The most horrifying part of which was having to lie perfectly still for 25 minutes with no particularly interesting or meaningful input aside from an endless series of different knockings and buzzings. The KP Lone Tree office, just opened, does have a light-show in the room that gradually changes the ambient light to different colors, so that you're not staring at the off-white interior of the MRI chamber with no variation.
The most interesting item was when the nurse informed me remotely that there was just one more cycle of 3 minutes, and I counted them down and hit the machine turning off as I reached 0 perfectly.
Yes, that was the most interesting item. Which tells you a lot about an MRI.
Anyhoo, the plan is that they'll analyze the MRI to see what's going on with my back, and inform my doctor sometime early next week, which will drive whatever the next steps will be. Which is fine by me, because I'm really getting tired of the sciatica making me feel constantly like my foot is half-asleep. That sounds benign (and, compared to chronic pain, it certainly is), but it's damned annoying.
I had somebody tell me that he fell asleep in one of these things. How is that possible? How is that possible? Or is it?
Hey, it's too bad lightning didn't strike while you were in there. You could have gained some cool superpowers!
+Scott Randel I could see dozing — though with the need to stay still and the changing noisiness (though they did provide very effective headphones) I don't think it would go beyond just dozing.
But you are right — it's clearly a super-powers origin story that just didn't pan out.
Maybe you just haven't found out what your powers are yet. Have you tried biting through concrete?
Great idea! But maybe I'll try flying first, +Colm Buckley …
Dibs on your stuff.
It was in an MRI tube that I learned I am claustrophobic.
Numbness sounds really scary.
Last time I was in an MRI it was for head injury. Very interesting machines. I was trying to dope out from the sounds what the machinery was like under the plastic covers.
+George Wiman CT at max speed: http://youtu.be/2CWpZKuy-NE
Cool video! Looks like a Transformer! It will unfold itself and defend the galaxy in a moment.
Different tech from MRI though. I looked up how the machine worked and the "boom" sound is caused by 1500-amp superconducting magnets. Boggles my mind.
Does NOT sound benign, and I’m hoping for a, “Ah, this is what’s wrong and it can easily be fixed and you’ll be fine before you know it,” diagnosis.
Don’t know how anyone could fall asleep, though, with all that noise and anyway….claustrophobia.
@Ellie – Well, this definitely demonstrated that I am not claustrophobic (didn’t think I was, but …).
My MRI was less "boomy" and more "buzzy". I kept thinking that if I ever needed to improv a sound track for some sort of weird and menacing SF device, that MRI would do it.
And, yes, the numbness is scary. It's annoying (because a sleeping foot is annoying), but it also has that "what if I never get that feeling back, what if I hurt myself and don't know it" combo vibe that is … well, yeah, scary.
Any evolutionary biologist can tell you exactly what’s wrong.
You will insist on standing upright and walking around on your hind legs. Go back to swinging in the trees, like you evolved to do.
@LH – Alas, since I got married, my swinging days are over.
Um. Do you want your daughter to read that comment.
“Dad, what do you mean you used to be a swinger?”