Loud noises during mri

[jackier]

Hi guys. What's the purpose of the extremely LOUD noises during in an MRI? Had 1 this morning & I am still wiped out. Understand seizure activity in the brain & all, but I thought that was what the EEG was for. thought the mri was more for tumors etc. So again what purpose does the loud (putting it nicely) sounds serve? Sorry for the spelling but I can't stand looking at my screen. Been wearing sun glasses since I woke up from a 3 hr nap.

[Silat]

An MRI works by creating a magnetic field that's many many times stronger than the earths magnetic field.

As the magnetic field of the earth changes, due to the rotation of the planet plus outside influences such as the sun, the MRI machine has to adjust the magnets inside to negate the outside "noise" so they can get a clear picture.

The movement of the magnets and such inside the MRI machine is what makes some of the loud noises.

It also gets turned on and off periodically during the procedure while the movements occur, so some of the noise is the machine being turned back when another image is taken. It has to realign itself and during that process, they shut off power to the magnets.

Unfortunately, they can't really get rid of those sounds... so instead they're working on a headset which cancels them out that people will be able to wear as they are in the machine. It has some promise, but it's difficult to make something such as a headset which won't interact with the massive magnetic field.
Edit: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/105071.php

[jackier]

Thanks for your response, Silat but these noises were not just the machine. It was almost like they wanted me to have a seizure, so I starting singing to myself, concentraiting on the lyrics so I wouldn't think as much about the assaulting nerve crushing booms or high pitches, or pulsating noises. I counted backwards-I called on everything . At one point the tech said you're moving too much. I started to say this is nothing wait til I have my seizure.

[Rae1889]

all those sounds are a normal part of an MRI. I was in the room for my dad's MRI on his hips and this noise is still there.

The high pitch noise is magnets inside positioning. They move with the help of belts and that creates the squeal. The thunking is the magnets hitting the inside chamber when the take images. Sometimes this sounds like some sort of rap beat. Its very louD

[jackier]

That's odd Rae, because my dad took me to have the test done & on the way home I was telling him about the noises. He had a MRI on his prostate & said he didn't hear anything. But anyway, today's a new day. Thanks for listening.

[Silat]

There are multiple kinds of MRI scanners.
Some are "open" and those tend to be more quiet.
The "closed" MRI machines, where you're basically shoved into a tube, are typically the loud ones.

[CathyAnn31]

Yea my MRIs were very noisy despite the cheap plastic headphones and heavy metal music, lol.

[Nakamova]

My MRIs were also the head-banging variety. They give you headphones to somewhat muffle the noise though.

[travel bug]

I also think that older machines are much louder than newer models. I've had more than my share of MRI's, all of the same area, done in several different machines. The last few have been done at the brand new local hospital with an equally new MRI machine; it's muuuuch quieter than any of the others.

[Endless]

Hi, All.

Thanks so much for asking about this. I learned a lot when I googled it and read an MRI webpage.

I was told open MRI's don't have as good a resolution as the newer model closed ones. Don't know if that's true, but one of my neurologists said it. There are all kinds of different strengths of machines that give sharper or fuzzier images, in addition to being open or closed. I don't understand it.

Don't fall asleep or sing during your MRI. If you fall asleep odds are you will move, even imperceptably. Singing and moving your jaw (and therefore your head) around isn't a great idea either. The MRI image won't be as sharp. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Everything you ever wanted to know about MRI noise, though you have to scroll down a bit within the linked webpage.

http://www.mrisafety.com/safety_article.asp?subject=180

[travel bug]

Everything you ever wanted to know about MRI noise, though you have to scroll down a bit within the linked webpage.

Thanks Endless, this is an interesting article I found what I think might be the explanation for my recent (relatively) quite MRI's...but I've forgotten already. I'll have to re-read more carefully. But I guess it's not because the machine was newer.

Strangely, I'm not bothered by the noise. I find the confinement more unnerving, and focus on the noise as a distraction.

[huskymom]

Every MRI I have ever had, I slept through. Something about those things, even the loud sounds, I go right to sleep. So far, they have all included the head cage with padding, so there has been no movement. Maybe some day they will come up with one that is silent

[Emee]

Some people do have seizures during an MRI. I felt like I was about to have
one the whole time I was in the machine. The MRI I had was several years
ago & lasted over an hour. I swore I would never have another one.