Dr. Michael Fox • March 4, 2020
5 Common Misconceptions of MRIs
Below are the most common misconceptions around MRIs you need to know:
Since its introduction in 1977, MRI has truly become “the most powerful tool in clinical medicine since the discovery of the x ray”, as William Bradley, Jr. describes, who is the director of the MR Center at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center (Source:
Nap Edu). However, since research is constantly ongoing and evolving around MRIs, communication can get misconstrued on the internet and in conversations with friends. Unfortunately, some of the things you read and hear are what we at Upright MRI of Deerfield call “just plain wrong”!
We are here to debunk some of those myths. Below are the most common misconceptions around MRIs you need to know:
1. All MRIs are the same. This is just plain wrong. There are multiple different types of MRIs but three common types are: open, closed and upright. In a closed MRI, the patient is completely closed in a large tube, which can often be problematic with claustrophobic patients. The upright MRI was created in attempt to increase comfort during the exam, because several people were having claustrophobic panic attacks in closed MRIs. The Fonar Upright Open MRI
is what
Upright MRI of Deerfield
uses, which 1. is the one truly “open” MRI, and 2. allows patients to be imaged in multiple different positions, including standing, sitting, bending or lying down. While other open MRIs claim they are “open”,
patients have noted it still feels like an enclosed experience and prefer the Upright MRI because it is truly open and completely comfortable, and also provides the upmost accurate results.
2. You can get radiation exposure that can cause cancer from MRIs. This is also completely false! MRIs do not use radiation and are completely non-invasive, unlike X-rays, CT, and PET scans (Source:
Harvard Edu). Instead, they use powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of the human anatomy. This helps doctors take a look inside the problem and determine what the cause is without any harm to the patient.
3. You have to go to the MRI your doctor recommends. There is often miscommunication when doctors are referring
patients to an MRI. Although they might know of a hospital or clinic for you to go to which they have affiliations with, “it’s important for patients to know that they do not have to go to wherever their doctor has a relationship with. It is the patient’s choice, and they have options. They can and should go wherever they feel most comfortable,” says Dr. Michael Fox, Medical Director at Upright MRI of Deerfield. Whichever hospital or clinic you go to, the experience will vary, so it’s important to visit one that’s best for you. Patients do however need a referral and prescription from your doctor to get an MRI, so we recommend doing research on your own first, choosing an MRI, and letting your doctor know which clinic you have chosen so they can write you a referral for it. Our prescriptions can easily be downloaded and filled out
here.
4. MRIs are only used for injuries. Nope! A lot of the time when you hear about MRIs, it might be involving an injury, but it’s important to know MRIs can test several other things. Patients can be referred to study mental conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, certain cancers, brain tumors, infection, stroke, and tracking brains nerve paths (Medical News Today,Doctors Imaging). In addition, it can detect issues in the arteries and veins, including aneurysms, blockages of blood vessels, and more (Mayfield Clinic). Nearly every part of the body can be studied with an MRI, so please note this is not just for professional athletes like you may see on TV.
5. Open MRIs are only for claustrophobic patients. Although the Open Upright MRI has had overwhelmingly positive responses from claustrophobic or very large patients, the feature that is considered the most commendable aspect of the scanner is the fact it is the
only scanner that can scan patients in any position. This includes sitting, standing, bending or lying down. So while our MRI is definitely beneficial for patients who experience claustrophobia or just want to feel comfortable, it’s also recommended for patients who are experiencing pain in a specific area because we can position the patient to see exactly what that is and accurately diagnose what the issue is.
In a nutshell, consult with your doctor before getting an MRI and choose one that feels right for you. Don’t listen to everything you hear from your friends, and if you have any questions about anything at all, that’s what we are here for. Feel free to contact us
here.
About Upright MRI of Deerfield:
Dr. Michael Fox is the medical director and managing partner at Upright MRI of Deerfield. With over 33 years of experience as a physician and surgeon, he has dedicated his life to serving others. He has participated in several medical missions around the world doing surgery and treating patients in many under-developed countries and nowadays dedicates his life to Upright MRI, where he has worked for over a decade. He and his staff’s philosophy is to “treat every patient like they are a member of the family.” UMD is located in the northern suburbs of Chicago, just 30 miles north of the city. While UMD is most known for its open MRI, it additionally offers thermography services. To learn more about UMD and its services, please click
here.
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The World's Most Patient-Friendly MRI. A comfortable, stress-free, and completely reliable MRI scan. We offer patients an open, upright, standup MRI experience that helps those who are claustrophobic and stress being in a confined area. Upright MRI of Deerfield is recognized as the world leader in open MRI innovation,
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Upright MRI of Deerfield.
Susan D.,
Highland Park, 39
I am going to tell everyone about your office! This was a great experience after I panicked in other MRI machines and had to leave. Thank you so much.
Judith B.,
Milwaukee, 61
I suffer from vertigo and other MRIs do not work. This was wonderful…absolutely NO discomfort at all. The MRI was so fast…I wanted to stay and watch the movie! Mumtaz was great. His humor really put me at ease. I’ve already recommended Upright MRI to friends.
Delores P.,
Glencoe, 55
Everything is so nice and professional with your place. I have been there a couple of times. My husband and I would not go anywhere else.
