To evaluate for a possible diagnosis of Neuropathy and its type and severity, two tests are performed: Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) and Electromyography (EMG).
Nerve Conduction Studies
This test is used to measure how well your nerves are functioning by testing how fast and strong the nerve signals travel. A technician applies brief electrical pulses to the skin directly over the nerve being tested. A second set of electrodes placed on the surface of the skin records the nerve’s response. The electrical pulses may feel like a strong “static-electricity” shock.
Electromyography
During the EMG, the doctor will insert a very thin needle into one muscle at a time. You will be asked to relax the muscle and then contract the muscle after the needle is inserted. The needle is connected to a computer that helps the doctor determine whether your muscle is healthy or affected by a disease of the muscle or nerve. The number of muscles to be tested is highly variable and depends upon your symptoms and what is found during the actual test.
Additional Information
Please do not apply lotion to your skin on the day of your appointment, and let your EMG doctor know if you are taking blood thinners prior to the exam. The risks of EMG and NCS are minimal.
Your doctors will discuss the results of your EMG and NCS, and they will be interpreted in the context of your overall evaluation. Usually, your EMG results will be available to you when you meet with your Sjögren’s Disease Center doctor.
