i wouldnt say its a pleasant sensation but it is no big deal for me. Ive done a number of them on legs, feet, arms, hands and back and i wouldnt hesitate to do it again. the needles are very thin and didnt hurt me at all. I wouldnt put it off because the rules on reimbursement for doctors for emg/ncs is changing in january and it is probably going to be harder to get one done since the doctors reimbursement is suppossed to be reduced by 40%

My son is having one tomorrow morning, and he said that he appreciated the warning from the nurse making the appointment that it would hurt, so I decided to chime in. I have been through three, the last one lasted two hours. The electrical current will be the main source of discomfort or pain, the needles will not hurt. The longer it goes on the more annoying it will get. Kitt and I have hereditary neuropathy, I don't know if that makes it worse, but the tests do stir up my condition- I have escalated electrical zapping and buzzing for a few weeks after the test.

It hurts, but the pain is definitely not a reason to skip the test. It isn't as bad as a toothache or migraine, and if your doctor talks to you through it it is actually quite interesting and informative. My regular leg pain is worse than the tests. I actually like it, but that probably says something spooky about me.

My son is having it done to determine nerve damage after a car accident- he had a winged scapula afterwards. I am hoping it gives a clue to whether he has CMT. This is my second son, the eldest one definitely has it.

That test hurt like hell to me too lol just depends on how long and where the zaps are..i was told to keep up with my results and I wouldnt have to take it again.

Thanks for all the replies everybody. I am nervous but starting to feel better after seeing all youre replies.

I will go on saturday. I am just nervous. thanks for the wealth of information.

I agree and forgot to say that it was the electrical current that was painful and not the needles. I often said that if I wasn't dancing when I went in I was dancing when I got out of there.

The electrical current really got to be painful toward the end. And it does make a difference who is doing the test and for CMTers it more than likely depends on the type of CMT one has.

Hey kitt. I am glad its not the needles that hurt. Because thats the part thats freaking me out the most. I cant deal with needles. I am a needle phobe.

Thanks again,

colleen

cthomas

I had 2 (of both) done this past summer and despite being terrified of needles it wasnt as bad as I thought it would be. However if you are very nervous my doctor prescribed some anxiety medication for me to take which really did the trick (i was given valium)

hope this helps

I just sent you a PM. Hi!!!!!!