lasted for around 20 minutes. There was a BOOTS pharmacy oppoiste the hospital entrance and I couldn’t even get my eyes to focus on the sign and as you all know that sign is massive! Was very worrying!
margaret

I had an MRI scan on Monday and have sneezed continually since it!!! Its so weird as ive never experienced sneezing like it and without putting too fine a point on it very productive!! There has to be a link!!
DK

Here we are in March. Just to follow up with you. I had an MRI two days before Thanksgiving (in November) To date I still struggle with some of the effects of the MRI incident. The hospital now believes that something happened to me but they don’t know what. Read my previous post. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s your imagination etc. If you feel any discomfort etc alert your technician. Most people have no idea what to expect in an MRI machine. I have had MRI’s in the past with no problems. Something went wrong with this one. No doubt. I don’t know if there is a proper registry to file accident reports but there should be. Be well everyone

Cath

Hi, I found your comments at the library while I was doing research on side effects from MRIs, and I am sorry to hear abut your problems. Although I have had MRIs previously with no side effects, I had one in September of 2008, which lasted about 90 minutes. After 60 minutes, I began to feel like my internal organs were going to explode, and kept begging the tech to let me out He kept saying that he could not, because he could not yet get the image. I kept shouting at him to hurry and let me out, but he ignored me. I was never shown a button to press to be let out, nor did he cover my wedding ring with tape before I was put into the machine, as was done in the past, although I had requested it.

Within a day or two, I began to have terrible pain in both my thighs (which is where I was getting the MRI) , they are now very weak, and I get burning sensations in the skin on both my thighs, sometimes so severely that it wakes me from sleep. I get sharp shooting pains in both my thighs, and sometimes almost go down when they hit. I have been to various doctors, had chiropracty, acupuncture, water therapy, and physical therapy, but the symptoms do not go completely away. It is often so painful that it is difficult for me to walk, I have had no solution as to what it is or what can be done, from any doctor I have seen. I am used to having a very active life, and struggle to do so nowadays.

Have you found any solutions to your problems? Please let me know, as the latest doctor wants to put me back into an MRI machine, and have two new MRIs done to figure out what is taking place in my thighs.
I am very reluctant to do this. I look forward to hearing from you.,and I wish you the best.

Warm regards,
Cath

John Storer

Hello, I have just posted on another site when I saw this site. I had a scan a couple of days ago and have been “off” for the last 2 days, headache, pains in my testicals, back and ribs, I feel shattered and fall asleep as soon as I get home from work, not like me at all. I could “feel” the pulses through my body and would say it was all the most unpleasant experiance I have been through. Never again…….all this for a gangillion……..it definately has side effects, and not good ones…
Mark

My wife recently had an MRI scan because of a suspected stroke. She described the noise as unbearable and had awful headaches for days.

Not nice.
Nadia

I had an mri scan today. I was told it would last 20 mins but ended up in there for 40! I was fine except my body got very hot and tingly. Now I’m home I have large red blotches on my chest, arms and legs, my body is tingling all over and my chest hurts to breathe. It’s now 4 hours since the scan and I’m sure after reading the posts above that I’m not going to feel any better tomorrow!
tracy

Good to read everyones comments – thought I was going a bit mad! Had my first MRI (brain) today, and didn’t know what to expect. Was given earplugs, and wasn’t really too bothered by the ‘jack hammers’, but had a totally unexpected reaction to the sort of siren/whirring noise! Felt hot like other people have decribed, and started feeling very prickly. My cheek started to tic, and I started feeling breathless, like I was having a panic attack. I was just about to press the duress switch, when the noise stopped and changed to something else – I felt a bit better, if slightly nauseated, for the rest of the scan, and just lay there waiting for that noise to strike up again. Luckily it didn’t. Drove home yawning my head off, and have been scratching my head ever since, wondering what that was all about! Good luck all – can’t say I’ll be rushing back for a second go…
http://tiadoraanderson.squarespace.com/ Tiadora Anderson

