What are nerve conduction studies?
Nerve conduction studies (NCS) are tests that check how well your nerves are working. Nerves are the electrical cables that carry touch signals from the skin to the brain. They also carry the brain’s signals to the muscles to make them move. If there is a problem with a nerve, it can cause a change in the sensation in your skin or a weakness of the muscles that this nerve supplies.
Nerve conduction studies, and related tests called electromyograms (EMG) record the electrical signals from nerves and muscles. They can check how quickly the electricity moves in the nerves which is a good way of checking how healthy the nerve is. They can also be used to find out where the damage is along a nerve. Mr. Davies uses these tests to help diagnose cubital tunnel syndrome.
How are nerve conduction studies performed?
Nerve conduction studies are performed by specially-trained neurophysiologists. They can be performed in different ways. For most, sticky pads (electrodes) are applied to the skin over muscles or nerves which are connected to electrical cables. An electric shock can be delivered to the nerve, causing the muscle nearby to jump. Electrical recordings are made from the muscle and nerve after the electric shocks to see how well the nerve is working.
Occasionally, you may need to have some very fine needles to be placed under the skin to record more accurately from one or more muscles.
The test takes about 20 minutes to complete. The electric shocks can be uncomfortable, or even a little bit painful, but they are over quickly.
Are nerve conduction studies safe?
Yes, nerve conduction studies are safe, even if a little uncomfortable. Care must be taken if you have a pacemaker or other electrical device in your body and in some cases, you may not be able to have the test. The neurophysiologist will check your medical history to ensure that it is safe before starting.
If needles are placed under the skin, there is a tiny chance of getting an infection from the needle. Bleeding is usually minimal, but if you are on blood-thinning medication, it is important to tell the neurophysiologist.
How soon will I get the result?
After the test, the neurophysiologist will look at the readings and provide a written report to your doctor. This usually takes no more than a few days.