My pcp referred me for an MRI over 2 years ago but I put it off due to my severe claustrophobia. I've had 2 back surgeries, the last for disk fusion, which were successful for years but then I started having pain again. I currently have spinal stenosis, spinal arthritis, and degenerative disk disease. Now the pain is traveling into my neck and causes pretty bad headaches. Additionally, I have a torn meniscus which puts more pressure on my weak side when I compensate. I was relieved to find MH Imaging because they have an open MRI. The reception was ok and when I asked for my sleep aid with less than 30 minutes before my appointment, the receptionist said she was just getting it. The tech, Jackie, was great! She walked me through everything explaining exactly what would happen and reassured me she would check in after each scan. I chose my music and she adjusted it to my liking, gave me a "panic" button, and put warm sheets on me. Knowing this may still be stressful she emphasized the openings so I could see I wasn't "entombed." At the beginning of each scan she told me how long it would take and made sure I was doing ok. I only had a few fleeting feelings of panic and at the end of the lumbar scans I told her how much better it was than others I'd had--much quieter, peaceful lighting, and the openings made all the difference. I took a break and then went back for my cervical scans. I became anxious when I realized my head was going in first this time and now had to wear a piece over my face to stabilize my neck so it couldn't easily move. As I moved into the tunnel, it went beyond the "open" part of the machine and I could no longer see out the sides. The tech was still very reassuring but it no longer mattered as I was in the place I'd avoided up until now, with no advanced warning, and started to panic. The sound was greatly amplified and it was like being at a construction site where the randomness of noise is startling. I'm sure this sounds extreme for people who aren't claustrophobic but it was like a 20 minute panic attack for me. I felt nauseous so tried deep breathing and imagining being on a beach but all I saw was the inside of a coffin. When it was over, the tech was still very caring but I just wanted out. Before I left, I was pleasantly surprised when I was given copies of the scans. I'm sure they will be very beneficial but wish I'd known half of my "open" MRI was not going to be "open." Miscommunication? Maybe, but it left me feeling foolish and deceived, especially when the clinic was well aware of my concerns. Given this information ahead of time, I would have chosen full sedation. Overall, the open MRI was very beneficial to me and alleviated my fears during the lumbar procedure, only. Lesson learned: Ask questions! read more