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Is there a way to test neuropathy w/o sticking needles in your veins?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jun 16, 2023 | Replies (24)Comment receiving replies
I have to agree with you Rosaliemarie. The first few EMG's I had were painful. Not just uncomfortable. The last one I had, I am pretty sure it was the Fellow's first time as it was excruciating. I taught myself to disassociate during that test.
I think that EMG's vary by person. I am curious if the people who did not experience pain had a negative test. I was told my results only showed mild impairment which surprized me.
Replies to "I have to agree with you Rosaliemarie. The first few EMG's I had were painful. Not..."
Reading how the experience varies by person, it makes me wonder about a couple things. As I mentioned before, my 2015 EMG with the small needles was nothing like my 1980 experience that used basketball pump sized needles with rounded tips. In 2015 it was like getting 20 vaccinations with tiny thin needles. Yes, my test showed abnormalities all throughout my body. My nerves are overly sensitive to pain, but not sensitive to good stimuli.
1. All of you have probably figured out by now that someone drawing your blood is an art. Some blood draws I don't feel the needle at all. Others are like a shovel going into my arm. Some people are just good at it. Maybe it's the same with an EMG. Maybe the neurologist needs to have good skills.
2. I'm wondering if some neurologists have newer equipment that may take the smallest needles while others may have older equipment that uses an older larger version of needles??? My son had EMG testing in 2004 and had the same experience I did in 1980.
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Yep, that’s is how it felt. it was torture! They did find a great deal of impairment. My NP at Mayo, says they have a peripheral neuropathy clinic now, but before i can see anyone there, they require that i get another EMG. Yuk!!