What is an MRI scan like? Let us explain

It would be great to go through life with a perpetually perfect body, yet most (if not all) of us do get hit by age eventually. In terms of establishing what is actually wrong within our bodies, one of the best ways is to get an MRI scan done. But what is an MRI scan like? Let me explain!

Despite being of a relatively young age (under 40 is still consider young, right?) I too got sent to have an MRI scan done, due to some back injuries I had sustained. See, a few years ago I was living a stress-free life as I was backpacking, and despite the physical and mental benefits you would expect from harvesting the land I did sustain an injury on my back. From one day to the other this started hurting, and eventually I had no choice but to seek help in my homeland.

So I did the exercises, and went to the gym, but that could only do so much. When the pain in my lower back increased, along with a more regularly stiff neck, I went to see a doctor. His diagnosis: no idea, until an MRI scan had been performed.

Prior to going in for an MRI I had been told by my GP that this whole procedure (scan of neck and back) should be around 20 minutes. I have had my struggles with claustrophobia before, but since the length was this short I expected no problems. I did take some pills to relax before, yet they couldn’t prepare me for what the MRI operator said: this procedure would take up to an hour.

That threw me off immensely, so I think that’s best to keep in mind before going in: you could be in an MRI for an hour.

Since I had to get my neck checked that meant close to half an hour of only being able to look at the inside of this magnetic tube. Before going in I had been told this machine would produce a lot of sound, yet I still freaked out when that happened. Everything was fine during the first round (as the machine goes through multiple rounds to get the right scans) but during the second round the sound started to sound like an alarm bell.

At that point I pushed the alarm button, which signals to the team operating the machine that you want to get out. They ended up telling me the sound had been standard, so I went back in. I considered splitting up the session (into one for back, and one for neck) but ended up powering through.

I’m glad I did, since the results I got back will help me to combat the pain I feel. An MRI scan isn’t a pleasant experience, especially if you’re even mildly claustrophobic. I would recommend anyone going in there to find a way to relax, whether it’s through medication or meditation. You do usually get to wear headphones, so during the last stretch of my scan I decided to focus on that, and close my eyes.

If you find a different method, then definitely let me know in the comments. I’m happy to add it.