If you have been experiencing signs of possible nerve damage such as pain and sensitivity, numbness and tingling, or even burning sensations your doctor may recommend a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test or Electromyography (EMG) in order to accurately access which nerves are damaged and to what extent. The NCV test records the speed at which signals move through nerves and the EMG test will record the movement through the muscle layer. The two tests are most often used in conjunction and referred to as neurodiagnostics. A physical examination and history are also done during this exam.
What happens during the tests?
During the NCV test, three surface electrodes will be placed on your skin directly over the suspected area of nerve damage. An electrical current is then emitted through a single electrode, stimulating the nerve. It feels similar to static electricity zaps when you remove a sweater from a dryer during winter. The test itself takes a half an hour or so.
The other two electrodes are used to measure impulse time and nerve signal.
This is followed directly by the EMG test. A thin electrified needle similar to those used during acupuncture is inserted into the muscle layer. You are then asked to contract the muscle and the activity will be recorded. This position of the test takes only 15 minutes.
An abnormal result in the reading lends itself to the presence of nerve damage or destruction which can include: damage to the long portion of the nerve cell (axonopathy), the impulse being blocked in the pathway (conduction block), or loss of fatty insulation along the nerve path (demyelination).
What can these tests diagnose? NCV and EMG tests are very helpful in the diagnoses of –
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy
- Spinal disc herniation
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
- Guyon Canal Syndrome
- Peroneal neuropathy
- Alcoholic neuropathy
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Traumatic injury to a nerve
- Nerve effects of uremia (from kidney failure)
- Diphtheria
- Foot drop
- Chronic inflammatory polyneuropathy
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Brachial plexopathy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (hereditary)
- General paresis
- Common peroneal nerve dysfunction
- Distal median nerve dysfunction
- Femoral nerve dysfunction
- Friedreich’s ataxia
- Radial nerve dysfunction
- Mononeuritis multiplex
- Primary amyloidosis
- Tibial nerve dysfunction
- Sciatic nerve dysfunction
- Secondary systemic amyloidosis
- Sensorimotor polyneuropathy
- Ulnar nerve dysfunction/neuropathy
Once the severity and extent of damage are known it is far easier to help the patient through proper treatment. If you believe you may be experiencing nerve damage we invite you into the office of Dr. Jason Kaster, D.C. With offices conveniently located in both Fort Myers, Fl and Naples, Fl we can help.
Chiropractor in Ft Myers, FL, and Naples, FL
Chiropractic care is a safe, alternative treatment when applied appropriately. Chiropractic treatments help in dealing with the symptoms of many conditions. Are you going to wait for your symptoms to be felt, or are you going to prevent it as soon as possible?
Dr. Jason B. Kaster, a chiropractor in Fort Myers and Naples, can help you and your family achieve their optimal health.