Open Sided MRI Can Help Avoid Side Effects
Standard magnetic resonating imaging machines are large and have a cavity in its center where your body is placed during the scan. Typical models have very small cavities, which is problematic for people that suffer from claustrophobia. The scan also requires you to lay down for a long period of time without moving, while the loud noise of the machine hums during the procedure. Needless to say, these things can create a very uncomfortable situation, leading to common MRI side effects such as nausea and headaches.
For those that need a scan but are not capable of coping with the technicalities of this process, an alternative you should consider is either an open sided or a stand up MRI. Both are designed to alleviate and prevent any MRI side effects you may encounter.
An open sided MRI, as its name implies, is open sided. You will not have to be engulfed in the belly of the machine during the scan. Instead, you will be sandwiched between the magnets, with one below you and one directly above you. However, you are no longer enclosed because there is open space to the sides of you – more than enough room to stretch your arms out to the sides and move them freely about. Also, there are no parts of the apparatus that will not block light out, so you will have the luxury of doing the scan in a well lit environment.
A stand up model actually acts as an open sided MRI too, with the main difference being that you are either standing up or sitting during the process, instead of lying down the whole time. This can be a double edged sword. Standing or sitting motionless can be more uncomfortable during the long procedure (although its the perfect alternative if you find lying down to be troublesome.) It could also cause more pain for older people or those that have sustained injuries to their joints.
However, standing or sitting the whole time will allow for a better look at your body in a “natural” position. While lying down the whole time, there is minimal stress put on the body. Because of this, some structural anomalies in your body may go unnoticed because they are only felt while in an upright position as you stand or walk. These types of MRIs also allow to capture positional MRI scans, which allows for scans in specific body positions that creates pain.
If you have concerns about undergoing a standard MRI scan, it is definitely worth it to consider an Open sided or Stand up scan to avoid any side effects of an MRI.
Standard magnetic resonating imaging machines are large and have a cavity in its center where your body is placed during the scan. Typical models have very small cavities, which is problematic for people that suffer from claustrophobia. The scan also requires you to lay down for a long period of time without moving, while the loud noise of the machine hums during the procedure. Needless to say, these things can create a very uncomfortable situation, leading to common MRI side effects such as nausea and headaches.
For those that need a scan but are not capable of coping with the technicalities of this process, an alternative you should consider is either an open sided or a stand up MRI. Both are designed to alleviate and prevent any MRI side effects you may encounter.
An open sided MRI, as its name implies, is open sided. You will not have to be engulfed in the belly of the machine during the scan. Instead, you will be sandwiched between the magnets, with one below you and one directly above you. However, you are no longer enclosed because there is open space to the sides of you – more than enough room to stretch your arms out to the sides and move them freely about. Also, there are no parts of the apparatus that will not block light out, so you will have the luxury of doing the scan in a well lit environment.
A stand up model actually acts as an open sided MRI too, with the main difference being that you are either standing up or sitting during the process, instead of lying down the whole time. This can be a double edged sword. Standing or sitting motionless can be more uncomfortable during the long procedure (although its the perfect alternative if you find lying down to be troublesome.) It could also cause more pain for older people or those that have sustained injuries to their joints.
However, standing or sitting the whole time will allow for a better look at your body in a “natural” position. While lying down the whole time, there is minimal stress put on the body. Because of this, some structural anomalies in your body may go unnoticed because they are only felt while in an upright position as you stand or walk. These types of MRIs also allow to capture positional MRI scans, which allows for scans in specific body positions that creates pain.
If you have concerns about undergoing a standard MRI scan, it is definitely worth it to consider an Open sided or Stand up scan to avoid any side effects of an MRI.