MRI, short for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is safe and painless. An MRI combines a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses, and sophisticated computers to produce multiple images of muscles, joints, spinal structures, and internal organs. MRIs allow providers a view soft tissue, including muscles, fat, and internal organs. Your provider may order an MRI as a complementary procedure to other diagnostic exams such as x-ray, CT scans, or nuclear medicine. For certain MRI studies, we may inject a contrast dye to better view parts of your body.
Patients getting an MRI at Northern Light Health are asked a series of questions before the exam to be sure they do not have metal in or on their bodies. You will be asked to remove coins, wallets, clothing with metal on it, and certain types of jewelry before the scan.
Our imaging teams want to make you as comfortable as possible throughout your MRI. The MRI machine makes a loud repetitive knocking noise, and patients can listen to music or wear ear plugs to muffle this noise.
MRI Exam Preparation Instructions
The following resources are guidelines to help instruct and prepare patients for their imaging procedures.
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