When your doctor told you that you need an MRI, did you cringe or become immediately concerned? Being concerned about the health problem the MRI is meant to detect is one thing. Being concerned about the MRI itself is a different matter, entirely. Chances are that you're only worried because you've heard one of these myths about MRIs. The good thing is that these scary myths are not true!
Myth: MRIs expose you to too much radiation.
MRIs are often seen, to those outside the medical profession, as extra powerful x-rays. As such, you may be concerned that if x-rays expose you to a little radiation, MRIs will expose you to a lot of radiation. This is not the case at all. MRIs do not even use radiation. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. They use the concept of magnetism and radio waves to generate images, so you do not have to worry about radiation exposure, an increased risk of cancer, or anything else along those lines.
Myth: People who have had joint replacements should not have MRIs.
Because MRIs rely on magnetism, you may figure you cannot or should not have one if you have a metal joint replacement or screws in one of your joints. But the thing is that most medical devices are made with non-magnetic metals that will not react to the MRI machine. People with certain types of pacemakers cannot have an MRI, but if you've had a joint replacement or a dental implant, you should be just fine.
Myth: Undergoing an MRI is really hard.
Yes, to undergo an MRI, you do need to lay still inside the scanning machine for about a half-hour -- sometimes a bit longer. However, this procedure is not nearly as difficult as you might have heard. While you do not want to wiggle around, your doctor will not need to stop and restart the machine after every little flinch or tickle. And there are a lot of things you can do to stay relaxed and make the process easier, like listening to music or your favorite podcast. It won't feel much different than lying down to take a nap.
If your doctor has recommended you have an MRI, there is no reason to be apprehensive. Most of the negative information floating around about these scans is not even true. If you have any additional concerns, bring them to the attention of your doctor. Reach out to a center like Hudson Valley Imaging for more information