The doctor will tape wires to the skin and give a series of electrical stimulations. The machine times how fast nerves carry signals to arm or leg muscles. Although the suddenness of the stimulation may surprise some, most people are fairly comfortable during nerve conduction studies. Electromyography, the second part of the test, allows the consultant to see if the nerve that goes from the spinal cord to individual muscles is damaged. The doctor puts a thin sterile pin into selected muscles and listens and watches a TV screen for signals from the muscle.
Patients are able to hear sounds from the machine when they barely move a muscle.
For much of the test, it's necessary to relax the muscle. For other parts, the patient will be asked to slightly tense the muscle being tested. Electrodiagnostic tests involve no radiation or medication, and are safer than most tests. It is normal to experience a mild muscle ache for a few days after the test, and people will occasionally notice a small bruise, which disappears. There are no long-term side effects.