Hi,

For the last few weeks I've noticed that the random tingling I get in the fingers of my right hand are no longer so random. It's definitely limited to my thumb, index finger, and middle finger. It now occurs day and night. It starts as tingling but progresses to total numbness, which takes 15 minutes of shaking to return the circulation/feeling. I have no trouble whatsoever picking up things/gripping things; it's just sometimes when I pick up something my thumb, index & middle fingers can't feel it, but they still grasp it correctly.

Today I had an EMG. I'm very needle-phobic. At 48 years old I've adjusted to things like having a shot or having blood withdrawn; but the thought of sticking a needle into my muscle in numerous places definitely upped my anxiety level. So this morning I called and asked if taking a Vicodin prior to the EMG would affect it in any way. While the nurse/receptionist/whoever assured me that it wasn't necessary, she also said it would NOT affect the test in any way. So, I took a Vicodin about 45 minutes prior to my appointment. I'm also taking the following prescription medications:
Advair
Cymbalta
Lisinopril
Prevacid
Simvastatin
Vivelle Dot (estrogen)
Wellbutrin

Well, the 1st guy comes in and does some kind of electrical conductivity test on me, using those adhesive things they use for EKGs, and something that shoots a volt of electricity where they apply it. So the guy tests, like, 2 places on my palm and says "Whoa, you definitely have carpal tunnel". He continued to test all over my right arm, then tested some on my left arm (because he said if you have it on your right you probably also have it on your left). After he was done the doctor came in to do the EMG.

I told the doctor how nervous I was regarding needles, and that I had taken a Vicodin ahead of time to calm my nerves. He questioned me about my degenerative arthritis in my neck, the symptoms I've been having, and a number of other things. When he was done he said I'd done so well that he might recommend a Vicodin to his other needle-phobic patients in the future (of course I only had Vicodin on hand because of some recent dental work). More importantly, when he was done he asked if I was trying to make the Guiness Book of World Records for the worst EMG score. He said I had lost about 80% of the use of one nerve (I think the median), and that they didn't get ANY response from my sensory nerve. He also said my left hand had lost about 50%. He showed me some numbers - which I can't completely remember because I was in a state of shock - but I remember one was supposed to be around 11 and mine was 2. He said if I didn't have surgery IMMEDIATELY for my right hand that there would be permanent nerve damage and I'd have numbness in my fingers for the rest of my life. He then asked if I'd like to know the surgeon he's going to use when he develops carpal tunnel, so I got his name and number.

I've only talked to a few people so far, but most of them immediately said "Get a second opinion". I feel like I already had a second opinion because there were two guys doing two different tests on me that came to the same conclusion. One co-worker said she had carpal tunnel and didn't have surgery until she could no longer hold a pencil; so she thinks mine is no where as bad as hers and the doctor is exaggerating. But she also said she has some permanent numbness and pain, and that they said if she didn't have the surgery she had they might have to lift/move the entire muscle in her arm. My doctor said I didn't have ANY muscle damage, but that the nerve damage was severe (actually, he said gargantuan - sp?). So I'm thinking maybe I didn't have the same symptoms because I don't have any muscle problems, just nerve damage

So here's my real question. Could the fact that I took Vicodin before the test, or any other of my numerous prescription medications, affect the outcome of the EMG? The doctor performing the EMG said no, and I believe him. But I want to hear about other people's experiences before I sign-up for surgery. So, do any of you know if Vicodin, or any of the other prescription drugs I listed above, would affect the results of an EMG?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide