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| Located
in the heart of Springfield's medical mile, OSS offers
its patients services they will not find anywhere else
under one roof, including our own MRI. Our MRI scanner
was selected specifically for orthopaedic patients'
needs.
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MRI is short
for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. MRI is an advanced technology
that lets your doctor see internal organs, blood vessels,
muscles, joints, tumors, areas of infection, and more
- without x-rays, surgery, or pain. MRI is very safe;
in fact, it makes use of natural forces and has no known
harmful effects. It's important to know that MRI will
not expose you to any radiation. At OSS we have a Highfield
1.5 Tesla GE Short Bore Magnet. |
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The MRI machine creates a magnetic field,
sends radio waves through your body, and then measures
the response with a computer. This creates an image
or picture of the inside of your body that is much clearer
then can be obtained with most other methods.
More information about MRIs can be found
at www.radiologyinfo.com |
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| In
most cases, you can just stick with your normal,
everyday routine - no special preparation
is needed. You can eat and drink your usual
diet, work, or play sports - and take any
prescription medications you need. If you
feel like you may need sedation please discuss
it with your doctor's nurse prior to your
scan. |
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Yes. Because the MRI machine
uses a strong magnetic field, which will
move objects made with iron or steel, let
your doctor know if you have:
• A
pacemaker
• Aneurysm clip
• Cochlear implants
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A neurostimulator (Tens unit) |
• Metal
implants
• Steel surgical
staples or clips
• An implanted
drug infusion device
• Any
implant made partially or wholly of
iron or steel |
Also, if you’re pregnant, let the
doctor know.
Even metal objects not made of iron or
steel can interfere with the exam - so don’t
bring any of the following into the examination
room (a secure place to store your valuables
will be provided):
• Coins
• Jewelry
• Watches |
• Keys
• Dentures or partial plates
• Hearing aids |
Magnetic waves can also erase the code
on bank cards and credit cards, so don’t
bring any to your exam.
You will be asked to complete the OSS MRI
Outpatient Screening and History Form before
your scan will be done. This is necessary
to ensure your complete safety while in
the MRI environment. A copy of this form
is accessible on this website and can be
filled out in advance.
Last of all, you may be asked to change
into a patient gown.
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Yes,
although they will likely have to wait in
the waiting room while the scan is being
done, you can communicate with the technologist
at any time through an intercom system.
The exam can last from 30 minutes to usually
no more than one hour. |
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| To begin the exam, you will
lie down on the scan table. The body part
being scanned needs to be in the center of
the machine. When the machine starts to work,
you’ll hear some loud knocking sounds.
These sounds occur whenever the MRI pictures
are being taken. In any case, although it’s
noisy, an MRI exam is completely painless.
The only thing you must do is HOLD STILL.
When you take a picture with a camera, your
subject must keep still or the picture will
come out blurry. It’s the same with
an MRI machine. If you move, the scans will
be out of focus - and you may have to repeat
the exam. |
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Well, you may feel very
well rested since you've just been lying
on a table and doing absolutely nothing!
(In fact, some people even fall asleep during
the exam.) Other than that, you”ll
feel perfectly normal and can go back to
your everyday activities.
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