Mobile MRI

Carolina Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center provides magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for identifying injuries and conditions in your body. An MRI is a harmless, noninvasive test that uses a strong magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to produce images of the inside of your body. The scans are very safe, and there is no radiation exposure.

Dedicated to offering our patients a complete continuum of care, convenience, and easy access, we offer MRI scans through an on-site mobile MRI service right at our office at 2345 Court Drive in Gastonia. This allows us to offer our patients comfort and convenience with our one-stop, high-quality diagnostic imaging.

Before your MRI scan

Preparing for an MRI scan and what to expect on your examination day:

  • Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to complete any necessary paperwork.
  • Please inform your MRI scheduling representative if you are pregnant or have any of the following:
    • Aneurysm clips
    • Cardiac pacemaker
    • Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)
    • Implants
    • Metal fillings or metal fragments in your eyes or body
    • Prostheses
  • An MRI scan can take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes. If you are having 3 or more scans done, you may want to consider scheduling them on separate days.
  • You may eat and drink normally prior to your MRI scan.
  • You may wear normal street clothes as long as they do not contain any metal, including zippers, snaps, buttons, and metallic thread. You will also be asked to remove all jewelry, body jewelry, eye makeup, glasses, dentures, loose change, wallets, bank or credit cards, wigs, etc.
  • If you are on medications, you can continue to take them as prescribed. If you have pain medication, you should also take these so your exam will be more comfortable, as you will have to lie still during the exam.
  • If you are claustrophobic, please inform your provider or MRI scheduling representative. There are medications that can be provided for you to make you more at ease. If you take this medication, you will need to have someone available to drive you the day of your exam. Please keep in mind we will do everything we can to keep you as comfortable as possible.
  • When ready for your MRI scan, you will be asked to lie on the table either head or feet first depending on the type of exam. The table will then move the part of the body being scanned to the center of the magnet. You will hear knocking or buzzing as you are being scanned. Due to the loud noises, you will be given earplugs to wear.

To learn more about our mobile MRI service, please call 704-343-8279.