“Can an MRI scan cause pain?”

Should not except you have metal in your body

no

MRI is not a painful. The only thing that it can be is noisy and claustrophobic. Also, you can take a fair bit of time depending on what is being imaged and what is desired of the imaging study. Sometimes, intravenous contrast material needs to be injected prior to the MRI. If this is the case, then they can be some discomfort from needle placement for the IV injection.

I suppose anything used incorrectly can cause pain. If you were receiving a high frequency sequence it could cause heating of tissue that might hurt. But in general the usual sequences used for diagnostic MR do not cause pain.

Dear Concerned Patient, An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine does not induce pain. However, it can be somewhat intolerable, not due to physical pain, but the unpleasant, irritating, repetitive, even perceived to some as a cacaphonic sound, that persists throughout the entire imaging procedure.Patients who have a diagnosis of baseline anxiety, and/or claustrophobia, are generally unable to endure these daunting effects of the sound and/or confining nature of an MRI machine.For such patients, a detailed discussion with the physician should be entered regarding either (1) the consideration of possible alternative imaging studies -without compromising the results/detection of the abnormality in question and thus the clinical management thereof, or (2) premedication prior to MRI, if not contraindicated, and is deemed clinically safe and appropriate. I hope the response presented is informative, and provides a framework for further discussion with your physician. Sincerely,Dr.EB

No.