Breast MRI Pain

Bb4th

I am sorry to hear about these bad experiences. I just had my first MRI and the tech was so nice and while it was awkward to stay that way for 20 minutes the padding helped my sternum. I am overweight w large breasts as well but it wasn't bad. This MRI place was across the hall from a breast care center so perhaps they do them more often. My results were negative which was good.

Lady0000

I agree with you, I just had a breast MRI today and it it was very uncomfortable, the way you have to lay. My breast bone hurt a lot. The nurse just said "Well some people are more sensitive than others". Not the best answer.

JackieJJ

Hello - so grateful for your post as now know not just me.

Just had my breast MRI today.

As have had a previous normal MRI on my back not worried in the slightest. Had read the guidance which gave no mention of any pain. However I found lying on my chest was unbelievably uncomfortable as full pressure was pressing on my lower ribs. As such found breathing difficult. The radiologist tried to help with some padding but just really needed to grin and bear it.

By the end was feeling light headed and grateful when finished.

On getting dressed not only those sexy marks round my face from position but also large red square impression on my chest(not boobs). Needed to sit down for half an hour to feel better. Feel much better now though very tired and didn't manage to go back to work after. Plus chest aches when sitting upright.

Not sure if required to do scan again in future as new to breast cancer however prewarned is forearmed so will be making sure as much padding as possible in future.

trudym

Hi Jackie - 

Thanks for the laugh about the "sexy red marks round my face."  We find humor where we can get it, huh?  I am sorry you had such an experience.  Ironically I am going to be insisting on getting an MRI when I go for a second opinion as I am currently being pressed for full surgery on what appears to be scant likelihood of a problem.  I want more info first and after reading posts by djmammo - he is a Radiologist and his kind but straightforward posts are invaluable - I feel comfortable putting on the brakes and getting more tests.

That said, I had an MRI about 10 years ago and I had heard that it was often a painful experience.  This was before the opioid crisis and I had a few Vicodin left over from a root canal earlier that year.  My husband was driving me so I took one of them about an hour before the procedure and, since I am one of those people who gets loopy if they take so much as a Benedryl, I pleasantly dozed through it.  This is a VERY different time however.  The last time I had any dental work done, the strongest thing on offer was 600 mg Motrin!  So I will be going in to this MRI fully awake and aware.  And although I have large breasts I do not have any padding on my ribcage or hipbones.  I suspect that I have an unpleasant experience ahead of me.  It is, however, VASTLY preferable to the "probably a bit larger than a golfball" amount of breast tissue that my current Pathologist/Radiologist team is telling me must be removed from my breast in order to determine whether there is a problem or not.  I'll take some recoverable pain in order to get more definite answers without having to have life changing surgery!

I hope that you are feeling better.  You are a tough lady to go back to work afterwards.  Good for you!  I love my work too and I admire people who are committed to their work.  I will cross my fingers for you that you get good results.  I see that you just joined the board like I did so you are new to this too.  Hopefully this will be a short journey for both of us and we can return to being supporters rather than ones who need support.  All the best to you!

cattledoglv

I just told my husband how I feel so much better knowing I’m not the only one who struggles in these torture chambers. I’ve had three MRI’s in the last 18 months and I think I’m gonna demand ultrasounds next time 😂

magsielee

I experienced the same discomfort yesterday for my first MRI. I kept telling the technician that between my breasts and my sternum was very uncomfortable and I knew after 40 minutes it would be much worse after having to be very still. I can't remember now but I think what you are lying on is a narrow section so a lot of your weight is lying on it. After about 10 minutes I felt so much pressure I felt like I was going to pass out. I don't know if the MRI machine was just old but the padding was awful around my face also. I pressed the panic button and she told me if I could hold out it would be over in 2 minutes. Luckily with breathing and prayer I did just that. I'm not an overweight person but I cannot imagine someone who is heavier than me lying on it for very long. The technician told me that I won't get comfortable. Today I am so sore all over below my breasts and I feel like my ribs are bruised. I will probably be bruised by later today. Surely there's got to be a better way to perform a breast MRI to make if more comfortable. I'm not claustrophobic and loud noises don't really bother me and I've always been told that this is the worse part. That part was minor compared to the rest of it. I don't really like to complain I just want tolet others to be aware that it is not painless. I've looked at other pictures online of breast MRI machines and I think that the part on your stomach and under breasts is full across and not just a T shaped piece. Check it out before lying down.

Moderators

Dear magsielee,

Welcome to the BCO community and thanks for sharing your story. We hope that you feel better from this and have good results.

The Mods

PeppermintPatti

Had my very first breast MRI this am. I took an Uber to and fro. Did not know how I'd feel after, so took the Uber. What a "facocta" method! I YouTubed the procedure and watched it about 6x. No one could really prepare you for this! Sternum pain. Yes. I asked for some padding. I feel like they gave me a maxi pad! Lol... I read things ahead on relaxation. I counted. I used imagery. The sounds are so unbelievably loud! I listened to yoga music per my request.

