What are the dangers and side effects of an MRI?

Question

I wanted to know realistically if there was any danger of suffering permanent damage from getting an MRI. I looked up ‘MRI side effects’, and ‘MRI injuries’, then read from the following two sites below.

http://trusted.md/blog/tyler24476/2006/01/05/mri_side_effects

http://klienspecter.com/mri_injury_lawyer.htm

I’m supposed to be getting an MRI done in a hospital on my pelvis and spine in two different sessions, the first being in a little over a week. I’m just too scared to do it now; I’m trying to evaluate the risk of having the MRI, with the actual possibility that there could be anything wrong with me.

I was pushed forward on a rowing machine back in late March and felt two crackles to the left of my lower back. I’m thinking the worst that could have happened is that I’ve got a slight subluxation or malalignment of my sacroiliac joint that perhaps the MRI wouldn’t show.

This is because I’m not experiencing any physical symptoms.

Answer 1

For all know you, you may even have herniated disks. One MRI won't magnetize you to a point where you set off store alarms and, if you follow the doctor's orders (meaning take off all metal), you won't be impaled by stray metal objects. I've had about six MRIs done personally and have yet to attribute so much as the tiniest upset in my daily routine to my time spent in the machine. I've also never heard of a single case like the anecdotal sources you referenced.