Excessive heat during an MRI is neither normal or desirable. I had a similar experience and my findings… in my blog.
dave

had a brain mri today 1.5 hrs had vivid waking dreams or something like that during procedure have had what i would describe as pressure inside my head for last 5 hrs otherwise was not as bad as i thought it would be tech covered my eyes with a cloth and i was then able to control my claustrophobia
elisa

my mother had an mri scan today and she feels nauseated, very tired. I hope it isnt harmfull. any comments?
Jaco

Had an MRI of my spine a couple of days ago and apart from feeling slightly disorientated immediately after, I am fine. The radiographer was very simpathetic (I was initially very anxious) and the treatment from the staff was excellent. Having worked in a workshop environment, the noise did not bother me that much although I was given ear plugs and additional sponges was packed around my ears that helped to dampen the noise. I was offered a cover for my eyes, and I must say going into the tube without the visuals was a good idea. I did not fit into the first scanner and I had to go to another lab who used a Siemens scanner, the tube was much wider and shorter and that already put me more at ease. Not a procedure I would like to experience too often, but my initial fears was put to bed. Amazing pics!!!!
Mike

I had my first MRI (head) yesterday without any contrast agent. I had ear plugs, the noise did not bother me, in fact I liked it as it was a good rhythm. During the scan I felt some pressure around my eyes and in my head. However, after the scan, as I stepped off the machine I felt a mild headache and a strange slight drowsiness sensation. I also felt tired and not feeling well that I asked my friend who accompanied me to drive me home rather than me driving. I still have the headache and drowsiness sensation now i.e. 35 hours later. I hope this is “normal” and it would go away soon.
http://www.myspace.com/monixoxo1 Monique

Im 12 And I Just Had An MRI Today And I Thought They Were Safe, But Since I Read This And Had The MRI I Feel Like Vomiting.
Vicky Hawkins

Hi
I had an MRI scan to examine a cartlidge tear in my groin. There was a strap placed around my waist/hips, where they were planning to examine. Since the MRI I have felt lathargic and my muscels feel extremely fatigued – especially around my waist where the strap was. On the day I felt sick and extremely tired. I also had very little appeitite. I had it 6 days ago and I still feel fatigued and i’m finding the gym a struggle. Is this normal?
Laura

i had an MRI scan yesterday on my back ( lumber region) because of a large lump there. im 14, so i was quite scared. the noise of the machine was quite something, the noise was the worst bit. but i didnt have any side affects so i was quite shocked to read about all of these peoples experiences. i didn’t enjoy the scan one bit, but it was good to know that i was ok.
Chris Dawson

Over the last 7 1/2 years I have had over 20 MRI scans due to a very rare cancer (clear cell sarcoma) in my left elbow. My scans are normally between 60 and 80 minutes and I always have the contrast dye. I have not had any side effects, nor have I set off the store-exit alarms.

Regards

Chris Dawson
Clarissa

I had an MRI for lumbar spine. This was my second MRI scan. I stick with the discomfort as the images are so good. However, I experienced an intense temporal headache during the scan and have been extremely tired since, with abdominal pains. I was so surprised by the headache and other effects that I googled, to see if others had experienced anything similar.
Apart from the usual waves of anxiety regarding claustrophobia that being in the tube can engender (I am maximum size and it is a firm fit), I managed to almost fall asleep. I loathe the music and much prefer to listen to the machine working rather like the engine room in a ship. So the headache and subsequent ill feeling was a real surprise and cause for concern. I hope radiographers and the manufacturers of the machines are recording patient’s experience for analysis.
I would assume the open machines may cause less post scan problems?

