Morning you lovely people, has anyone had a nerve conduction test? I'm not worried about it it's just the letter states "on a cold day, could you please make sure that you wear gloves. Your hands should be warm for this examination. Please avoid using any form of oils or creams on the hands and wear lose clothing that allows access to elbows and knees "
As I've got peripheral neuropathy in my feet & legs (occasionally in my fingers) the above seems odd, if anyone can throw any light on it please x
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Garnacha
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I had one for carpal tunnel syndrome. Quite straightforward - they just stick electrodes on and put some current through. Be warned, it makes you jump as it activates the pain. Being warm and with no creams or oils I think ensures proper conduction between the electrodes. Nothing to worry about.
Just to say Wobbies has explained it just as I experienced. The lady who carried out my conduction test a few years back now was lovely and explained every step and what she was doing. Also any creams and oils would possibly make the electrodes slip from the area applied. Take care x
They did my hands, legs and feet in my case. As NMH has mentioned I too found it one of the least invasive of the things I have had done over the years. Sending some supportive wishes to you and let us know how you get on xx
Yes, I've had Nerve Conduction Tests/ Nerve Velocity Study a few years ago now, checking both peripheral neuropathy & carpal tunnel. It all sounds normal what you've been told, you need warm extremities as being cold can give a false nerve conduction reading so ideally you need to be at normal temp, not too warm or too cold. They will warm you up if you are cold though, the won't cancel the test so don't worry. No lotion because it will inhibit the electrodes sticking to your skin & it can also affect the readings. I was asked not to use any for a couple of days prior. Once there I was also asked to remove my jewellery. I only had a bangle on so that was easy but they had to tape up my wedding ring because carpal tunnel had made my fingers very swollen & it wouldn’t come off.
The Neurophysiologist introduced himself & the person sitting in front of the keyboard & screen. Initially he tested my arm strength, only resistance really. With the NCT all that happens is the electrodes, which are sticky pads, are placed on your hands or feet & they send an electric current, like a small electric shock, along the nerve to see how it reacts. Some electric probes (loops) were placed over a couple of my fingers too. All you have is a tingling feeling really, nothing uncomfortable. Depending on the speed it takes for it to travel determines your result. I remember some measuring going from electrode to somewhere, can't think what that was for though, maybe related the the speed, not sure though! All the while things are being entered on a keyboard & graphs show the impulses, I could see the screen clearly but it meant little apart from the levels & then peaks going up & down whilst being tested.
I also had EMG (Electromyography) at the same appointment, it is often done at the same time as NCS. That is to find out the electrical activity of the muscles. A needle electrode is inserted into the muscles, one at a time, & it measures activity whilst using it & resting it. That I found just a little uncomfortable, just a fine needle prick really.
I had them done twice, the second time a couple of months after stopping leflunomide. In all each appointment/test time was just short of an hour. I don't think I’ve missed anything out. Both tests have probably been the least invasive of the ones I’ve had. Hope you find so too.
Fab thank you, think I'll have to have a couple of rings taped up they just won't come off 🙄
How long was it before you had the results & was it found pretty quickly it was lefluminode causing it?
I missed my metoject deliberately last Monday as having my covid booster Tuesday, for months now I've been waking up with the awful hangover feeling & feeling sick every day, I thought it was metoject causing it but I'm starting to think it's the lefluminode. I'm going to leave it off for a couple of days to see how I am, only thing is I'm due my metoject tonight so will still feel eergghhh I guess tomorrow, hope they don't expect any common sense out of me when I'm having the tests done 😉🤣 x
The results came through in a few weeks, but it was at a different hospital to my normal one so that may have been relative. So it's probably hospital-dependent. With the first test I was on LEF & the second once I'd stopped LEF so once my Rheumy & I discussed the first tests she booked the repeat tests, in all probably 6 months between. The Neurophysiologist recommended I provisionally booked CT release after the first test but I was so convinced it was the LEF & things would return to normal once I stopped it I didn’t bother.
You may find halting LEF for only a couple of days you won't notice any difference as it takes a long while to leave the body, not like MTX or others. It's half life is 2 weeks as opposed to 8 to 15 hours for MTX for example.
Carpal Tunnel Release. It's a small op to cut the ligament which then releases the pressure on the median nerve. It's what causes the symptoms of carpal tunnel. It's a quick op done under local as a day case, mine was anyway, I assume it's the same in the UK.
Thanks everyone for your response, been really helpful.
I had rung the clinic but as usual these days answerphone but a lovely lady just rang me back.
Don't think I need to worry about my hands but to wear something lose or shorts 🤔 brrrrr 🤣 as they'll need access to my legs & above my knees, thank god I shaved them yesterday 🤣 thinking of wearing a dress with tights which should be warmer than shorts unless there's a heatwave I'm unaware of 🤣😂 x
If you've only been referred to Neurology to have your feet/legs tested then I would think that's all they'll do so the appointment won't be as long, may be half an hour.
No, not shorts, not in this weather! I wouldn’t wear tights either, more awkward to get on & off. Do you not have some loose fitting trousers that will go over your knees easily if you pull them up? That's what I did for the first set of tests. Or a dress/skirt with long boots? They only need access as far as your knees, or they did for me.
🤣 that's how I felt when shorts were mentioned 😂 ill have a look in my wardrobe see what's suitable, the lady did say that it can take up to an hour but guess she's just covering themselves x
They may do your hands whilst they've got you, if you've been having neurological problems, or even to prove you're not. Just thinking with you saying about your rings. Or as you say generally it takes an hour for both extremities so if she was unsure she'd err on the longer time of the two.
Possibly as I've had occasional pins & needles in my hands.
I'm also getting a blurry right eye, mainly starts around 8pmish but started earlier tonight, wondering if it's something & nothing or if I should ring opticians, always something else to add in the mix lol. Was just going to Google what could it be & whether it could be another side effect from metoject, lefluminode or any of the others , I know hydroxy can cause eye problems which I also take 🙄 x
The type of problems caused by hydroxy aren’t likely to cause a blurry eye in the evening. Are you of an age that developing cataracts might be a possibility? That’s the most common cause.
When I had those neurological tests they went from hips to feet and shoulders to hands…so wore sweatpants as easy to get off. I did find some of it quite “ouchy”, but only for seconds. And I got the results there and then, well I had to wait 15minutes, but a different system here.
Worth mentioning if it's not down on the referral.
Anything eye related is always best checked by your optometrist. It might be something entirely separate from meds you take but you won't know till it's examined.
Yes think I'll give the opticians a ring tomorrow but will also mention it at my rheumatology appointment next week, if at the nerve conduction test tomorrow & they ask for a history I'll let them know too but I could be there a while if I do that 🤣😂 x
Hi Garnacha, hydroxy retinopathy probably isn’t giving you blurry vision at the end of the day. I have it and it causes patches of wavy vision all the time. It doesn’t come and go. As others have said though it’s always best to get your eyes checked out anyway just to make sure it’s not causing something else 😊 🤞🏻
Hi, along with several other illnesses my hubby has had for many years he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in hands and feet about 5 years ago. It deteriorated significantly last year and he was referred for NCS and emg tests last October. Before the tests began he had to soak his feet and and ankles and lower legs in warm water in a bucket for 15 mins and place his hands on what looked like a warmed discus at the same time. His feet etc were then dried. This was to help with the tests. The tests were as other posters have described. Sadly the diagnosis was severe idiopathic neuropathy, although originally it was thought that it was a result of hubby's rheumatoid arthritis. His first neurologist prescribed B12 injections every week for 8 weeks as these can help if B12 low. Unfortunately every time he had the injection his neuropathy deteriorated, we were hoping it was recharging the nerves but this was not the case.
His new neurologist feels he needs to review all MRIs, scans, x-rays and bloods. Discuss hubby's health care with his 3 or 4 other consultants/ clinicians, do further tests possibly doing nerve biopsies before fully diagnosing the cause of the pain 24/7, numbness, pins and needles, total exhaustion and hubby's very poor balance. One possible cause could be severe inflammation of all peripheral nerves. We can no longer go for walks along the prom despite using a walking stick. We now have a walking frame in the house and a rollator due in the next few days. Walking was wonderful therapy for hubby's bronchiectasis so his breathing is suffering as a result. Hopefully with the rollator we can go down to the prom again and get the sea air and hubby has the seat on the rollator to rest. Hope all goes well for you. x
Oh I'm so sorry to hear about your hubby, sounds dreadful what he's going through, hope he gets his rollator very soon & you can both enjoy a walk along the prom again x
Hello. I've had the warning about creams and oils but not gloves. All I can say is I've had a couple of these in hands and legs, they're not very pleasant but not terrible either. You'll be fine.
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