Harley Street private open MRI for claustrophobia

• Fasting: Refrain from eating for at least 2 hours prior to your scan.
• Hydration: Stay well-hydrated on the day of your scan by drinking plenty of water.
• Attire: Wear plain clothing without any metal attachments and minimal jewellery.

Rest assured that all our MRI scans are completely safe. Unlike procedures that involve ionising radiation, MRI does not pose any harm. Our scanning machines are painless, ensuring your comfort throughout the process. Our dedicated team is committed to creating a comfortable and relaxed environment for you during your scan.

MRI scans are a useful tool that gives your doctor the ability to see different body parts and evaluate a variety of medical conditions. They offer detailed images with high-resolution information about soft tissue structures, such as the musculoskeletal system, brain, spinal cord, heart, and digestive tract. They can even help with cancer staging. In contrast to other imaging modalities like X-rays or CT scans, MRI scans do not subject patients to any form of radiation. This renders MRI investigations risk-free and safe for all parties concerned.

Yes, there are alternative imaging methods available, such as X-rays, CT scans, and PET scans. However, it's important to keep in mind that the quality of images obtained may vary depending on the structures being imaged. In particular, when it comes to visualising soft tissue structures and internal organs, the same level of detailed information may not be obtained compared to an MRI scan and that is why UME Health recommends our claustrophobia open open machine, which is an alternative to a traditional MRI for claustrophobic patients. 

In some cases, patients may be unable to undergo an MRI scan due to the presence of metal implants, devices, or metal structures in their bodies. In such situations, alternative imaging methods may be employed to aid in the diagnostic process. However, it's worth noting that many newer generation metal implants, including plates, joint prostheses, prosthetic heart valves, and pacemakers, are now MRI-compatible. Meaning, that patients with these types of implants can safely undergo an MRI scan when needed.

You may bring someone to accompany you into the scanner room, and even hold your hand during the scan. The companion will need to complete an MRI safety questionnaire to ensure that it is safe for them to be in the room.

In certain cases, a contrast injection might be necessary to enhance image clarity, especially for body parts with naturally low contrast. This contrast solution, a specialised liquid, highlights bodily tissues, aiding in the identification of subtle differences or diseases. The injection is administered through a small tube, known as a cannula, placed in your arm. While allergic reactions to contrast are uncommon, if you experience any discomfort or feel unwell during the scan, please inform the radiographer promptly.

The relaxed nature of this experience enables a more efficient MRI due to less patient motion, which in turn can translate into more precise images. In some cases, the Ambient MRI experience may reduce the number of rescans as patients are more likely to hold still due to the calming atmosphere.

At UME Health we treat you like the individual you are. We try to find the most comfortable and easiest method for you to successfully complete your MRI. Our experienced radiographers work very closely with you to help lower anxieties, and we will tell you how long to expect your imaging to actually take.

If on the day of the scan , you still feel unable to control your fears or that you will be terribly uncomfortable, you can ask the Radiographer to stop the scan. You will not be charged if you are unable to proceed.

All medical information obtained via MRI images is analysed carefully by our radiologists to ensure the accuracy of the results. Interpretation of these images may take some time (typically 5 to 7 days) as the radiologists need to consider the necessary clinical context along with the obtained MRI data to produce a comprehensive final report.

Yes, MRI is particularly useful for visualising soft tissues, such as nerves, and can detect changes in the structure of nerves that may indicate damage or disease. Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be confirmed by MRI scan findings. The usual sites of nerve compression are the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The MRI scan can show you images of these regions from different anatomical views. These different views allow your doctor to see the vertebrae and discs present between them and identify any abnormality in these structures. The conditions that may be causing nerve damage that can be identified by MRI include spinal cord fractures, arthritic changes of the vertebrae, herniated vertebral discs and spinal tumours. Above pathologies may cause impingement of the adjacent spinal nerves giving rise to symptoms.

An MRI scan of the ear is typically done to capture detailed images of the inner ear, surrounding structures, and the auditory and vestibular nerves. During the scan, you will be positioned supine on the table and it is important to remain still to ensure clear and accurate images. In certain situations, a contrast agent may be injected into your bloodstream to enhance the quality of the images.An MRI scan of the ear is typically done to capture detailed images of the inner ear, surrounding structures, and the auditory and vestibular nerves. During the scan, you will be positioned supine on the table and it is important to remain still to ensure clear and accurate images. In certain situations, a contrast agent may be injected into your bloodstream to enhance the quality of the images.

The duration of an MRI scan varies, typically lasting between 20 to 90 minutes. The time required depends on the specific type of scan you are undergoing, and the number of body regions being examined.

Following your scan, you're free to resume your regular eating and drinking habits and return to your daily activities without delay. If you received a contrast injection, we would request that you remain in the department for an additional 20 minutes after the scan to ensure your well-being before departure. It's also advisable to increase your fluid intake to help eliminate the contrast from your system.

If you have any additional questions, concerns, or uncertainties, don't hesitate to approach any of our staff members. Your comfort and peace of mind are our top priorities.