Electric Shock Nerve Testing

J

jmellc

Senior Member
Location
Durham, NC
Occupation
Facility Maintenance Tech. Licensed Electrician
A friend had to get nerves tested in his legs. They hooked him up and shocked his legs to measure reaction. I haven't heard of this before. I assume it would be something like 12 or 24 volts DC? Not generally lethal but I have had a few painful shocks from low voltage. Anyone familiar with this?
 
I had this test about 10 years ago due to diabetic issues. It was a slight tingle shock that the doctor could amplify to get different readings. Was not really painful, just more like hitting your funny bone type tingle.
 
hbiss said:
No, but I have heard of it called TENS.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...nscutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens
Click to expand...
TENS is more for therapy (particularly muscle spasms or reconditioning after injury) than diagnostics. Mom's been anchored to her pack for almost 30 years now after a career on the nursing floor.

Girlfriend in college had this sort of testing done to attempt diagnosing muscle control issues... ion cascade (what actually happens when a nerve "triggers") begins around 30mV, and "Ow!! That HURTS!!" starts around 20mA, so if they're directly stimulating the nerves in question during the test, those are your lower and upper limits, respectively.
 
EMG is the test done to see how nerves respond. As mentioned in the OP they connect leads, usually past a major joint and then use electric needle probes at the extremities. They are checking to see the nerve response and if they can determine where the nerve may be being pinched.

I have had 4 of them over the years on my right ulnar nerve. Yes it is painful.
 
If anyone ever gets told by a doctor that they need to have a discogram for a diagnosis to know where pain is coming from. Don't do it. Just warning you.
 
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