You lie still on a table that slides into a tunnel-shaped scanner while powerful magnets and radio waves - no x-rays - build the images over roughly 30 to 60 loud minutes.
Earplugs and an intercom are standard; some scans add IV contrast dye. Your only real job is staying still, since movement blurs the pictures.
What to do
Common questions
What happens at an MRI?
An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves - no x-rays - to build detailed images of soft tissue, and the experience is mostly lying still and listening to noise. You change into metal-free clothing, remove jewelry and anything magnetic, and lie on a narrow table that slides into a tunnel-shaped scanner. Once the scan starts, the machine makes loud thumping and humming noises - earplugs or headphones are standard, and an intercom lets you talk to the technologist at any time. The exam runs roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on the body part, and the only real job you have is staying still, since movement blurs the images. Some scans add a contrast dye through an IV partway through. Tell the team beforehand about any implants, metal in your body, kidney problems (relevant for contrast), pregnancy possibility, or claustrophobia - each changes the plan, and open MRI machines or a calming medication exist for tight-space anxiety. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you prepare.