New test for next week - anyone experienced ?
 

Hi there;

Well, my neurologist now wants to do the nerve conduction testing on my leg with RSD on Tuesday. I was supposed to have this done in Nov, but ended up having the open debridement surgery on the same leg for Arthrofibrosis of my knee replacement. Can anyone tell me about the test? Guess the doc wants to make sure I don't have Neuropathy (?). I am just worried that the test might cause my knee to jerk - :eek: I even have nightmares of tripping this leg, bending my knee to where it won't bend (but should) and having immense pain - thus I wake up with a jerk, which gives me a jolt of more pain. Does sound like a nightmare, huh? lol Anyone else have this happen either?. Guess I am just being a baby - but would like to know how it went for anyone else. Plus not sure how it will work with the good ol metal knee. Thanks ! :winky:

An EMG is a test to check for nerve damage. They take a very thin needle and insert it into the muscle. While that sounds really freaky, it's not that bad. :) It isn't put in very far at all. It's a bit uncomfortable but for me, wasn't that painful. Back then my legs jerked a lot, but during the test they didn't do it not once! :D Later that day and for the next couple of days I felt pretty sore in every spot they had tested. The doc did my lower back and all the way down both my legs to my ankles.

Some people who've had it done will tell you how painful it is, how awful it was and will never have another. I don't blame them!!! LOL As with most things......having an EMG done is as individual as we are. We can give you our experiences and until the test begins there's no way for us to tell you which way you're going to go.....to the not painful way or omg that freakin hurts way. ROFL

The should do the test on the area around your knee where all the muscle is but not in the kneecap itself. You're not being a baby either! It's natural to get a little bit shaky inside and think up nightmares for yourself when you're having something done you've never had done before. I think you'll find it's nowhere near as bad as you thought it would be....at least I hope so!! I'll be rooting for you to have the better experience like I did. Take any pain meds right before going and have them with you just in case you might need them before getting home.

Hope it turns out really well for you and that the test is normal.

Hugs,

Karen

My last one I hardly felt as I've lost most of the sensation in my hand, arm and shoulder. I've heard others say it hurt so much, they ripped the needles out of their arm and threatened to strangle the neurolosigt with the wires!

On balance, most say while uncomfortable, it is not unbearable - certainly obnoxious! You'll also likely get an NCV too which is nothing much but more helpfull in defining peripheral neuropathy than the EMG.

I've had numerous EMG's (4 I think). They really aren't bad unless you get a sadist. I told the first nurse who gave me one that when I told the story she'd be wearing leather with silver studs. ;)

Each one was a little worse than the one before and I intend to ask not to have more. The first rurned up three anomalies but all the rest have been normal (or near normal). I'm told it's not unusual for the anomalies to disappear in RSD.