What Is Electromyography (EMG) And How Can It Help?

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What Is Electromyography (EMG) And How Can It Help?
source: sunwaymedical.com

When you struggle with discomfort in your muscles, including tingling, numbness, or weakness, it is vital to seek expert help as it will aid you in getting back on the road to recovery. Not only can muscle pain be unpleasant, but it could affect your quality of life, such as keeping you from engaging in the things you love or even disrupting your sleep quality. For this reason, the specialists at the Sleep Services of Maryland LLC do everything they can to understand your concerns, including those that are not always obvious, such as a fractured bone. Here is where electromyography comes in. Your doctor uses an EMG along with a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) to assess what is wrong with your nerves and identify any unusual electrical activity in your muscles. Read on to learn more about EMG Germantown and why it can be beneficial for you.

Why Consider an EMG?

An EMG may be suggested if you have signs or symptoms associated with a muscle or nerve disorder, including:

  • Muscle cramps, discomfort, weakness, and twitching
  • Muscle deterioration
  • Particular types of neck, back, or limb pain
  • Tingling sensation
  • Numbness

What Conditions Can An EMG Help Detect?

Doctors use EMG testing to diagnose several neurological and neuromuscular problems. Some of these conditions include:

  • Sciatica
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Problems with the radial nerve
  • Spondylosis of the cervical spine and other age-related wear and tear issues
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or other nerve illnesses
  • Muscle problems such as polymyositis or muscular dystrophy
  • Nerve root disorders, like a herniated disc in the spine
  • Nerve compression, for instance, carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Neuromuscular disorders like myasthenia gravis

What To Expect With The EMG Procedure?

To do an EMG, your specialist will inject a very thin needle (electrode), into your muscle. After the electrode is in position, it will identify and transduce electrical activity information to a monitor, where it will be recorded.

For a precise diagnosis, the test will record your nerve impulses while the muscle is in motion or at rest. Your doctor might relocate the electrodes during the test, and often, over one muscle is examined.

An NCV test, on the other hand, analyzes the strength and speed of electrical signals traveling between two or more sites using electrode stickers placed on the skin. After your procedure, the doctor will evaluate the data and discuss them with you. Your physician will use this information to design a care plan that targets the root issue.

EMG is a low-risk technique with few negative effects. It is usually done as an outpatient procedure and takes 30-60 minutes. Nonetheless, you might experience mild discomfort during your procedure, and your muscles could be quite sore thereafter, but these concerns are only transient and easily tolerable.

Is a muscle disorder or nerve condition quite debilitating that impacts your sleep quality? Then, it might be time to consider electromyography at Sleep Services of Maryland LLC. Your specialist will use this diagnostic procedure to get to the bottom of your concerns; thus, developing an individualized care therapy for you. To learn more about EMG, make an appointment through mobile or book online today.