Are You a Candidate for Nerve Conduction Study?

Thousands of residents in Georgia suffer from nerve damage. The body’s nervous system is a highly intricate weaving of connections throughout the entire body. Damage to a single nerve can cause tingling and “zaps” to occur anywhere in the body. Causes of nerve damage range from motor neuron disease, autoimmune diseases, traumatic injury, cancer, infections, vitamin deficiency, and diabetes. With so many causes of nerve damage and thousands of nerves throughout the body, it can be challenging to diagnose this condition. One diagnostic tool used to evaluate nerve damage and function is a nerve conduction study (NCS).

At Medici Spine and Pain, we use nerve conduction studies to help diagnose nerve disorders to help design an effective treatment plan for our patients. A nerve conduction study is a medical diagnostic test commonly used to evaluate the function, especially electrical conduction, of the motor and sensory nerves. How the nerves respond to signals during the diagnostic test can reveal damage and the extent of that damage. As the nerves are stimulated, the quickness of muscle contraction will be measured. If there is a sensation of pain, numbness, or tingling, the location will be recorded.

A Nerve Conduction Study is an external test that uses electrodes that are placed on the skin. One electrode will be placed above the nerve. As the nerve is stimulated, it will emit an electrical pulse. Another electrode is placed on the muscle controlled by the nerve. When electrical pulses are sent to the nerve, a tingling sensation is often felt. The time between the transmitted impulse and the muscle contraction is known as the conduction velocity. This will be recorded to compare against “control” nerves to accurately diagnose any nerve damage present.

Diagnostic testing is a critical aspect of finding the source of pain. Without understanding the source of a patient’s pain, an effective treatment plan cannot be created. Medici Spine & Pain utilizes nerve conduction studies and other diagnostic tools to help accurately diagnose chronic pain conditions.

If you suffer from nerve pain, contact Medici Spine & Pain to schedule an appointment at one of our two clinics in the greater Atlanta area. Our pain experts strive to treat the source of pain to provide relief.