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

The open scan machines look amazing! Wow, enabling someone to have a scan not only seated or standing (which has the advantage for spinal mri of showing what the spinal discs look like under load of sitting or standing) but also not in a tube!! Upright mri

http://womenclimbingtrees.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/mri-scans-are-they-really-as-safe-as-we-are-told/ Joseph

I had similar situation after I did the MRI early this year as well. I was having constant headaches. They detected me for having a very small and benigh brain tumor. It’s three months afterwards now, and my headache is a lot much better. The doctor wants me to do another MRI to check whether the tumor is growing or not.
http://womenclimbingtrees.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/mri-scans-are-they-really-as-safe-as-we-are-told/ Joseph

I don’t want to do it again. I don’ t think it would be helpful . He did nothing after the first one anyway. Anyone has any suggestions?
John Berry

I had a second MRI yesterday for a back injury from a fall which also caused a penile disfunction and pain in the buttock. I have also had a cervical and thorassic spondilitic condition for 40 years. The first scan (lumbar & sacral) 15 months ago I experienced pain in my L1 during the scan. The following night I had the first sign of a partial erection, when badly needing to urinate, in the 18 months from the accident. These partial erections have continued but with no sexual erections. The second scan yesterday (whole spine) gave pain in L1, in my buttock and in my groin from the area just above pubic hair down to genitals and in the one testicle. Following this I now have the same lack of PD sensitivity as before the first scan and I still have the pain in my groin and testicle. Suprisingly I have felt no pain, during the scan, in the parts of my cervical and thorassic spine that badly suffer my spondylitic condition.
I also suffered involuntary movement and tremor of my one leg.
Margot

I’m totally confused on reading the above! What point with your research are you making? It is not clear and rather frightening! I have recently returned pain left occipital area where I had to have head sewnup 30 yrs ago after m/cycle accident, resulting in gradual optical nerve damage. I am concerned as I feel I would like to know what is going on in head/base scull/left ear (wherethere has been constant pain) and of course, eyes (now partially sighted i.e. 3rd sight only) particularly with this returned ongoing left occipital area, the site of the original damage. Are you saying do’nt use Vista? Optical surgeon/consultant dos’nt seem too knowledgable on head damage. I would be grateful for advice. Thankyou

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Hi Margot,

Thank you for your comment. No I was certainly not saying don’t use Vista!! I was only reporting my own experience of MRI because I was so surprised to have a reaction to what I assumed was a ‘benign’ procedure. This had me interested to find out if others had any unusual experiences with MRI. With any procedure, the benefits and risks must be assessed and by all means it sounds like you need that MRI scan. I totally understand you being frightened and can’t believe I only just caught sight of this comment so far after you wrote it. How was your scan? Have you healed well following your accident? In health, Paula.

george

well am a young radiographer in africa and not surprised by comments.I believe it has to be e number of times one does e scans,time between scans and e type of scanner used cus I read some strange feels stop went e scan type was change
John Shepard

Had a MRI for lower back pain. The procedure was uneventful. I had a little shortness of breath, but I think it was self-induced while over-controlling my breathing to limit my movements. Also, had a warm feeling along my back during the procedure. Several hours after the MRI, I had an overwhelming need to sleep and this was at work! The sleep desire reoccurred that evening and it was so strong as if I had been drugged. That night, I woke with pain and muscle twitching in my left ankle at an old fracture repaired with a metal plate. I have not had any pain from that site for years. The next morning, I had particular trouble with focusing my eyes but that quickly went away.
If needed, I would not worry about going through another MRI. But, I agree with Paula that any procedure will have some effect.
I find sites like this very useful even if most of our comments are anecdotal, collectively they provide me with some degree of comfort. A good medical technician can make this procedure easier and they probably will be more relaxed about the procedure if you are.
Damon

Had an MRI of my chest and neck this morning. They placed a mirror in with me so that I could see outside the machine during the scan. The whole thing lasted about 30 mins. Reading the posts above, I do recall feeling energised at some point, so much so that I almost panicked but managed to control my breathing to stay calm, otherwise I may have hit the panic button. Afterwards, I went to the gym, and have had a fairly normal day. For anyone who gets claustraphobic, I would definitely recommend the mirror.
jason

i had a MRI scan yesterday and after i walked out of that room ive felt so strange…im all spaced out most of the time and my stomach hurts quite a bit, i get a few headaches but most of all my body aches and my head itches more… whats wrong with me??
Roger

I had my first MRI scan yesterday for right rotator cuff disease,I felt at ease through the process except for the burning feeling that others have described.
When I got home my condition worsened,I felt weak,very tired.tingling in my arms and fingertips,my lower legs felt like jelly,also giddy,headaches and nauseous.
I went to bed for 3 hours,then could not sleep much in the night.
Took painkillers and went back to bed in the morning,got up about 11 am feeling much better.
Was not warned of these side effects at the time,definately an awful experience.

