Diagnosis of neuropathy by nerve conduction study (EMG & NCV)

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EMG and NCV in neuropathy: No matter what causes a neuropathy, the same tools are used to diagnose it. The most important of these is the complete medical history and neurological exam. It is important to determine the cause of the neuropathy as quickly as possible to reduce the risk for permanent nerve damage. Diagnosis involves physical and , nerve conduction velocity studies (NCV), and electromyography (EMG). If your doctor suspects long-term damage to the nerve or necrosis of the nerve, then the next action is to determine the extent of the damage. A test for nerve conduction velocity (NCV) is done to see how your nerves are sending impulses. This test is done with your arms attached to receptors while your skin receives mild electric shocks in certain areas. The receptors time how fast the nerve is sending a signal. The NCV test is followed by an electromyography (EMG) test where the muscles are stimulated with a needle (similar to those used in acupuncture) to determine what nerves and muscles are affected by nerve damage sending information to motor neurons. Read more: Neuropathy Tests & Diagnosis | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5434807_neuropathy-tests-diagnosis.html#ixzz1LK2qndAu