I am getting an EMG tomorrow and was wondering what to expect?

Question

I am getting and EMG (nerve test) tomorrow to determine the extent of damage my carpal tunnel has caused. I was just wondering if anyone has had one done and what I can expect! Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes i actually had to have one done because i had numbness in my toes. They had to stick little needle things in my feet, ankles, thighs, hip and back. Yes i wont lie, some of those hurt. You most likely wouldnt have to do all of those because its in your hand but you might get a few. They also did this thing like they were sending jolts of electricity through my nerves to see how fast it traveled or something. It didnt really hurt it was just weird when my leg jumped of the table and i wasnt controlling it! : ) You will be fine. It wasnt bad. Good luck!  

Answer 2

Carpal tunnel is a tunnel at your wrist through which the nerves to your hand travel into the palm. Certain conditions make the coverings on the tunnel to swell compressing the nerve within it giving you neurological symptoms like weakness and numbness of the thumb,wasting of muscles at the base of your thumb, pain etc. If the compression is so significant as to cause damage to the nerve it will show in the EMG and you may have to undergo a small surgery to decompress the tissue that is compressing it by cutting it to lay the tunnel open and save the nerve.I am sure the treating surgeon will explain this to you in detail before the surgical procedure in embarked upon

Answer 3

I've had a couple done on my legs after a car accident left me with a back injury and my legs would often go numb.  I remember it being painful, but not excruciatingly so.  If you tense up it will be worse.  Deep breaths  :)

Some technicians are also more 'forgiving' than others and will give you a few minutes when it gets rough.  Good luck!