Hi and welcome,

For me, it depends on a couple of things as to how uncomfortable the electrodiagnostic test(s) may be, including which nerves are being tested and where; how much injury or damage has occurred to those nerves; the skill of the electrodiagnostician; and the type of equipment s/he uses for the tests (I am assuming you will get both an EMG and an NCV study done…).

As far as how quickly the results are available to you after the test, in my experience there is usually a policy of not issuing any copies of the results to you until the referring physician has met with you to go over those results. (That is not to say that the tester won't tell you a couple of things verbally at the time of the tests - that probably depends on the person.)

The last EMG/NCV studies I got were VERY painful, because they tested all the way up the arm, across the shoulder and neck to go behind the C-8/T-1 nerves - which is precisely where I have a long-standing lower trunk brachial plexus injury and nerve damage.

Before that, I've had lots of electrodiagnostics done over the years and, while each set was uncomfortable at a minimum, there was no real "pain" which made me want to jump out of my seat like that last set did! It was right around Halloween time, and the guy performing the test looked like Count Dracula (only not on purpose)! I kid you not!

Don't mean to scare you; I just don't want you to go in there unprepared.

Good luck! And let us know what they find, OK?