Ive a alot about EMG's & i would be glad if you's could expain what exactly it is & how does it work? Is it quick? Does it hurt? Is it done on the kneck or the wrist or what? Thanx. Any insight would be handy!
John Woo.

I had one awhile back and here's what they did: they put eletrodes on my hands and gave me varied intensities of electric shocks. It was NOT fun! Then the neurologist game in and did a test w/pins, which he stuck in diff. parts of my hands. Again, NOT FUN!!!

It probably wasn't the worst thing I've been through, but its not pleasant..fortunately, it took only about a half hour. Good luck w/yours. :)

I just had one a week ago. The doctor sticks needles in your muscles various places, like your forearm, between your index finger and thumb, and I forget where else. He said the needles are only a little larger than acupuncture needles. It didn't make me bleed I don't think. Then he makes you move your muscles, like by pressing against the doctor's hand or something. And it's connected to a machine with a squiggly line. The nerve conduction test is where he puts stickers on your fingers and various places on your arms and shocks you. Sometimes for larger shocks, it makes your hand jump. My tests only lasted like 15 minutes. They didn't do my neck. I had read how people thought it was painful, so I was kind of nervous, but it wasn't bad at all really. The first shocks seem worse because you don't know what to expect. But mostly you just feel a twinge, like your nerves are guitar strings and they are plucking them. For the EMG, you only feel it when he first puts the needle in, and it's not as bad as having blood drawn or anything. It didn't even hurt afterwards really except for one of the pin pricks.

I had an EMG a few weeks ago. I found it to be unpleasant, but not especially painful. I was more freaked out that I might have nerve damage. The part with the electrodes was the worst for me, the pulses made my fingers & arm jump! Important: the more you jump (for me the jump was more nervousness than sensation), the less they can read the signal, so they have to do it over! The calmer you stay, the better.

Unplesant but not painful. No bleeding. Just relax.

Hi Everybody
I had the tests done a couple of months ago for Ulnar nerve entrapment. Maybe I'm a bit weird but I found the whole procedure fascinating & was quite amused to watch my fingers jump without me actually moving them. :)
My hands did bleed when he stuck the needles in but no more than if I jabbed myself whilst sewing & no more painful.

What doesn't impress me about EMG/NCV testing is that it's not very accurate. There's some interesting studies available on the net which show that as many as 25% of people who don't actually have CTS can have a positive result & even more than that who do actually have it show a negative result. I discussed this with the surgeon & he agreed that these tests are more just a guide than anything else.

I didn't actually have these tests done prior to my CTS surgery & the surgeon did just as good a job without them :)

Lidia :)

Thanx for all the feedback guys. How long did you's have these CTS symtoms b4 u went & had an EMG? & are you's better now?? Thanx dudes. Your feedback is truley appreciated.

I had an EMG a week ago for numbness in my ring and little fingers on one hand, and painful carpal tunnel-like symptoms on the right hand.

It was done in 2 parts. First was a nerve conduction test. The Dr. simply put put test leads on my skin and applied little electric "shocks". Don't worry, it is no worse than banging your funny bone. The second part was the needle test. This was no more uncomfortable than an allergy test. Never even felt a pin sitck. This is not a bad experience at all. I've had allergy shots that were much worse than any of this. Good Luck, Bill

I just had an EMG done last Wednesday and compared to a cortisone shot it was a piece of cake. I got to lay down on my back and the Dr place small electrodes at various points on my hand and forearm and then introduced small electrical shocks. They were very tolerable. Then when that was done he took a small 25 guage needle and inserted it into my arm and hand at various points. It was so he could listen to my muscles. It sounds like a loud static noise. The procedure was all of about 30-45 minutes.


Missy