I can see how this test is one that's difficult to assuage patients' fears about - they're zapping us with electricity! I cracked up on the table they had me lying on. The tech asked me what was so funny, and I asked her, "Ever seen the movie Men In Black?" All I could think of was Tony Shaloub's line when Agent K blows his head off, and it suddenly re-grows, "Do you have any idea how much that STINGS‽"

After that I went through another laughter attack, thinking of an early Simpson's episode when the family goes to Dr. Marvin Monroe and he gives them each a button with which they can zap other family members with jolts of electricity. I told the tech that patients should all be given similar buttons, so we could zap them (or the doctors) every time they tell us "This may sting a little." etc. I would have enjoyed that. (BWAHAHAHAHA!)

The same thing happens when I go for a blood draw... "You may feel a little pinch." A LITTLE PINCH? I got really deep (and small) veins, and those vampires go at it like they're drilling for oil!

Nevertheless, we have to put these things in perspective, and as with all things medical, weigh the benefits vs. risk (or discomfort/pain in this case). They're trying to find out some important information for dx or treatment, and there are far worse things (including medical tests) than the nerve zaps and needle jabs. Lumbar punctures (spinal taps) for one. With advances in medical electronics, I'm a little surprised there haven't been any significant improvements in nerve conduction studies to utilize much lower voltages (or some other electronic "tricks") in the past 50 years. (One of the problems I had with my first PN test was that the neuro's equipment was an oscilloscope that was manufactured before I was, and hadn't been inspected/serviced in more than 12 years!) I mean.... look how far they've come with 3D movies!!!

Doc

--I've had numerous EMG/nerve conduction studies over the years, and a lot depends on the skill and experience of the individual doing it; I've had a range of experiences ranging from mild, temporary discomfort, to major sharp stinging pain and bruising. It's a real caveat emptor situation--one wants to try and find someone who does a lot of these and has modern, up to date equipment (and who knows it should be done in a fairly cool room, as heat is the enemy of nerve conduction and a warm room often necessitates more trials to get an accurate reading . . .)

This idea is certainly expandable to other tests--I've certainly had wildly variable experiences with blood draws, to the point at which if I'm going to have one of my annual or so glucose tolerance tests done--the one that involves about ten draws for glucose and insulin over a five hour period--I'll only go to one center on the days I know certain phlebotomists are there.

And I don't even want to tell you about my spinal tap experience. (I've talked about it on Neurotalk before, and it's funny now in retrospect, but I was close to beating the c**p out of the two small Russian female technicians they sent to do it who COULDN'T FIND THE CANAL. I was finally taken to X-ray where they did it in ten minutes under floroscopy--painless--and when I asked why they didn't do them all that way, I was told insurance wouldn't pay for it unless it couldn't be done "conventionally". I almost smacked that person, too.)

i recently had an evoked potentials test (SSEP) upper and lower. When they put the electrodes on my ankles i told the tech crank it up im not going to feel it, and i didnt.

I first realized how much PN had advanced into my hands and arms when i went to the ER for a 5 week continuous asthma episode and they were taking blood out of my radial artery in the wrist for a blood gas test and i knew it was suppossed to hurt but it didnt. i told the tech you are either the best i ever had or im more numb than i thought.

Ah... that explains why my breath was visible. You'd think they could/should at least have had an upholstered exam table instead of that stark hard ice-cold stainless gurney, not to mention one of those gowns that's open in the back.... (Or maybe that was their technique for misdirection... )

Doc

I wish you didn't have to experience those shocks. Even after my surgery, I take meds. for the shocks in my ankles and my arms. I was just a chicken with the EMG, I really hope there is some help for the pain you feel. It is horrible to have to live through. I pray there is a solution for you. ginnie

I think I would have punched the tech over the spinal tap. If the techs know there are ways to do a test that do not cause so much pain, they aught to do it to begin with. Not after poking you numerous times and giving up. I wonder if they were on the receiving end of such tests, that they themselves would opt for the floroscopy method. I get sick of insurance companies who make people suffer because of their "rules" There are more humane ways to treat us patients. I have a reputation for being a difficult patient. There is no doubt about that. Sorry you had that lousy experience with both the spinal, and EMG. ginnie

Hi Zorro 13,
I have been following this thread for a few days. Oh how true and funny it all is. I do however (don't want to unlighten the mood) feel compelled to tell you to report this to your doctor. There are other things, medically speaking, this could be other than a side effect of your medication. Sorry, had to say it.
Hopefuk

I haven't been online for awhile, trying to figure out what is wrong with my computer. I don't know if this will get bumped up enough to show.

I didn't mean to cause any contention, thanks for the support Mrs D and Ginnie, no offense taken Dr. Smith, was there meant to be some? Mrs D is right that it is probably worse because I'm female and 'abusive' is probably an accurate description. That's an objective assessment of his behavior based on events, my JUDGEMENT is that hes a competent physician and an unmentionable body part.

I took care of my mom when she had cancer and they never were able to control her nausea from the narcotics very well. One of the first meds her Dr tried was Reglan, there has recently been some bad press on it but at that time it was considered a benign drug. I told the Dr she was having unpleasant SE and he brushed me off (nicely) and said they would titrate it when she went into the hospital for her transfusion. After she was there for a couple of days I got a call saying 'its time', she was dying. When I arrived she was arched like people can be when there is damage to the brain stem (?). It was a small hospital where she had worked and volunteered for years and she was well loved, two nurses, the CNA, the social worker and chaplain were gathered around her bed. I'd seen that behavior before and I knew she could be kind of shocked out of it so I said, "What are you doing, we brought you mail!!" When the Dr came rushing in a few minutes later she was sitting up reading letters form her great grand children, he asked if it was the Reglan. Yup. Then there was the time I told the Dr on call it probably wasn't a good idea to double her dose of Oxycontin and she hallucinated Mastadons and refused to eat anything with 'o's' in it for 3 days...I'm not a health care professional and I'm not always right but sometimes we all just know stuff. Dr. Weasel beware.

It all pales in comparison to having a spinal tap performed by 2 unsympathetic Russians.
Zygo

Hi Doc, you're absolutely right. I have found that I need to be proactive in my own health, making phone calls etc, otherwise your a file on someone's desk. What really ****** me off is that you're a sick person in a world of pain, you probably haven't got the concentration to boil a kettle without wondering, what was I doing a minute ago or you might go to the fridge for a drink only to o pen the fridge door and wonder why. With all of this I found I had to make these phone calls just to make sure you don't end up as paper on someone's desk.

I hope I didn't waffle on too much.

Sinéad