--may show damage to the myelinated sensory nerve if there is sufficient damage to disrupt the transmission of signals in some way. (It is not precise enough to reveal problems with small, thin, unmyelinated sensory nerves that subsume the sensations of pain and temperature).

The patterns being referred to--generally, is there slowing of nerve impulses (latency of F waves, etc.) as opposed to a complete conduction block--can be helpful in determining the type of damage; generally, whether the damage is demyelinating (loss of insulation on the fibers) versus axonal (breaks or tears in the fibers themselves).

But it's perfectly possible to have neuropathy with a "normal" EMG/nerve conduction study, if your syndrome involves damage mostly to those small fibers. I certainly fell into that category--the skin biopsy did reveal small fiber damage though I had normal nerve conduction studies on several occasions.