[dw1]

I've had several MRI's over the years, most of which involved my head going in the tube with headphone or earplugs. In the past, the MRI's were for (BPH), shoulder rotator cuff (presurgical), and checking for a potential concussion or subdural hemotoma.

After the check for concussion, I got a call from my primary care physican who told me "...we looked in your head and saw nothing." Seriously. My wife still finds that amusing (and in her opinion - accurate).

Most recently, I've had MR exams pre & post cranial neurosurgery. For these, the head going into the MRI and being immobilized (with a kind of support brace) was important.

The closeness of the tube never bothered me (kind of vaguely reminding me of a bunk I had aboard a Navy ship many years ago and/or the many times spent working under a car) nor did the noise. In fact my brain assembles the noises into some sort of avant-garde minimalist music like some of the works by Philip Glass or other composers in that genre.

I mention all of this to suggest potential coping mechanisms for those who suffer having this type of exam. (BTW, I believe the suffering is real.)

BTW, I strongly agree with the above comments regards closed vs open MRI. Open MRI just doesn't show the details close ones do, in fact, my neurosurgical staff specifically prescribed a closed MRI having at least a certain minimum field strength.