An MRI and Country Music
By: WUTR Eyewitness News
Updated: March 16, 2012
Jordan
Canfield isn't a D.J., but he will pull out any musical tune he has on
hand, if it makes
this part of the day a little easier for those who come through the
door. Canfield is an MRI Tech at Little Falls Hospital. "While you are
in the MRI machine we can offset that (nerves) by giving you something
like ear plugs or music. It help put you at ease
a little bit," says Canfield who has a pile of C.D.'s he keeps in his
office.
Canfield
knows firsthand that the MRI machine makes some people nervous, even
though you won't
feel anything going through the scan. The test can provide vital
information to doctors when diagnosing anything from torn ligaments to
brain tumors to cancer. "You can see the whole spine all the little
nerve fibers, all the exiting nerve routes you can make
them out clearly." Essentially the scan is a 2D projection of a 3D
image. The most important part of the scan is that patients hold still
through the exam, which varies in time but typically last anywhere from
20 to 35 minutes.
As
a professional Canfield knows what is on patient's minds when they come
for an MRI. His profession
hits close to home. In fact his family has partly inspired his career.
"My mother and my father both have had MRI's before, and my mom is
extremely claustrophobic," says Canfield.
In
the faces of his patients he knows all too well the support they need,
and he's there for them
just like family, "When I get someone scared, and I'm able to make them
feel comfortable and get them a good quality test it is very
rewarding... when they come out and say thank you, you did such a good
job."
So whether it is reassuring those who've had joint replacements, that the scan is safe, or putting
on country music, he says it is all just part of the job in the field of medicine.
