Has anyone had an EMG nerve test?

[luvwinnie]

I have to get this test to see if I have neuropathy, neuritis or myelitis. Wondering just how unpleasant it is and if anyone has these conditons. Thanks!

 

[mrsstats]

I have had it for disk problem in my neck. I didn't find it painful but other people I know have thought it was painful. I think it depends on your pain tolerance and who is giving the test. They are tiny thin needles like you would see in acupunture.

 

[Luv2Roam]

If this is where the doctor makes you a human pin cushion, then yes I have.
It's not fun, unless you like that sort of thing. But it is tolerable.
Just one of those things you are glad it is over when it is.

 

[December99]

I had to have this test for Carpel Tunnel. It's not bad at all. The needles didn't even bother me and I'm a needle spaz!!! I hate them. The thing that bothered me the most was the actual shocks....for carpel tunnel they send them up your nerves to the ends of your fingers and then they also do them up in your elbow. But they are very fast and once they register they stop. For my fingers, they were waiting to see how many it would take to get to the ends of my fingers so for some of them it was like 7-8 shocks and sometimes I didn't even feel them all the way to the ends....but I could feel them the most at the strongest areas of my hands.....but the uncomfortableness stopped as soon as they stopped the test on whatever area they were testing on.

It's actually an amazing test - it's cool to see how the test works and what the results end up being....

 

[jfulcer]

I had this done before my neck surgery to determine the extent of my spinal problems. It was uncomfortable, but tolerable. I wouldn't want to do it all day long.

What was hard for me is I had certain nerves that the test wouldn't even work on, even at the highest jolt. It was rather unnerving (pun intended) to know that there were portions of my legs I couldn't feel at all.

 

[chris1gill]

Okay, don't shoot this messenger But it was the most painful test I've ever had... I think it REALLY depends on what's wrong with you.... turns out I have mitochondrial disease (not something shown on an EMG) & my muscles weren't able to take the stress... They stopped the first test & then scheduled a second test, at which time they promptly sedated me!!! That was the best sedation I ever had!!!

 

[luvwinnie]

it really varies from person to person! Well, I just hope it's QUICK! Thanks!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have had this done twice. Both times to check legs, feet and back. Some spots were more sensitive than others to the "zap", but it really isn't bad.

 

[yoopermom]

I've had it done 2X on my legs and back, for some reason I tolerated it on my legs much better than on my back. It made me feel like Frankenstein, because you really do feel as though your limbs are jumpng around! The person who did it knew how tense I was and kept saying, "Relax, relax, we need an accurate reading", yeah, right! I agree with the majority that it wasn't the needles (very tiny) so much as what they were sending through the needles that was painful. Hoping not to do it a 3rd time...
Terri