I am a 3x breast cancer survivor spanning 22 years. Had 2 lumpectomies with radiation and then 3 years ago a double mastectomy with silicone implants. This MRI was a baseline recommended by the plastic surgeon. I had 4 subsequent surgeries after the mastectomy, 3 of which included fat grafting. Then the last surgery was the exchange surgery. I had 3 stereotactic biopsies over these 22 years and never took any relaxation meds, so today I did not take any either. This is not such an easy procedure but needed for surveillance. I endured. I am glad I prepared for Uber rides. I texted my Dr. and within a week or so he gets results. I'm glad it's behind me. I'll continue drinking water tonight to clear my system of the contrast.

I'm happy I spoke to a nurse friend who is also a bc survivor. She told me I'd feel a little cool when they inject the contrast. They announced when they were going to do it. I, too, had a little itchy nose and re-directed my thinking to get passed it!

It's good to talk to others who went through it. I feel like I'm worn out from it. I did go out to the store a few hours later and then picked up some Chinese food. I'm all warm and cozy now surrounded by my 4 pups.

Stay upbeat and positive, my pink sisters! Sending love from across the miles! ❤ 💕 ❤

...Signed me...

PeppermintPatti

djmammo

PeppermintPatti

Quick clarification(s):

First paragraph says this was your first MRI. Second paragraph says you had 4 surgeries after the MRI.

After the bilateral mastectomy were all the subsequent surgeries cosmetic?

Are/were the implants behind the pectoralis muscles or in front of them?

What is the "exchange" surgery?

PeppermintPatti

hi DJMammo...I corrected the above. The subsequent surgeries (FAT GRAFTING) were after the double mastectomy not after the MRI. My first MRI was yesterday. Implants are behind pectoralis muscle.

I experienced headache pain after the MRI. I don't usually take any meds but my head was pounding so I took 1 325mg Tylenol and went to bed. I felt better today but still flushing my system with water. Then all of a sudden, I'm sneezing all day today. I did a few chores then called it a day kind of early. I learned through this journey to rest whenever I can.

Glad you reached out so I could correct my story so it is in the correct order!

Peppermint Patti 🍬

solermoon

I had my first breast MRI today. I had no idea how painful it would be. If I hadn't asked for a cushion between my sternum I don't think I'd have been able to take the whole test. Now that it's all done I don't think I should of had to ask and it should have already been set up already or offered. I've never had such a painful test in my life and I've had several. I would rather have another nerve study than breast MRI.

It's 12 hours later and I feel like I have costocondrities from the MRI. I've had it once before so I know what it feels like and it's painful. It hurts to be laying on my back and breathing not to mention touching my chest and getting up. I just hope I don't have to cough for any reason.

During the test the head rest for facing down was not stationary. Another painful aspect. It kept sliding out and I found my cheeks holding my head up with the bottom inside edges of the headrest, an area with no padding. I almost stopped the test toward the end because my cheeks couldn't take it any more either. I mentioned it to the tech at the end of the test and he said there was nothing that could be done about it. I tried to move it into pace between the last test pause but it slid right back and I was in breastbone and cheek pain hell again.

I didn't feel like I could get out of the awful position when the test was done and could not lift my arm again after I was able to get myself upright on the table. It took a while for me to feel back to norm enough just to get off the table. It's a daunting experience and a very awkward position to be placed in. Being on your chest with all of your torso weight on your sternum, head precariously placed faced down and your arms placed above your head is awful. I had to have one arm straight above my head because of the IV in the crook of my arm further adding to the discomfort. The other above the head holding the emergency bulb to squeeze.

I think the breast MRI equipment could be improved for comfort. It must have been invented by a man and someone who hasn't gone through a whole test on themselves. It obviously was not designed with any thought as to comfort or trauma to the sternum or arms. I don't know if I'd allow myself to be tested I this manner again unless I had a tech who was more sympathetic and tried to help achieve a better level of comfort. I obviously feel mytech could have done better. There was no reason for the headrest to be another problem. I had red cheeks for two hours after the test. Hopefully someone will get to read this prior to a breast MRI and ask for some proactive comfort measures

Veeder14

Hi Solermoon

I agree with you about the pain and the testing equipment should be updated for more comfort. Plus the staff should try to address your needs and check your position and comfort level before starting the machine.I've had 6 or 7 of these MRIs with another to be scheduled for June. What I started doing is bringing pieces of memory foam to place on the grid thing to provide more padding. The staff are ok with it. However, I'm still in horrible pain during and after due to back, neck, and shoulder issues plus the rib pain. I've had a few bad experiences in the machine. I could hardly use either shoulder after the last one. I usually take muscle relaxant and sometimes get a shot of Toradol the day before, or right after if I'm in severe pain. Sorry to hear your still in so much pain, I hope it subsides.

solermoon

Thank you for your suggestion. I was told now they want to do an MRI guided biopsy and I told scheduling I wouldn't do so it unless it was by ultrasound. Scheduling said they were waiting for an order anyway. Wondering why it takes so long. I'm looking for an oncologist of my own choosing because I don't feel I have a direction or plan of action help. I've only had the results from the MRI from a nurse and called hospital scheduling for a status of my next test. Very frustrating being in limbo.