Painful Tests???!!!! - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

Ann S · 03-09-2001, 07:03 PM

What are the standard tests for carpal tunnel? A friend of mine said she had one where they gave her some kind of shocks from her wrist to the elbow (a lot more severe than a static type shock). Then they stuck her deep with a needle several times on her arm. She said it was very painful, took about an hour, and her arm was still swollen today. Is that the normal test?? Thanks, Ann

cwalker · 03-11-2001, 08:53 AM

Sorry, the tests are somewhat painful but they have to do them to test the nerves' conductivity. Inserting the little pins in your arm shouldn't cause your arm to be swollen unless you have something else going on like an infection. Hopefully, by the time you are reading this, you are better.

Ann S · 03-12-2001, 08:05 PM

Cwalker,

Thanks for the response. I guess I'm just trying to weigh my options. I have so many other new medical conditions going on right now that are also painful and I'm trying to figure out if it's them causing the problem to be worse, or the carpal tunnel. They're all kind of overlapping and I just thought if there was an easy, painless test, I would go for it. I've previously been dx with carpal tunnel ages ago (without that kind of test), and was just wondering if it has advanced to the point of really damaging the nerve.

Thanks again, Ann

Carol · 03-16-2001, 06:01 PM

I didn't find the EMG very painful. One hand was more sensitive then the other. The weirdest thing is not having control over the shocking and your hand jerks,but it didn't hurt. The 2nd time I had it on my left hand, he poked my hand alittle too much and it was sore but it went away by the next day. No biggie. GOod luck!

Ann S · 03-18-2001, 09:22 AM

Thanks for the responses, Ann