Docs didn't do a spine MRI on me because my legs never did work right. Finally had one tho. Yes it does take longer. You can get drugs to relax you. Didn't work on me tho. Be sure to ask for it.

Called the neuro & ask about the contrast. Since you are going to be in there might as well get the whole thing done.

That took about two hours. Maybe you can see if you can get something to make you sleepy? I don't get claustrophobic but after 2 hours, maybe a little. I just closed my eyes and went to sleep. When I called to make the appointment they asked did I really want to do them all at once? Or break it into two separate appointments.Did they give you that choice? I went with one, I'm not claustrophobic though.

Given that you have experienced claustrophobia, perhaps you should do it in two appointments not one.

You do go farther in the tube. They started with brain non contrasting which needs that brain cage thingy. I know they stopped in the middle and had me get up off the table while they put some kind of bracket on the table and a blanket under my knees., and removed the brain cage thingy. Then they did the spine non contrast MRI. Then I needed to get up off the table while they took one bracket out & put the brain cage thing back and injected the dye this time during the MRI. After holding still for a while during the MRI, my legs were pretty wobbly and I needed to grab the technician. to get up off the table.

I did brain, cervical & thoracic spine MRI's together for the whole 2-3 hour shot.

The first one the doc ordered contrast for the brain, cervical & but not the thoracic. I read The spine does not reliably pick up the dye, so it's hit & miss if a lesion will show with the dye on the spine.

I assumed that was why he didn't order dye for the T-Spine. He did order dye for the C-Spine though, I read that the C-spine picks up the lower part of the brain that does pick up the dye reliably. It shows the brainstem.

I only had a couple of inactive lesions in my C-spine & none in my T-spine. A few on my brain stem, but nothing active.

The next time I did this was when I went to a new doc & she ordered dye for the brain, C-Spine & T-Spine. All of them. It is just one injection of dye for all of them ..they do all the non contrasting scans then all the contrasting scans. So I had to get up an additional time to be repositioned once for going to the brain MRI to the Spine MRI without contrast. Then up again to be repositioned for going from the spine MRI without contrast back to the brain MRI with contrast & get the dye injection and the brain cage back....up again to be repositioned for the spine, remove the brain cage thingy and put a blanket under my knees to do the spine MRI with contrast, but a second contrast is not injected the last injection works for both of them.

I probably don't have all the details exact, but you get the idea you have to get up a few times & you don't have the brain cage the entire time.

See if you can split it into a brain C- span one day and the T-spine on another day. Or however they suggest is best to divide it into two appointments


So its not laying in the tube for the entire 2 hours, you get up a couple of times to be repositioned & get rid of the brain cage thingy.

Then the non contrast spine. Get up again to put the brain cage thing back on then get the contrast scan.

Once the doc ordered dye for the brain and cervical spin but none for the theracic spine.

You don't go farther into the tube while you have that brain cage around your head if that makes a difference. That make a difference for me, it's that brain cage thing that causes the biggest clautrophbia feeling...and you only wear that during the brain MRI which you have already had so its not unknown

Most if not all T1 active lesions enhancing with dye will show a highlighting T2 lesion without dye.

p. 46 of MRI Atlas of MS lesions by M.A. Sahrain & E-W. Radue

Note almost all enhancing lesions will have corresponding T2 abnormalities but in some cases G-dye enhancement can proceed T2 lesions by hours or days.

Wow, thank you for the detailed response nnyl1, that was exactly what I wanted to know!

kellygrn, I will take a Xanax before this one and when they call me about the appt date I will ask about the contrast then.

I always close my eyes right after I lay down and I DON'T open them until it's over...Having had cancer I have had nuermous MRI's and cat scan...now spinal taps are a whole different matter:~(

I've had a few MRIs for various reasons. I tend to close my eyes and practice my yogic breathing. That helps me relax and my body to stay still. It gives you something to concentrate on and the time passes quicker. Sometimes they let you have some music on two, which is a great help. I guess I've been lucky so far that my MRIs have been under one hour. Good luck!

My MRI's have always been about two hours (with contrast) but what really helps is the music. I have them change it to a station that I like (rock or oldies) and have them crank up the volume since the machine is so loud. It helps me judge the time also.

I had to have one and I was scared also. But if you close your eyes when it starts it helps.
they found out I have a lesion on my spine.

Maybe open MRI...
http://www8.healthcare.philips.com/panorama/?origin=7_us_en_openmri_google_sem

hi blue hows you
jut to let you knbow i had anther mr i scan about my 5th or sixth bt now i cant remeber now
aneyway
if they are doing abrain and spine can its ok please dont worrry ok
you dont go in much more thasn usuall
and they didnt give me an injection for a coloure thing
so please dont wqorry ok itss only all the noise in ther that might freake you okt but thats all nothing will touch you so please dont worry ok its not as bad as you might be thinking ok ill go now ok take care ok bye xx

Thank you all for the replies, and the reassurances.

They didn't offer me music last two times, but it would be very nice,I will ask about it. Something classical maybe, soothing? R&R, I might start boogeying along with it, lol!

Mark43, if I don't go in any more than usual it will be all good, thanks!