What Conditions Can the Testing Diagnose?
- A pinched nerve in the neck or back (possibly related to ruptured disk or arthritis)
- A pinched nerve in the arm or leg such as carpal tunnel syndrome
- Muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy or myopathy
- Neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis
Nerve Condition Studies
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are performed to determine how well your nerves conduct signals.
The procedure involves stimulating the nerves with a small amount of electricity and recording how each nerve conducts this signal along its course.
Electrodes in the form of stickers or wires record the responses of these stimulations. The electrodes are attached to a computer that analyzes the signals and produces a visual representation of them on its screen.
Your physician interprets the results by making measurements of the responses and correlating them to your symptoms.
Electromyography
An electromyogram (EMG) uses a fine wire electrode to evaluate the electrical activity of muscles.
Muscles are controlled by nerves and it is possible to tell if there is an injury to a nerve by evaluating how the muscles it supplies and leg muscles can be tested to evaluate an injury in the back.
The fine wire electrode used in EMG is slightly larger than an acupuncture needle but not nearly as big as a hollow point needle used for blood draws or IVs.
The electrode is connected by wire to a computer where the signal is analyzed and displayed as an image on the screen and broadcast as a sound, typically a popping noise heard with muscle contraction.
The muscles are tested both at rest (to make sure there are not any abnormal spontaneous signals that should not be there) and then with muscle contraction (to make sure the muscle is firing normally).
What Can I Expect?
An EMG takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. The nerve conduction studies are commonly performed first, followed by the EMG.
The electrical stimulations used in nerve conduction studies typically feel like getting a rubber band snapped against your skin.
Usually, three to four nerves are tested in an affected limb and, if necessary, a few in an unaffected limb are tested for comparison.
The EMG feels like getting your skin pinched with electrode insertion and may cause a dull ache, but is generally well tolerated. Generally, nine to twelve muscles are tested.
Arm, forearm, and hand muscles are tested to evaluate neck and upper limb injuries. Thigh, leg, and foot muscles are used to evaluate low back and lower limb injuries.
Risks of an EMG are very rare.
What Is Electroencephalogram (EEG)?
Overview
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a test used to detect problems in the electrical activity in the brain.
