My sciatica has gotten so bad that my dr wants to see if there is just pressure on the nerve or if I have a slipped disc. I am really dreading it. I'm not claustrophobic, but I think anyone would be freaked out my 45 minutes in a small tube where you have to be completely still. Plus it kills to lay flat on my back. I was prescribed Ativan to take beforehand but I don't know how much that is going to help.
Anyone had an MRI and can give me words of encouragement?
Re: I have to get an MRI on Monday...
I haven't had one, but I just wanted to say that I'm sorry you're dealing with that, and wish you good luck.
Try not to stress ... the ativan should help
I have had an MRI, for the exact same reason as you. I did have a slipped disc as a result of a car accident. It wasn't too bad...more boring and annoyingly loud than anything.
Oh, and I got to wear some one-size-fits-all XXXL blue paper shorts during the MRI (you don't get to wear your own clothes). They were quite stylish, to say the least! I think they started at my rib cage and went down past my knees, with enough room in the waist to fit me in there x3! So you have that to look forward to!
I had one last year and found out that I have 3 bulging discs in my lower back. I thought that I had nerve damage on my leg from a bee sting, but it turned out to be the bulging discs. The MRI isn't that bad, (it was a little uncomfortable bc they put something heavy to weigh down my pelvis) but they played music in my headphones.
I ended up having to have 3 epidural injections in the center of my tailbone. We did one every week for 3 weeks. The first time really wasn't that bad, the second time I thought they didn't give me enough chill out medicine, and the third time I found out that the pain just got increasingly worse bc the spot was tender.
Overall the injections worked really well, but I think I'm going to need to do something again bc the pain is coming back. I think I'm going to try a chiropractor this time.
I have had 2, one for my ankle that wasn't so bad because they just put my feet and legs in, and the other to find a bulging disc in my neck. FOr that one I was really feeling anxious about having it done. The hardest part was trying to stay still just because I knew I couldnt move. I wouldnt say I'm claustrophobic but I would rather avoid small spaces if possible. It really wasn't that bad though. I have always had a lot of back pain when flat on my back too, and the nurse actually put a little pillow under the small of my back to help. They were super accommodating - comfortable blankets and pillows, either ear plugs or headphones with music. They would ask over the speaker if I was feeling ok after every cycle it went through. They told me in advance I could bring an mp3 player and they could hook it up in the control room to go to the special metal free headphones in the mri machine. It seemed like they know a lot of people are uncomfortable with it so they put a lot of effort into making it better. I also think the ativan will really help you relax
For me it was totally worth it to finally find out what had been causing all the pain I had been dealing with. Luckily my bulging disc hasnt bothered me since I was 5 or 6 months pregnant. Before that I would deal with it about 6 months out of every 12 months. Physical therapy with traction also worked miracles for me. Good luck and I hope you find out good news!
Thanks y'all! I don't feel as freaked out now.
My dad is seriously claustrophobic and he had a torn rotator cuff that took him three years to get MRI'ed because he was so terrified. I'm thinking that some of that fear has rubbed off on me
Yeah - I didnt realize this before the first MRI I had. The neck MRI was about an hour total (would have been 45 minutes but I sneezed during one and they had to start over), but before each cycle started they would tell me how long it would be. That helped a lot.
I really, really appreciate all the well wishes!
Makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside
DH: 31, no issues
4-6/2012 100mg of Clomid + trigger + IUI/TI = BFN
7/2012 150mg of Gonal-f + trigger + IUI = BFN
8/2012 Surprise unmedicated BFP!! Due May 8, 2013