{"id":491,"date":"2015-06-10T20:32:18","date_gmt":"2015-06-10T20:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rayusradiology.com\/?p=491"},"modified":"2021-08-12T05:51:27","modified_gmt":"2021-08-12T10:51:27","slug":"insider-tricks-to-help-you-forget-your-mri-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rayusradiology.com\/blog\/insider-tricks-to-help-you-forget-your-mri-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"Insider Tricks to Help You Forget Your MRI Fears"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Every time he bent or twisted his knee, Michael Flaherty felt sharp pain. He got hurt on the job and his doctor needed a scan to decide what to do next. While Michael was worrying about surgery, he was also feeling uneasy about the MRI. But when he arrived at RAYUS\u2019s Dedham, MA center<\/a> he relaxed. The technologist (or \u201ctech\u201d) who helped him through the exam showed him the High-field Open MRI where he would get his scan. It didn\u2019t look at all like a traditional MRI machine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s almost like an open middle that you slide right in,\u201d Michael says. \u201cIt\u2019s not really tight and claustrophobic like you would think.\u201d<\/p>\n

After getting the scan, Michael described the experience as more \u201ccomfortable\u201d and \u201ceasy-going\u201d than he expected. His fears, it turned out, were unfounded. Open MRI tech Melissa West says a lot of her patients walk in for their appointments feeling more nervous than they need to be. Her first step to put patients\u2019 fears to rest is to show them what she calls the \u201creal\u201d Open MRI and explain how it works. Click here<\/a> to watch a video of the Real Open MRI experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Traditional<\/p>\n

When you look at a traditional MRI and a High-field Open MRI next to each other, the differences are clear. Melissa shows patients that the Open MRI machine she operates has no tube or tunnel. Once they see it, he says some people worry that the bulky top is going to lower on them. But in an Open MRI, the only thing that moves is the table, sliding the patient into the space between the top and bottom of the scanner.<\/p>\n

Taking a Personal Approach<\/h3>\n
\n

Techs have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. They see patient after patient who would rather be doing almost anything other than getting an MRI. So understanding your anxiety is the foundation of getting their job done. Melissa describes her approach:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe help patients in any way we can. The goal is to get them through the test. And it really is different depending on the patient the approach you\u2019re going to take. You have to really get in tune with the patient, find out what their need is. A good way to find out is asking, \u2018Exactly what are you afraid of?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes it\u2019s as simple as explaining how the exam works. When you get an Open MRI, you can bring in a friend or relative to sit in a chair right next to you. The design of the Open MRI allows you to reach out your arm and hold someone\u2019s hand for reassurance. RAYUS patient Steven Gordon expected to feel claustrophobic, but what he didn\u2019t expect was a helping hand. When he started to feel anxious, one of RAYUS\u2019s techs pulled up a chair and held his hand through the exam. That wouldn\u2019t have been possible in a traditional MRI. Speaking from experience, Steven says, \u201cAn Open MRI is ten times better than a closed MRI.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Using Distractions of the Senses<\/h3>\n

While techs aren\u2019t pulling rabbits out of hats, they do use distraction techniques just like magicians. The less you\u2019re focused on your fears, the better you\u2019ll do in a scan. That\u2019s why you get a menu of options before your MRI to help distract you from worrying. In this video, tech Bethany Allen shows you your choices:<\/p>\n