The least powerful MRI possible please

Hello to all!! I'm still very new here, undx'd of course. Just wanted to share my experience with my first spinal MRI I had a few hours ago. O.k., first, I'm horribly claustrophobic, which I had forgotten about because I haven't had an attack in years - I got a good reminder of it when I went for my 1st brain MRI in November at the local hospital and couldn't complete it because I completely freaked out. So, my 1st brain MRI was later taken (one week later) on an open MRI machine at the Mayo clinic - better, I did it anyway.

So this afternoon, I go into this imaging center for an open MRI, and after reading so much on this forum regarding how a powerful MRI is so important for showing up lesions for MS, I was feeling confident because I knew for sure that that this machine would surely be top notch (3.0) because this imaging place is practically brand new (only been opened for 5 years).

As I'm laying there today, waiting for the radiologist to get me set-up, I asked (because I just wanted to be extra sure that I was going to be getting the high-tech imaging)  what the machine's power was, and his answer was:

.7!!!! Yes, that is a "point" 7 I typed there folks - and my response was "Oh, it's not a 1.5 (at least)?" And he responded with "Oh no, but the hospital has a 1.5."

I didn't even know MRI's could be at that level!!!!!!!!

O.k. - that machine at the hospital I was in during my first failed attempt was like a coffin, and it looked old, old, old!!!!

For the rest of my testing, I wasn't even upset - just highly amused at myself because it is so typically me to think I am really on top of something, just for it to turn around and for me to see I'm actually nowhere near on the top of anything!!

Well, here's another example of why there seems to be some truth in those sayings that have been around forever, but we have no idea where they came from: never judge a book (or MRI machine) by it's cover.

P.S. - the episode so threw me off that I didn't even bother to tell the radiologist that he forgot to do the eval. with contrast. Guess I'll be seeing him again soon.

Hope everyone has a good night - Shannon

[jensequitur]

Yup, the open MRIs tend to be .5 to .7 Tesla.  Good enough for checking spinal problems, but not so hot for finding those lesions.

[Quixotic1]

In the McDonald Criteria, the minimum recommended MRI power for diagnosing MS is a 1.0.  That is specified.  I think that is the source.  The article is under my recliner somewhere.  But, the 1.0 is the real deal.  Somebody goofed!!

Q

[slightlybroken]

Yep! I had similiar situation. My first MRI was done on an 1.5T without contrast. When the doc saw the lesions, I was referred to a neuro. The problem was that the neuro kept sending me to an "high field" open MRI.

After doing a little research on the web and asking for advice, everyone said the same thing. Open MRIs are not good for detecting MS lesions. I went on the web site for the open MRI place where I had been going to, and found out that it was only a 0.7T strength. They said on the website, of course, that combined with other stuff it was comparable to a 1.3T and gave pics close to a 1.5T but somehow I doubt it.

Needless to say, I'm going to go to a different neuro who has the knowledge to use a better machine.

I know that your claustrophobic but you need to have it on a closed machine if you want any accruate answers. You can always ask for a sedative before taking the test to take the edge off but make sure you have someone to drive you home.

[MCBCON]

I always take something to relax me before going for an MRI.  I have my nuerologist prescribe a valium for me.  It makes the whole MRI experience more tolerable.  I am abit claustrophobic as well.

[Deb61]

My 1st MRI on an open MRI machine without contrast was negative.  The other MRI's since, have been positive.  The machine does make a difference!

[hbananas]

They gave me really good earplugs at the most recent place I went with the 3T, and I fell asleep in the tube during the scans.  Not claustrophobic, but I have crummy veins, so the contrast injection is always a treat.
Holly

[CtResident]

How far apart were your MRI's??

Suzanne

[nikki861]

I had my spinal MRI done today. I always have to take something to relax me also. I asked the tech what strength the machine was. It's a 1.5T. Since it's an imaging center I really thought it would be stronger. It was done with and without contrast.
Please pray this finally gives us some answers.

Hugs to All
Beth

[Deb61]

My first MRI was probably about 2 years ago (about October 2005, I think).  I was having lots of headaches and dizziness.  The doctor wanted to rule out a brain tumor or stroke--MS wasn't on the radar at all.  

The second MRI was done in July 2007, and I was diagnosed with demyelinating disease.  In January/February 2008, I had another MRI and was diagnosed the day of the MRI with MS (neurologist pulled up MRI on the computer).  

[CtResident]

I had an MRI and an MRA in 2003 for headaches, which were what I called "aches of the head", they were a squeezy feeling, as if a hairband was too tight. Not a true type of headache?

Anyway, I went to a neuro in January, he said "I need the other MRI's to compare them." So I went to the first hospital, not a long drive mind you, but a bit out of my day, and I HAND-CARRIED them to the neuro, they were not on CD's back then. I have these huge films, and the receptionist tells me I canNOT drop them off early (I was there on a Tuesday for the EP's, my next appt. with him was that Thursday).

So I hand carry these things in again on Thursday......and I am 99.9% sure he didn't even look at them. He seemed to be reading the current radiology reports right then and there as I was sitting in the room.

What is my point? I have MRI-Reader's-Jealousy. You got your films compared.

Lucky duck! :-(

Suzanne

[Deb61]

My neuro always reads the MRI himself.  He'll look at what the radiologist says (that last time he didn't give the radiologist time to do the report, though), but he always takes a look for himself.  

MRI's are compared easily now, with the two images placed on the computer at the same time.  I kept hearing him say, "This wasn't here last time . . . that wasn't there . . . you see, this is bigger . . . "  The computer definitely helps make things clearer.  Maybe when you get your next MRI, you'll have something easier for the neuro to compare?????  Personally, however, I wouldn't go back to that last neuro you went to based on what you said about your last visit.  However, it's great to have the same place to have your MRI's done at, because of this cool feature of the split screen MRI comparison.    

Deb

[CtResident]

That was the first neuro. He's out of the picture (no pun, lol).

The next one was an MS neuro. She's out of the picture.........

And now I finish my last week of taking iron tablets to see if things are related to a ferritin deficiency.

Suzanne
(who says 3 is her lucky number!)

[monotreme]

If you can, since you have to have the MRI done with contrast, could you go  to the hospital and have it done??  
Most neuros complained that the 0.7 MRI films Craig had done are "squirrel-ly" pictures and very poor quality for seeing lesions.  He had spine MRI's done on a 0.7 MRI.

Elaine