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How to Overcome Claustrophobia During an MRI

Seeking quality medical services is among the best way to diagnose and treat an illness. Any individual’s health depends on the efforts put in seeking medical services, understanding the illness or medical condition, and getting the right treatment. In most cases, quality medical services mean that one has to dig deeper into the pocket, especially if there is no financial or medical plan. In the recent past, people have opted for diagnostic imaging and treatment as it is more effective in giving the right results. Once you have been correctly diagnosed, starting a treatment plan becomes easier.

MRI scans provide the best diagnostic images, especially for chronic illnesses such as cancer and extensive internal injuries. You might be wondering, how do I get an MRI? It is crucial to get into consultation with your primary doctor or physician. This is a professional with the right information about MRI machine, how to get MRI scans, and the process involved during the checkup. But does an MRI show broken bones too? Yes, it does. The imaging is so sensitive to the changes in bones and cartilage structure hence detecting fractures. Did you know that one can determine a healthy brain MRI? With MRI, you have higher chances of getting the correct medical diagnosis.

Diagnostic imaging can be extremely stressful, especially if you’re undergoing an important MRI scan. The pending concern of whether something is really wrong or a general fear of going to the doctor can be terrifying enough on its own. Not only does the looming fear of a life-changing diagnosis hang over your head, but claustrophobia is one of the biggest causes of fear when it comes to MRI scans. But, fortunately, there are ways to overcome these fears.

open mri

Every year, there are 30 million MRIs performed in the United States, making them one of the most common medical procedures. And, of course, when you’re talking about 30 million people, there are so many medical conditions, phobias, and worries that complicate the MRI process. Whether it’s a particular condition that bars individuals from MRI including obesity, pregnancy, or yes, claustrophobia, there are ways to get around these issues.

While breathing and relaxation techniques can be helpful, the first and most practical solution is performing an open MRI. While closed MRIs often send people into a panic due to tight, cramped spaces, an open imaging machine is much easier for patients to handle. These types of MRIs take place in an open tube and allow much more breathing space. Patients are able to see the light outside of the MRI machine, which can be comforting for some. The loud “whirring” noise still happens in an open MRI machine, but it is much quieter and does not resonate as much within the cylindrical space.

Another option that many choose is opting for a CT scan. CT scans generally are used to detect infections and abnormalities of the soft tissues in your body, while MRIs generally detect tumors, brain aneurysms, or help physicians make more advanced diagnoses. While a CT scan isn’t always the right choice, especially when doctors need to conduct a whole body scan, it is a viable alternative in some cases. CT scans generally take a much shorter period of time. Think of them like 3D x-rays that look at one part of the body from multiple angles.

Other options include undergoing a therapeutic treatment to prepare mentally for the MRI. Many doctors will usually suggest this if there is no other option to complete a patient’s diagnosis and the patient has been uncooperative with open MRI treatments.

Whether you’re claustrophobic or have any other preexisting condition that makes MRI or diagnostic imaging uncomfortable, Radiology Affiliates Imaging can help you overcome the obstacles facing you.

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