Hello:

My hubby is having a emg study done on Thurs. What is he to expect? Does it hurt? Will he be sore after? He has a morning appt. so should he go without out breakfast and coffee?

Thanks

Nancy

Each person is different. An EMG is not that bad, sometimes a little uncomfortable, but doable. Yes, he can eat his breakfast and have his coffee. This is a test for the nerve reactions, no blood work, nothing like that. Here is a website, which explains it pretty well:

http://www.thirdage.com/health-welln...omyography-emg

Hi,

I had an EMG to determine if I had carpel tunnel syndrome. It was not really painful just a little uncomfortable but really nothing to speak of. Everyone reacts differently and I am sure it depends on where you are having it done.
As far as the eating I did not have any restrictions, but call your doctor's office to check please just don't go by post.

Good Luck,

Ann

Caffeine is a neuro stimulant so as I expected, this list
includes it as a "to avoid"...

http://www.webmd.com/brain/electromy...uction-studies

Hi - I've had many of these studies since got PN - both the NCS (nerve conduction study part which is usually done first) then the emg portion.... as far as prep - Mrs D's suggestions sound good..... I've always had to wear a gown for the tests - they do my whole body each time and trunk, neck, etc... but if only arm or leg will be faster and easier... (maybe wear sweats so they can just be be pulled up and out of way?)

Every doctor seems to have their own style and some hurt (but just briefly) some not.... I just see as necessary evil and grin and bear it... the ncs portion you are given shocks - depending on nerve being done - may hurt (any shock is gonna hurt if the nerve can feel it - but its very fast and over before you can blink on each one)... the emg portion of the test is usually saved for last, and I've found docs, even if a tech did the first portion, do the emg portion... sometimes I never feel the needles - only once did I have an emg by a resident who seemed to try to inflict as much pain as possible - which since then has never been repeated by any other doc and was apparently unnessesary to inflict the extra pain... a very thin needle is used and inserted iunto a specific area the doc is looking at - and the patient needs to cooperate with tensing and untensing the area being tested - but again - if does hurt - will be brief and end result what is crucial.

Hope all goes well - the test can be very important diagnostic tool - I went for months before my HMO at the time would send me to a neuro to find out what was going on - one visit and we knew where to go from there after this test

Hi, I've had 2 EMG's done on my legs, feet, hips and lower back. I was told I could eat normally before the test, as long as I don't mind lying down after eating. I was told to avoid blood thinners like aspirin, and to avoid nerve stimulants like caffeine.

As to what to expect you will be mostly naked, my dr let me keep my underwear on, and just shifted it when he needed to. The first part they put a flat sensor like thing on you and sort of send an electrical impulse through it. It doesn't so much "hurt" as feel like a static shock multiplied by like 50-100 depending where on you they are doing it, and how high the voltage it. (I personally, am very sensitive so this was not comfortable at all for me, but for someone with less sensitivity to pain it won't be as bad.) The next part, if they decide they have to do it is when they stick small needles into areas along the nerves and test conductivity by asking you to contract your muscle... usually by moving your limb. This is weird, and can be painful, once again depending where the needle is. (And yes there might be a little blood involved, but no more than if you got a small cut- total from all the needle sticks)
Afterward your muscles might feel achy, tight or a bit sore... mine even felt a little tired. The thing that helped mine the most was rest. Overall, it is not the most pleasant experience, but it isn't the worst either.

Ive had 7 of them now and wont hesitate or feel apprehensive at all when it comes time for my next one. Very minor pain. I have noticed that when my hands are done, for a few days after, i tend to drop things more often than i usually do, and as Macophile said they feel kind of tired.

I've had both. In my case, the emg part was nothing. They just insert little needles and they measure stuff. To me, it was no big thing.

but the Nerve conduction part of it. Whoooey. I almost belted the nurse after she shocked me 3 times. I threatened her. But that was MY reaction.

Now my husband, he just sat there and laughed. HE REALLY DID!!!

The technician just looked at him. I couldn't believe it. He said "Melody, this bothered you??".

So each to his own.

Me? I woudn't let a technician near me ever again with that cattle prod thing. but for others, it's no big thing.

Maybe it was the way she did it. Because this wasn't the first time I had this. I was tested YEARS ago for carpal tunnel. It was a bit different way back then.

So I guess it's who you go to and how they do it.

Take for example a spinal tap. Many people go "oh my god, I'm never going".

My husband went for one, and they used a fluroscope to pinpoint exactly where they would do it. HE FELT NOTHING.

So it's all who you go to and how they do it!!

Best of luck.

melody

Hi:

Thank you all for your comments. It sounds very tolerable. He has had the numbness in his both feet for about 4 yrs and one hand a little shorter time. Our family doctor kind of gave up saying that he would have to live with it. We now have a new dr. and he seems to be more interested. So we will see what happens.

Thanks again
Nancy

Hello:

My hubby had his emg study today and he gave him a print out with the various nerves they stimulated and there numbers. We have no idea what the numbers mean. The remarks at the bottom of the page were as follows:

diffuse peripheral neuropathy, affecting both sensory and motor fibres, and it is an axonal neuropathy.

Can someone please explain this?

Thank You
Nancy