Roger
Frances

I had an MRI scan on my heart lasting just over an hour. I am not claustrophobic and at one point almost felt like I could go to sleep. During the last 30 min I felt quite a bit of heat on my back and chest, and was told it was the machine doing its job. However, I experienced severe pain in the heart area after being in the machine for almost an hour. I squeezed the ball to notify them I was having difficulty. They gave no explanation as to the cause and suggested that an oxygen tube may help. Although I was to breathe in and out and hold my breath for the pictures; I started to take shorter breaths, which seemed to help alleviate the pain to a more tolerable level. I also noticed my left fingers were going numb (did move them around between photos which seemed to help). Once I was out of the machine and sat up for several minutes the pain started to ease. Other than feeling somewhat sleepy, even the next day, I do feel okay today. I think it would be a good idea for these places to give you a questionnaire to fill out afterwards on your experience with the machine. It may give them some useful information.
Tana

I had a breast MRI back in late September, I experienced such discomfort and pain in the chest, neck and head during (contrast nearly killed me) that I could not walk or drive after the procedure. I felt completely off for about a month. 6 months later, I still have pain in my breast bone, sometimes sharp, sometimes dull. I am an avid yogi and mother of two, so I’m wondering what, if anything, I can do. I read a Sunday New York Times article in the last two weeks about MRI burns that eventually killed their subjects, and am frightened that some permanent damage has been done to me. What recourse do I/we have?

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Wow! That is scary. I hope that as more and more people come forward with their mri concerns, that this will lead to some good research into the side effects and risks of mri. It is an amazing procedure no dispute but I stand by that the only safe procedure is no procedure. I am neither ‘for’ or ‘against’ mri, I am ‘for’ INFORMED CONSENT!!

Larry Caldwell

Wow, I thought I was the only one who had severe pain as a result of an MRI. They think I have a torn rotator cuff so they scheduled me for the scan today.
I thought it was interesting reading how someone else who had a suspected rotator cuff tear experienced pain as well.
For me it felt like someone was driving a spike into my arm all the way down to the bone. Every time the machine stopped with the jack-hammer and extremely loud bass noise the pain stopped. Every time the machine started back up there was a tremendous amount of pain that would not stop. As I say it was like having a railroad spike driven into my arm, it hurt that bad.
I mentioned it to the Rad Tech and he said it was probably just from my arm being immobilized for so long.
I have had two other MRI’s in the past and felt nothing so this really blew me away. If you have a torn rotator cuff you may want to think twice about an MRI because it didn’t just hurt, it hurt bad for the entire scan which turned out to be 40 minutes long.

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David

I recently had an MRI scan at my local National Health Service Hospital to examine a shoulder injury.Even wearing the headset it was noisy, but certainly not unbearable for the time involved.I have experienced none of the stange aftereffects the others have mentioned.Other than being a little uncomfortable during the scan I did not experience any sensations.Is it me or them?

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Thanks David. I thinks it is neither you or ‘them.’ Some people have side effects and some don’t. Pleased you didn’t!

