Dr. Farid Eshghi Esfahani Medical Corporation
A short guide to help you prepare — what to wear, what to expect, and how the test works.
This test is sensitive to temperature. Cold hands or feet can affect the results, so the most important thing you can do is arrive warm. If warm clothing alone doesn't keep your hands or feet warm, consider bringing heating pads.
Wear a T-shirt with a warm sweater over it, plus winter gloves to keep your hands warm on the way in.
Wear warm, loose pants you can roll up above the knee, plus winter socks and shoes. No loose warm pants? Wear shorts underneath your winter pants instead.
This gives you time to prepare and fill out the intake forms.
A list of your current medicines, and your health card.
An Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) records the health and function of the nerves and muscles in your limbs and spine. The test is performed by Dr. Esfahani while you lie on your back, and usually takes 30–45 minutes depending on how many nerves and muscles are tested.
Dr. Esfahani measures how quickly your nerves conduct signals by applying a small electrical stimulation and timing the resulting waveform. A small, sterile needle may also be placed into the muscles being tested — this can feel like a pinch, and stays in for about 30–60 seconds per site. You'll be asked to move the muscle so the doctor can see the waveform it produces.
If you feel uncomfortable at any point, let the doctor know and the test can be paused.
Some mild discomfort in the tested limb is common afterward, though most people feel nothing at all. A smaller number of people are more sensitive and may notice some soreness — how long it lasts varies from person to person.