EMG anyone??

[N&B'smom]

Can anyone tell me about this test??

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I am having something like it done on ot. 6th. Mine will be to check out the larnygeal nerves etc. I heard it involves needles in my neck and a slight electric impluse shock etc. I know my friend just had one done to rule out carpal tunnel in her hand. She said she also had lots of tiny little needles and it was not a very pleasant experience. I guess everyones experience and pain levels are different. I did ask if I will be in pain etc. I think she did mention about wanting to smack the tech on the side of the face, lol!!They only said, well if it was painful we wouldnt keep you awake. ok. we will see. Best of luck to you.

 

[Nette]

I'm sorry to actually be able to answer this question. I've had 2 EMGs (also with the nerve conduction test). The nerve conduction is uncomfortable, but I found the EMG to be a lot more so. Of course, I had an idot doctor, so that might have something to do with it. OTOH, it was a bad time for me all around, I was basically losing the ability to walk, so that might have clouded my experience as well.

They basically take a longish needle and place it in certain areas of your limbs and then put a small amount of electricity through it and "catch" it on the other end. They're basically measuring how much electricity it takes to get your muscles to do certain things.

(The nerve conduction just involves electrodes on the surface of your skin).

If you're going to have it done, take someone with you to hold their hand (if that sort of thing helps you) and remember that it doesn't last forever, only about 30 minutes. Even as bad as I remember it, I'd do it again just so I would know what was wrong with me.

Good luck (and sorry if I scared you...)

 

[N&B'smom]

I'm sorry you've been through this. May I ask what they do exactly?? My hubby is the one having this done, tomorrow.

 

[Nette]

Well, it's not all that exciting. I was lying on a table (holding DHs hand) and the doctor would stick these "pins" into various points on my body and then send a small current through them. There was lots of note taking and muttering on his part. For the NC study, they do the same type of thing but just using electrodes on the surface. They also intensify the shocks gradually.

This website seems to have a decent explanation of what I experienced.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/electromyography_emg/article_em.htm

My best to your and your DH. Sorry he has to go through this as well.

 

[N&B'smom]

Thank you for the information. Unfortunately I can't go with him tomorrow, actually he's one of those people that I think he'd rather just deal with it alone. I'm so sad he has to go through this.

How are things for you now, Nette?? Have you improved at all??

 

[yoopermom]

I've had it done twice on my legs and back (numbness due to my scoliosis), and I did feel like Frankenstein by the end of it. The hard part, for me, was that some parts hurt a lot more than others, and there was no way to know which was going to be which. The ones in my back honestly had me in tears, but I'm very pain sensitive, so am probably not the best person to ask. I touched my share of electric fences as a kid, and this kind of felt like that over and over...

Having said all that, there really is no better way to judge your nerves, to the best of my understanding, so it just has to be gotten through.

Terri

 

[N&B'smom]

Thanks for the info, Terri!!