Getting an MRI
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
September 3, 2012 11:38pm CST
I saw the doctor about my lingering back problems on Friday and he has ordered that I have an MRI done on my lower back. The reason that they want to do an MRI is because of the fact that it has been a month and a half since I was in the accident and though my neck is starting to do a lot better, my lower back is not doing any better at all and they want to see if there is any kind of damage there.
I have to admit that I'm scared about this because I don't know what to expect and I'm afraid that they are going to find that there is something that is terribly wrong with my back. Please keep me in your thoughts as I have to have this test done on Wednesday. Also, if anyone has any experience with MRIs, please share with me what I should expect going forward.
1 person likes this
16 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
4 Sep 12
Don't panic. I got several MRIs in the past. It does not last long -- about a quarter hour -- and it is as easy as to have an X-ray, except that you are in a tube : if you are not claustrophobic, there is nothing to worry... maybe the injection that they do sometimes to have a better contrast, and it hurts. You will have some nice pictures of your back showing the muscles, and I hope they will find with them what goes wrong
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.@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
From what I understand, I will be having an MRI without contrast. I asked the therapist a lot of questions about it today just because of the fact that I was anxious about it. Then I get home and look at my orders and despite the fact that the doctor told me that it was going to be this week, it is actually a week from tomorrow so I have a whole week to continue to worry about it.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
6 Sep 12
I will keep that in mind and hope that when I do get the MRI that I am able to get through it with no problems and they will be able to find out what is going on with my back quickly.
@topffer (42156)
• France
5 Sep 12
The injection is the only unpleasant thing. An injection is always unpleasant, but this one gives a burning sensation and is really disagreeable. But if there is no contrast needed for your MRI, you will have no injection and you have not to be afraid. It will be just a walk.
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@audrey7 (232)
• Jamaica
5 Sep 12
I have never done an MRI but from what I have learn t,it is a simple imaging of an area of the body that needs investigation. It is nothing to be afraid of. As a matter of fact it is an imaging that gives details so that appropriate action can be taken. This will give the doctor some factual data with which to work. I will pray for your healing. All the best.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Thank you so much for the thoughts, that is something that is important to me and something that has helped me to get through everything. It just scares me to think that there could be something that is really wrong with me.
@Christoph56 (1504)
• Canada
4 Sep 12
I've had a few MRIs in the past, and they are kinda funny. You have to stay very still when they put you into this tube, but the strangest part, is the noise that they make. This loud buzz and twang kind of sound, not like anything you've quite heard before.
Oh, and make sure not to have and metal on you, including anything that was put in you, surgically. It's a gigantic magnet, so anything metal will be pulled towards it. Keep safe.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Oh yeah, I have no metal implants in my body, so that isn't something that I have to worry about. I will have to remember to take my cartiledge piercing out as other than my wedding band, that is the only jewelry that I wear.
@marguicha (223001)
• Chile
5 Sep 12
I´m sure that you will not have any problems. Your doctor wants a good check and that´s thoughtful of him. I knew you have back problems after your accident. But how bad are they?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Being that I am typically a person that doesn't complain about pain, to hear me complain about how much it hurts, it is pretty bad. Seriously, after both of my children were born, I didn't take any kind of pain medication at all and now about the only thing that is giving me any relief (and it isn't full relief) is the celebrex and muscle relaxer that the doctor has given me.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
4 Sep 12
A co - worker of mine actually had done MRI a week ago, and she also has a back problem too. She claimed that she can't move from the bed, and she couldn't even get up. She took some weeks off, and she even has to see acupuncturists, and specialists for physical therapy. Now, she has to do MRI to see if there is something wrong with her back.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Well, as you can see, I'm able to function on some level. However, I do have to admit that it is difficult for me to get out of bed in the morning and my typical day to day activities are actually impossible for me right now.
@carlfrancisregala (95)
• Philippines
5 Sep 12
I think you should follow your doctors advice and do an MRI buddy. MRIs are important for cases which X-Rays are not capable of projecting what the problem is on our body. Last year I injured my right knee, my doctor suspects that I have torn my ACL so he adviced me to have an MRI Test. After taking the test, it was found that I torn my ACL just like what my doctor suspected. Go for the test to see what treatment you will need for your back. Goodluck!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I am going to be having the test done because I honestly think that is the only thing that is going to really be able to tell them what is wrong with me. However, that doesn't mean that I'm not scared of it.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
4 Sep 12
MRI's are really no big deal. the noise is a little loud but one hospital that i went to gave me headphones and music to listen to which drowned out the noise. the other ones i have had were short and painless. all you have to do is lie down and they slide you into this doughnut shaped unit. no big.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I think that the thing that is scaring me the most about this is that they could find that there is something that is very wrong with my back.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
4 Sep 12
An MRI isn't anything to be scared of; just request some nice music to listen to and think pleasant thoughts while you are lying there. The time will seem to go by a lot faster than you think it will. 
