MRI - Side Effects

New diagnosis and before diagnosis
1

Hi everyone,

I had my spinal MRI yesterday I was in the machine for about 40 minutes. With my symptoms I usually have right sided weakness and left side is fine.

However after coming out of the machine I felt very strange. My right side was very shaky I couldn’t even hold the key to get into my locker to get my things out.

For the rest of the evening I could feel my bones vibrating in my arm but only on my right side. When I was resting my arm on something solid the arm was still but bones shaking. When I lifted my arm it was as if I had Parkinson’s couldn’t stop the shaking.

This morning I am so weak and feel like I am hallucinating and seeing things that have happened.

I feel so drained. I am assuming that all the shaking is on my right side as this side is weaker and my left side is normal

I just wonder if anyone has had this experience after an MRI

2

I wonder whether the stress and strangeness of the scanning process is to blame here? Heightened stress sends my MS up the wall short-term in a very marked way, and there isn’t a single thing I can do about it except wait for things to calm down again.

3

Probably the next time you have MRI, use earplugs and ask for the radio to be switched on, otherwise it just sound like a pneumatic drill going into your head while you’re having the scan.

4

Hi, I was wearing earplugs and had headphones on and was practicing meditation I heard the sounds but it wasn’t too bad sound wise.

I have had a brain MRI twice before and this has never happened.

It was so strange

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5

Hi, I have a provisional diagnosis of FND and not MS my brain MRI’s have come back with no legions and this spinal MRI was to rule out MS I am so confused about everything

I mean I guess it could still be MS as I have spoken to a couple people who had no brain legions but had spinal legions however I know this is rare.

6

I’ve not had a spinal MRI but I always feel a bit shaken after brain scans- as others say , I find the whole experience a bit ‘tense’ and usual go for a cup of tea and cake in the hospital cafe afterwards to relax.

Interestingly, there is a bit on ‘Multiple Sclerosis News Today’ about a trial looking at Magnetic stimulation to improve balance in MS patients. So, it might be that MRI can cause some sort of disturbance

7

Hi @Hank_Dogs

Thanks for replying. I will definitely look into that research because it was such a strange feeling. I have had brain scans before which are 10mins at most and never had this reaction but this time it was for the spine and I honestly have never felt like this before in my life.

My family were really worried as it lasted half a day and even the next day I wasn’t 100%

8

I think the whole ordeal of MRI may have exacerbated your FND symptoms.
Perhaps having a lumbar puncture done will shed more light on possible multiple sclerosis.
Best regards,
JP

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