Having an MRI? Don’t expect pain

A trip to the doctor is a big enough hassle without having to deal with a fear of the unknown. Having a procedure for the first time can fill a patient with dread.

For the uninitiated, here’s a short lesson on the MRI and what to expect.

Purpose: A noninvasive way to examine tissue more thoroughly than with X-rays.

How it works: Powerful magnetic fields and radio waves take pictures of the body. The magnetic field forces hydrogen atoms in the body to line up, and when radio waves are bounced off the atoms, images are produced.

What’s involved: The patient lies on a table that slides into the cylindrical MRI machine. Small devices (“coils”) are sometimes placed around a particular area to be examined; they help receive the radio waves.

Duration of exam: From 25 minutes to more than an hour.

What to wear: Comfortable clothing and earplugs.

Restrictions: Don’t wear anything metallic – jewelry, glasses, wristwatch, etc. They can give a false reading or even damage the equipment. You may have to fast before the test. People with certain implants cannot have an MRI.

Pain level: It’s painless.

Worst part of procedure: Having to lie absolutely still in a severely cramped space. If you’re claustrophobic, ask about an open MRI, which isn’t as confining. The noise – loud, electronic zapping sounds – is bothersome even with earplugs.