What is Electromyoneurogram (EMG)
Electromyoneurogram is a test to check how well your muscles and nerves are working. This procedure includes the combined use of electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS).
EMG is used to look for muscular disorders. NCS, which is also called electroneurogram, measures how well your nerves are controlling your muscles.
The procedures are usually performed together to check if your muscles and nerves are healthy. If the reaction to testing is abnormal, this can indicate disease or injury, such as peripheral nerve damage.
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
- Any pacemaker you have.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Infection where the electrodes were inserted.
- Bleeding.
What happens before the procedure?
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- Your
health care provider may ask you to avoid:
- Caffeine, such as coffee and tea.
- Nicotine. This includes cigarettes and anything with tobacco.
- Do notuse lotions or creams on the same day that you will be having the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
For EMG:
- Your health care provider will ask you to stay in a position so that he or she can access the muscle that will be studied. You may be standing, sitting down, or lying down.
- You may be given a medicine that numbs the area (local anesthetic).
- A very thin needle that has an electrode on it will be inserted into your muscle.
- Another small electrode will be placed on your skin near the muscle.
- Your health care provider will ask you to continue to remain still.
- The electrodes will send a signal that tells about the electrical activity of your muscles. You may see this on a monitor or hear it in the room.
- After your muscles have been studied at rest, your health care provider will ask you to contract or flex your muscles. The electrodes will send a signal that tells about the electrical activity of your muscles.
- Your health care provider will remove the electrodes and the electrode needles when the procedure is finished.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
For NCS:
- An electrode that records your nerve activity (recording electrode) will be placed on your skin by the muscle that is being studied.
- An electrode that is used as a reference (reference electrode) will be placed near the recording electrode.
- A paste or gel will be applied to your skin between the recording electrode and the reference electrode.
- Your nerve will be stimulated with a mild shock. Your health care provider will measure how much time it takes for your muscle to react.
- Your health care provider will remove the electrodes and the gel when the procedure is finished.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- It is your responsibility to obtain your test results. Ask your health care provider or the department performing the test when and how you will get your results.
- Your
health care provider may:
- Give you medicines for any pain.
- Monitor the insertion sites to make sure that they stop bleeding.