It is better to have the MRI and see what is going on than to continue having problems and be left with your darkest thoughts on what could be the matter. As someone with quite an imagination (as my poor boyfriend well knows), I can tell you that I much prefer having test results in hand than simply being left to conjure up all sorts of possibilities in my mind.
It is better to have the MRI and see what is going on than to continue having problems and be left with your darkest thoughts on what could be the matter. As someone with quite an imagination (as my poor boyfriend well knows), I can tell you that I much prefer having test results in hand than simply being left to conjure up all sorts of possibilities in my mind.@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
That probably is something that is very true. I've been having nightmares of thinking that the car accident and hurting my back was only something that happened to show me that I have an uncurable disease or something like that. I'm sure that isn't what is going on, but my imagination does run crazy with me.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Sep 12
Most of us are scared when it comes to health issues but you just have to have this done. Disc or spinal damage could come back to haunt you later in life. My sister had several MRI's and it was okay for her but you do have to keep still. I did not know that you had been in an accident and hope that all will be better soon for you,
My neck was damaged during my by pass surgery three months ago and is still giving problems but the pain is decreasing thank God. Let us know how you do and the best of luck
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I was, I was on my way home after Paul got his vaccines so that he could start school and as we were going to get a milkshake (his reward for being so brave), I was hit from behind by someone that just wasn't paying enough attention. Luckily Paul was okay and not injured at all, but Kathryn (who was in the front seat with me) did experience some whiplash as well. She is finally starting to get better, but she is still having to have therapy three times a week as well. I'm so glad that we aren't having to pay these medical bills out of pocket because they are absorbant to say the least.
@much2say (55601)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Sep 12
Sorry to hear you are still having back problems! If anything, it's better to find out sooner about back issues so you/they can find solutions to helping your back. Stay calm and relaxed all you can . . . stress and tension just add to the pain. Be brave - I'll have you in my thoughts Wednesday!! I hope the results will actually be news of relief! 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Can you keep me in your thoughts for another full week? I just realized that despite the fact that the doctor said that MRIs were this week, it is actually next week. So, I have another entire week to worry about it. But after it is done, I hope that I will be able to say that everything is okay.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
4 Sep 12
Same reason I don't like going to the doctors. I'd hate to find out that I might have some lingering health issues.
Anyway, I guess you'd have to brave-up on this one.
My thoughts are with you.
Hope to see a discussion here soon about everything being fine.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Don't laugh at me because the doctor told me that the test was this week, but I just looked at my orders this evening and it turns out that the MRI is actually next week, so it will be even longer before I get to find out what is going on in there, if anything.
@toniganzon (72281)
• Philippines
4 Sep 12
I have never had an MRI before. I hope everything will turn out right. Will include you in my prayers.
Stay strong, you will be fine.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I do know that I'm going to be okay, I'm a survivor and always have been. But that doesn't mean that I'm not scared about it.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
That is the reason that I won't complain about the fact that I have to have the test because I do want to find out what is going on with my back. I think that getting to the bottom of the problems is the most important thing to getting me better.
@wangyong0608 (3)
• China
4 Sep 12
I am so sorry to have read about your present physical condition.My wife are often afraid to see doctors.Usually I persuade her and keep her company to go there when she feels uncomfortable.With the company of family,sick persons may have courage to struggle agaist illnesses.A person with sth wrong in the body is especially sensitive,fearing pain and something getting worse.So you should let your family know what you are feeling now.It is at the moment that you need help.Let them know your problem,they will surely be glad to share your fear.Be brave to face future!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
Trust me, I know exactly what it is like to be the one that is there for a sick person because of the fact that my husband is a cancer survivor. While he was going through his active treatment, I was with him at every appointment and I was there for him for every chemo treatment as well. When it came to radiation, I couldn't be there for him because of the fact that I couldn't be exposed to the radiation.
@jazel_juan (15746)
• Philippines
4 Sep 12
God bless you with that my friend. Thinking that there might be something wrong in your back is scary but then knowing it earlier would help you too.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I do know that figuring out what is wrong with my back is going to be the key to getting me back to myself. However, that doesn't mean that the thought of the test isn't something that makes me scared.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
4 Sep 12
Well i have never undergone an MRI but i would certainly recommend you to stay firm and calm ahead of the test rather than being nervous. If you really want to recover properly and if you want to be back in shape like you were previously then you have to go for this test. I hope everything would be fine and we just need to chill as of now.
What say?
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
5 Sep 12
I know that there is no way that I am able to avoid having the test. But the thought of being in an enclosed tube and such is something that really is scary to me.