In health,

Paula

Susana

I have had at least 18 MRI’s on my head over the last 9 years for a benign brain tumour. The first half is without contrast, the second half is with contrast. I am offered music which I can mostly not hear, and I usually am given a mirror. I am also offered a drug for claustrophobia which I suffer mildly but I prefer to close my eyes and, if necessary, rely on mirror.
Sometimes there are problems with the dye – as in the needles come out (I have very fine veins) and their attempts to deal with it can hurt very much. I have been known to fall asleep in there but rarely. I thought nothing about them until reading these items. I have felt extra tired for years and was puzzled but it never occurred to me that this could be a possibility. I have also lost strength in things that I usually feel strong in over the same period of time. I thought it was drugs for epilepsy I take (also came at same time) but each specialist and doctor says no, especially as I’ve tried several over this time. Just maybe I’ve been looking in the wrong direction …
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Hey, you have a great blog here! I’m definitely going to bookmark you! Thank you for your info. And this is **Tinnitus** site/blog. It pretty much covers Tinnitus related stuff.

http://www.align.org.uk Paula Moore

Thank you for the comment. I will have a read of your blog as many of my clients present with tinnitus. Some I help with chiropractic treatment.

Paula

LB

I had an MRI scan today. I was looking because I experienced something a little usual… I was expecting a body part at least to get warm, but that was it. I had brain imaging, my inner ear started getting warm, didn’t think much of it, but afterwards, inside my ear started pulsing quite violently, I could hear and feel it, and it was sending a tingling sensation up the side of my head. It’s been on and off all day. My GP was unable to see me about it but the receptionist advised I call out of hours Doctors and get it seen to if I can before getting an appointment with my GP.

Has anyone had anything like this before??

Also, I managed to trigger the alarm on the hospital automatic doors (I didn’t know they had one switched on during the daytime there).
chris

hi,
I had my first MRI scan today. As i left the hospital i felt a bit dizzy, I just thought this could be due to the heat inside the ‘tube’ then coming outside into the cooler air. its been around 5 hours since i had the scan and still feel a spaced out and nauseas and have a neck ache. This could have nothing to do with the MRI scan but just find it a bit strange that i went in feeling fine then come out feeling ill.
http://www.align.org.uk Paula Moore Chiropractor

hi chris,

Thanks for your post. Doesn’t sound strange at all. I am getting some amazing comments on mri side effects. My mid back got so hot during the mri, I started to get severe twitching in my arm muscles. Good thing I was suppose to stay still. As for your neck, well of course I would say see a chiropractor. I here Paula Moore is great. Hope you are feeling better.
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Thank you for another fantastic blog. Where else could I get this kind of information written in such an incite full way? I have a project that I am just now working on, and I have been looking for such information… Regards…

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Hey, thanks!! Does your project relate to mri directly?

Paula

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Hi, I can’t understand how to add your site in my rss reader. Can you help me, please

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Yikes, I am a bit of a dope when it comes to the fine art of blogging so don’t even know what an rss reader is? Think I’ll stick with chiropractic and I hope you have been able to add my site? Thanks for your interest.

Paula

John Berry

Hi, following my last posting on November 10th 2009 re my 2nd MRI scan, the partial erections I had between the 1st & 2nd scans ceased completely after the 2nd scan in November until I did a long car journey in May, when they returned.
The scan showed a prolapsed disc at L3/L4. It would appear the magnetic field in the MRI scan moves the spine joint, changing the nerve pressure it is compressing at the prolapse site, as has also sitting uncomfortably on a long journey. Unfortunately my COPD makes surgery unwise.
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Best you could change the post name title Are MRI Scans Safe? | Paula Moore The Chiropractor to more generic for your blog post you write. I liked the the writing still.

http://paulamoorethechiropractor.com Paula Moore The Chiropractor

Hi thanks for reading. I’m not sure what you mean? Change the post name??

Martin

I had a MRI about a year ago on my skull, felt some warmth in head area followed by forehead tingling, my scan lasted around 60 minutes, the scanner used was donut shaped ‘open scanner’. Looking this up because i felt some what different or lethargic a year later after the scan, I think MRI’s are not safe and put a large amount of EMF’s threw the body, probably cause some amount of cell damage or deformation of some sort. which i think can probably heal over time i.e. years or days.. I would strongly recommend a different type of imaging. P.S. i guess we have to live with the choices we make/take but the truth is the medical field just doesn’t have all the answers. I think this page could and should be more search-able URL on search engines such as risks of MRI’s and or ‘MRI side effect’s’ something along those lines.
Anonymous

I think it is nice one on mri scan I like it.
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