Back Pain Community

hi JUJULANG - welcome to the support group -

I have the EMG and Nerve Conduction Test done each year to check the severity of my nerve damage in both my legs and to see if it has gotten worse and to find out which discs are being the most troublesome.

Take a deep breathe as this test is not that bad - it is uncomfortable - but not painful, per say.

The EMG test is the first part and is done with a measurement from ankle to knee so they will know where to place the electrode device. It is then put in place and a slight jolt is sent thru the electrode and a reading is done on the machine it is attached to. Once this is done in all areas a printout is done to determine if there is any nerve damage and also which discs are causing it.

The 2nd part - Nerve Conduction Test - is the one that is the most uncomfortable. A needle that is attached to same machine is stuck in the areas to get more of a "hearing" and printout to see if any nerve damage. What I mean by "hearing" is if there is any sound coming thru there is some type of nerve damage. The printout will confirm this and they will discuss the nerve damages, if any.

When mine is done what is "heard" sounds like a traffic jam!! There is so much noise on my L5 and L4 discs where the nerve roots run down the legs. L5 is on the outside of the leg and L4 is on the inside.
I hope this helps - rest assured the test is more uncomfortable.

keep us posted what they find out~~

Have no worries. I was told the same thing and I can assure you it is NOTHING. Take care, hope all goes well. I just joined today. Hope I calmed your nerves a little.

Thank you for the reassurance. Most people I have talked to have had it done on their arms for carpal tunnel, I have to have it on my legs. I was told they only do one leg usually?
Is the leg worse than the arm?

Thank you. Was it on your legs?

Hi JuJuLang -

I have it done on legs - both - one at a time.

I did have it done on both my arms too - one at a time for carpel tunnel.

to me, my arms are more sensitive so I would say the arms hurt a little more -

good luck~~

Yes, bilaterally.

Can you tell me a little bit about how many times I will be zapped and how many needles will be in my leg?

Hi JuJulang -

I think you're getting the wrong impression of this. Basically, when the EMG test is done with a measuring tape to mark the area at your ankle and knee - then a mark is made (mine used a ball point pen) then a flat round metal disc is taped to the ankle and a small jolt is felt - kinda like how we used to test batteries a long time ago by touching the end of the battery (9 volts mainly) on your tongue and feeling a jolt on your tongue - same feeling only a little stronger on the ankle and then it's done to the knee.- and since this is connected to a machine it will give a read out of what the findings are.

the Nerve Conduction Test is done in the where a single needle (connected to machine) is inserted and removed mostly in a fast motion - sort of stick in and out - this is done up and down the leg (and/or arm) along the nerve running down the leg - gives a printout of more info. there is no blood and no punctures - kinda hard to explain.

here's a site to help explain it - I think I have the wording wrong on the tests, but you will understand better by this site

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/electromyography-and-nerve-conduction-studies.htm

Don't worry - it's really nothing - it's over very fast - good luck~~

I received an error so posting it again -

Hi JuJulang -

I think you're getting the wrong impression of this. Basically, when the EMG test is done with a measuring tape to mark the area at your ankle and knee - then a mark is made (mine used a ball point pen) then a flat round metal disc is taped to the ankle and a small jolt is felt - kinda like how we used to test batteries a long time ago by touching the end of the battery (9 volts mainly) on your tongue and feeling a jolt on your tongue - same feeling only a little stronger on the ankle and then it's done to the knee.- and since this is connected to a machine it will give a read out of what the findings are.

the Nerve Conduction Test is done in the where a single needle (connected to machine) is inserted and removed mostly in a fast motion - sort of stick in and out - this is done up and down the leg (and/or arm) along the nerve running down the leg - gives a printout of more info. there is no blood and no punctures - kinda hard to explain.

here's a site to help explain it - I think I have the wording wrong on the tests, but you will understand better by this site

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diagnostic-tests/electromyography-and-nerve-conduction-studies.htm

Don't worry - it's really nothing - it's over very fast - good luck~~

Thanks Joy, I feel so much better now! I won't be fretting over the weekend worrying about it. I suppose if I gave birth twice naturally I can handle this! I just found out that my B-12 is low at 213 so I'm going to go get some injections to see if that helps with all my other issues. Do you have low B-12?

Hi jujulang, Had minor surgery yesterday and didn't see your question. I have an old model stimulator and need to have the battery changed via anesthesia and a small incision. Just an explaination for my untimely reply. Sleepy yesterday.
It has been several years, but if I had to take a guess, I would say about 6 for each leg.
I don't know why people increase others anxiety about testing and surgeries. It is one thing to provide info, it is another to frighten people. I had been told by a fellow RN, that she had tears running down her cheeks. She must cry over insect bites.
Have you ever had acupuncture? I would equate it to that sensation.
Let me know how it goes. AprilRose9

EMG done and over with. I can't believe how easy it was. Little discomfort but nothing you can't live through! A little nerve damage but not that bad, so am scheduled to have the epidural steroid injection on the 21st and see if that helps.
thank you guys for your support!

Hi -

See we kept telling you not to worry!! LOL it's really just a discomfort than anything -

let us know how you do with the steroid injection - I know they didn't help me and some others that have nerve damage too -

keep us posted!!

Hi,jujulang--Thank you for letting me know how things went. Hope you get a good result from the steroid injection. Best of Luck

AprilRose9