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How many of you have nerve tests done?

Posted , 10 users are following.

Guest
Guest

I just wondered how liklely it is to have nerve tests done, pre op and post op? I didn't get any before the surgery. How is it done? Can I get one now, still under rehabilitation after 9 months (and at the moment facing a setback) or ist it appropriate at this point?

0 likes, 30 replies

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  • shirley49794
    shirley49794 Guest

    Posted

    Yes umcan get a nerve test done it is called

    EMG  A n

    erve Dr. oes them

  • elaine02726
    elaine02726 Guest

    Posted

    My understanding was that the nerve test was to confirm the diagnosis.

    i had it done after talking to the doctor about my symptoms and then the results led to the op.

    regards Elaine

    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 elaine02726

      Posted

      Thank Elaine ..as ive said my gp has referred me to see consultant which is Jan..and then wondered if the test would be then another appointment for that. .then the results of that would take another app back to consultant for him to then diagnose whats next..the good old NHS lol
    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 dorothy_49

      Posted

      Yes,you are probably right. The nerve test is done by someone else. It was a n independent organisation who used the hospital every Friday, the out patient dept. gave me an appointment and I got home and rang the nerve people and said I would take a cancellation. It was done the next day. I then rang the consultants secretary and told her I was ready to comeback and again was seen quickly. It was then a 6 week wait but I kept phoning the surgery appointments clerk and it was about 3 weeks!

      naughty I know but when needs must...

      Regards Elaine 

    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 elaine02726

      Posted

      Very true..so how long have you been suffering from these symptoms..if don't mind me asking As im curious to see how others have been feeling before and after .

       Dorothy

    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 dorothy_49

      Posted

      I had pins and needles in both arms for years, very occasionally at night. Just thought I was 'lying funny'. Had no idea there was a condition CTS.

      then I fell and broke my wrist and was in plaster for 6 weeks. The Dr. told me I had arthritis in my wrist and he was apologetic that the plaster was making it worse. When the plaster was off I started with horrendous pins and needles in the night. I was under a consultant for my shoulders and had a routine appointment so mentioned it and they brought the "hand specialist' in who was also in OPD that day, and he  sent me for the nerve test so basically I by passed my GP. 

      my recovery was good although I did have low days and that's how I got on this site. 

      Keep in touch it will be nice to hear how you get on.

      best wishes Elaine

    • jacquis59
      jacquis59 elaine02726

      Posted

      This site is the best thing that happened to me since my surgery. It's so great to have a strong support group and share experiences. 

      I'm quite thankful to be making new friends.

       

    • Guest
      Guest jacquis59

      Posted

      Me too! smile

      ThanX for all the replies in this thread so far.

      Now at last I've found out why my GP won't write a remittance for a ENMG test. The doctor who writes the remittance must be the one to have the questions to be answered. But my GP is absolutely no specialist when it comes to cts, so he doesn't know what to ask. They told me the remittance must come from a orthopedist/surgeon/neurologist or something like that. But my surgeon (who now is retired) thought the ENMG already was done after a remittance from my GP. So... for me to get any nerve tests done (or anything else), I must go directly to a specialist. This is Sweden in a nutshell. I don't know how it works in other countries, but... It's very difficult to find a specialist here without going through the GP instance first, they always wants a remittance from a GP. But if the GP doesn't know what to write... Both my hands AND arms must be under a ENMG and MRi now I guess. I don't get any better.

    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 Guest

      Posted

      Thank god for the NHS! (UK)

      we have to go through a GP but their letters vary from very detailed to minimal. E.g. ''Please see this lady who has pain in her hands''!!

      i worked with GP's and have seen this sort of letter go out to consultants.

      good luck Elaine

  • mark26805
    mark26805 Guest

    Posted

    I am lucky to live in the UK and the NHS have been brilliant for me. I know this is not always the case, but in mine, I'm very pleased with the service.

    For about 2 years I had tingling pins and needles in both hands whenever I rode my mountain bike. Both hands would "fall asleep". Not a problem and I did nothing about it until I started decorating my house and found I occasionally dropped the paintbrush because my fingers were numb. Then I had a couple of painfull nights where I think I slept on my hand and woke up to find bad pins and needles (not just numb, but actually more painfull). I saw my Dr who sent me to get tested with the electric shock down the fingers method. This was actually more uncomfortable than the problem! But only lasted 10 minutes. The results said CTS, severe in right hand, moderate in left. I was then sent to have my right hand operated on. First date was cancelled the day before surgery, but second date went ahead and took a total of 30 minutes in and out.

    3 months later I went for a long bike ride (well Christmas and cold weather got in the way!), my right hand was perfect, no pins and needles at all whilst my left had mild pins and needles, no pain.

    I will need my left done in the future, but not just yet. Instead I plan to exercise the wrist area more and see if it helps.

    JOB DONE, THANK YOU NHS DOCTORS. All totally free and much appreciated.

    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 mark26805

      Posted

      Hi mark I too live in the UK had pins neeedles numbness seering pain in the palm of my hand waking up during the night with no feeling I saw a consultant jan 3 who simply said change ur job !! I went back to my gp and getting a second opinion seeing someone 23 of feb..I wondered how bad do you have to be ?? Wasnt even sent for a nerve test..ill see what this dr has to say
    • Guest
      Guest mark26805

      Posted

      Hello Mark! "Exercise the wrist area", what is that exactly? How? I'm in the same position, maybe my left hand is in pre-op mode (and don't know for sure about my right one yet, it's ups and downs). However, I found a device called CTRAC, at Amazon. I wonder if that is any good? It's for stretching the carpal tunnel ligament. Maybe I should invest in one? The trouble is I haven't worked since the surgery as much as I wanted, couldn't start my own company in the extent I've wished for, just yet.

      Interesting, you say the cts started 2 years ago. How long time did you have it before surgery? 18 months? Here they've said it's no use to undergo surgery after more than a year, since it won't be that helpful. At the same time, it's extremely hard to get a surgery within 6 months. I have a relative who will have a cts surgery done for certain. But she hasn't even seen the orthopedist yet, waited about 6 months now at the long waiting list.

    • Guest
      Guest dorothy_49

      Posted

      What profession did the "consultant" have? Was it an occupational therapist, surgeon, ortopedist, neurologist or what? Some of the people having cts will have to change their job even after surgery, but it's not necessary in most cases. Most people can continue with their work after surgery, but some have to plan for more variation during tasks. It looks like the 1st consultant of yours thought if you changed your job, you wouldn't need a surgery. If you had that as a guarantee (noone can give such a guarantee, but...)  - what would you decide?
    • dorothy_49
      dorothy_49 Guest

      Posted

      He was a neurosurgeon..ken..maybe that was his idea..but ppl just cannot change there job just like that. .easy for them to say lol
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