I had them done and it did not feel any worse than when your leg falls "asleep" because you've been sitting on it in a weird way...you know those pins and needles you feel when the leg is coming back to normal....that is all it felt like to me. I had heard horror stories too but, I thought it was much easier than expected.

Just keep in mind, the doctor is right next to you, performing the test and if you become too uncomfortable, you just tell them and they will stop immediately. Please don't worry about it. Believe me, the stress is worse than the test.
My best,
D.

I have had two by two different practitioners. I would describe both as uncomfortable with painful moments, but they were an important diagnostic tool that identified my long fiber neuropathy.

While I am not lining up for one if my neuologist wanted to do a follow up compare to the one from a year and a half ago I would do so. He offered to slow down the pace if it I needed breaks between locations, though I do not recall the details of my first test as well.

I was sore afterward, but as stated it was a useful test despite that and as others have stated, there is the daily discomfort and pain dealt with. If the practitioner is well practiced I don't think it should cause long term issues, but of course results may vary.

Best of luck.

For my first nerve conduction, I was fairly nervous not knowing what exactly to expect and being told about it from various sources only heightened my concerns. Turned out to be MUCH easier than I had anticipated. The "zaps" are quick and so is the minimal discomfort from them.

When I go into a grocery store and touch the handle on the freezer door, I get shocked. THAT is actually worse then the NCS test.

Each person will have a different opinion on the discomfort from the test and is based upon their own physical conditions and also their mindset. I was expecting something horrific, well not quite, but I was expecting it to be painful and was pleasantly surprised that it was nothing like I expected. MUCH better. Like I said, I would rather the zap from an NCS than from the refrigerator or freezer case at the grocery, just trying to get some milk. During the winter months, I get zapped all the time just touching items in my own home and especially touching my car. These are much worse than the NCS.

And if you are already having any ZAPS from your condition, you have already experienced worse than the test.

You did not mention if you were to have the EMG also that is usually done. That is when they insert needles into your muscles. If you have an aversion to needles, then you may find it a bit unsettling. I did not have the EMG with my first NCS but I did on subsequent tests.

Needles do not bother me and they are sooooo tiny, I did not feel them being inserted at all except for one and that one WAS VERY painful. It was a very deep muscle and the doc had trouble getting it positioned properly. If not for that ONE needle, it was easier and less discomfort than the NCS.

Don't let yourself get too worked up about it. The unknown is frightening but hopefully, you will not have a bad experience. Some do and some don't. Let's hope you are in the category that finds it much better than anticipated as I did.

Now if I could just find someone to get my milk out of the case at the grocery and open my car door in the winter and touch my appliances at home when the weather turns cold, I would be a very happy person. I get enough ZAPS from my neuropathy, I don't need the added zaps from touching things.

PS As another poster mentioned. Some of it depends upon the person performing the test. I had different neurologists for subsequent testing and it can make a difference in the patient's comfort.

Good point on the NCS vs EMG, but even so I'd get another one done in a heart beat if the neurologist thought it were a good idea.

Hey thanks guys. I really appreciate all your feedback - it's made me feel a lot less nervous than I have been. Please be aware that if I find it agonising you're ALL going to be in trouble!! Big trouble! ha, ha. (:

It may not "prove" anything. But it does provide evidence as to where the issues are located. They may be able to tell from the F-Stop values where the signal breaks down and if it's nodes vs axons etc.

I've never found it painful. Just shocking. I get another one done in a few weeks myself .

Thanks and I know where the nerve damage comes from, Hip Surgery. So I never went to neurologist etc as what can they do? Re-grow the nerves, I don't think so. My common sense tells me that...but many talk the nerve test and I wonder if I'm missing something.

I've accepted this as fighting it doesn't bring back nerves. So I just go on and massage the area, use topicals etc and now using some acupuncture but not a lot of hope that the needles will bring back the nerves. Thanks again for reply to my question Rancar. C

Glad for the anonymity on NT so I don't get into BIG trouble.

I had to laugh. That was so cute. Let's hope that the positive responses you got in this thread regarding the test prove to be the case for YOU and that we are not in big trouble.

Wishing you an easy test and that the results are informative and helpful.

The real fear is not the possibility of pain, but the fear of an unknown experience. Once the test is behind you, then you can judge for yourself how it was for YOU. Hope you will be posting to someone else in the future that YOU found it OK.

LOVED your post.

i have had 8 emg/ncs's since 2003on my feet, legs, hands, arms andlower back. although i wouldnt do the tests for enjoyment, they are not that bad and i wouldnt hesitate to do another. as a matter of fact i am doing just that very soon as part of a voluntary study. there are some moments of discomfort but aree of very short duration in the overall test and certainly they were bareable for me. its not something i worry about before doing the test.

I guess I don't get why they are done except what Rancar said...do they help or what. Do they help with pain? I just talked to my friend who has had foot neuropathy for going on 20 yrs and she's never had any of these tests. She said she went to a seminar that lectured on these but she never did them. Her neuropathy is from statins. I've talked about her here. Like she and I agree, once the nerves are dead what will bring them back if anything. She took gabapentin for years but off that drug. Taking grape seed ex for some yrs now and she feels improvement. She was telling me someone told her about lemongrass and nerve pain. She bought some lemongrass and will make tea from it. There is lemongrass essential oils.

I've talked about what got rid of the 5 yrs of burn for me, inosine and sphingolin taking both for 3 months. Burn has not returned...thank goodness.