Magnetic Resonance Imaging

So, after fighting serious back pain, I went to my doctor (weird to say that since I haven't had one in over ten years), and the concluded I needed an MRI. Now as far as I knew, an MRI was just a really expensive XRay. And for the most part, I am right. Except I never want to do it again. I arrived at the "Imaging" center and they promptly took me in, took off all metallic items and went into the room with the machine.

First off I heard this constant chirping noise and the technicians laughed and said it was "just birds". Ugh. Then they asked me to lay down on my back. Yeah. The same back that is killing me. So I roll over onto my back and wince as I try and get comfortable. They put pillows under my knees and under my head. They then tell me that I need to bring my arms over my head, for the whole scan. Wow. Ok. Ow. Then they wrap my mid section in some heavy wraps. And then they move me in. They realize I am too far forward and tell me I need to scoootch down about 10 inches. So, using every muscle that kills me in my back, I move down 10 inches. Wincing the whole time.

Then to my surprise. They put ear plugs in my ears. Thats right, ear plugs. Apparently, the "birds" get louder.

So I get slid back in and with arms over my head, I hear the strangest grinding sounds. And they never stop. So for the next 40 minutes, I am in pain, uncomfortable and my ears are plugged. But the craziest part, it only felt like 10 minutes.

Anyways, I will know the results soon. But I never want to do that again.