I had an MRI to look for a torn Achilles tendon (Mon., Sept. 8, 2025).
I walked up a slight hill on a paved road and my 78-year-old left ankle tensed up. Weeks later, still paining, I visited NP V. Pipenko who sent me to Dr. Huntington of Steadman-Hawkins who sent me for an MRI.
At the Travelers Rest, SC, hospital, Barbara, my wife, and I sat in the waiting room. Jose, a short Spanish man arrived, smiled, sat near us, and dozed.
Michelle, a technician, came for me.
“Leave your personal items in that box,” she said, after guiding me to the MRI room. “Leave your pants on but take off your belt—the metal buckle needs to be off. You can leave on your socks. The test will take 20 minutes, and you can listen to your choice of music: rock, country, gospel … .”
“Gospel is good,” I said.
“We have Southern Gospel or Worship,” she said.
“I had Southern Gospel last time, so I’ll try Worship music,” I said.
Angela, Michelle’s assistant, helped me lie on the narrow “bed” and adjusted a pillow. I donned headphones to go into the “tube.”
“You’re tall enough to get your foot inside the tube without going all the way in,” Michelle said. “I’ll tell you when the last two-and-one-half minute image is to be made.”
Michelle placed my foot in a plastic holder.
“My, your foot is swollen,”she said. “Don’t move your toes.”
My body moved toward the large tube but stopped before my shoulders entered. Worship music began playing on the headphones. Lovely. But intermittently, peaceful tunes were interrupted by whirring or clanking or “wr-r-r-rench-turning sounds” of the machine.
“OK, we’re starting the last test,” Michelle said over the headphones.
They were stood me upright. Jose entered the room. Angela spoke to him in Spanish. He was next.
I stashed items back into my pockets and put shoes on, Michelle ushered me to the waiting room. I learned from Michelle that she and Angela attempt to perform 15 MRIs per day.
“Your MRI will be on MyChart at the same time your doctor gets it,” Michelle said.
Hurray! The MRI was done! Later, I saw the MRI, and the Achilles was torn. Dr. Huntington said he thought it would heal without surgery, but I must wear a "boot."
