Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Vivian, The nerve conduction test is mainly getting some shock to you on different parts of the body. I didn't find it painful, its not pleasant. They also stick a needle in at some areas too to measure something, that is how they discovered the compressed nerve in my neck. The test doesn't take long at all. Wishing you luck. Joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 In a message dated 12/17/2003 8:49:35 AM Eastern Standard Time, sweetdreamsk9@... writes: wouldn't the EMG be bad for it also? Hmmmmm...guess I will have to call back and make sure. I am not sure. I would call your cardiologist and find out. Joy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 > The nerve conduction test is mainly getting some shock to you on different parts of the body. < thanks, Joy! I am wondering...since I can't use a tens unit or stimulator because of my pacemaker, wouldn't the EMG be bad for it also? Hmmmmm...guess I will have to call back and make sure. Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 Vivian, The nerve conduction test isn't very painful but more uncomfortable. The EMG portion of the test, which measures the electrical activity in muscles, is slightly painful but nothing to be afraid of. I had both these tests done on my ankle a year or so ago and it probably took 30 to 45 minutes in total. The length of the test may vary depending on what area of the body they are testing. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 17, 2003 Report Share Posted December 17, 2003 > I would call your cardiologist and find out. < And just had the cardiologist on the phone and forgot. But when they told me the news, I forgot everything! Recent stress test shows blockages and they want to do a heart cath. I just turned 42 yesterday...I shouldn't feel this old! Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Thanks to all who responded to this subject line. It helps to know others have been thru it, and one day I will be able to add my experiences when the next person asks. When it rains...it pours! May have already told you this, but you know how it is when you live in a medicated fog with short term memory loss... Saw pain management doc and requested a way to get off of the 7 pain pills and muscle relaxers. So he gave me morphine to try. Also scheduled mechanical traction for a month, as well as the EMG. Just waiting on insurance authorization for the traction now. If that doesn't work, he is referring me out to neurosurgery. Also got a call back yesterday from cardiologists office with results of nuclear stress test I had done on Dec 2nd. There is some problems, possible 1-2 arterial blockages. Nurse said doc would get back to me in a couple days with a plan. Less than 3 hours later, they called back and said I was scheduled for a heart cath tomorrow, with STAT insurance approval. So...tomorrow at 6:30am I will be prepped for the heart cath. If they see anything, then they will go in with a balloon or stents to fix any blockages. If only the cath is done, I will be home by Fri evening. If any fixing is done, I will be staying at least one night in CCU. This will be done at Shands Cardiovascular Center in ville, FL. And how are you all doing? All ready for Christmas? Viv in GA Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Oh my Goodness Viv, good luck tomorrow on your cath. I'll be thinking of you! I do have to question the " new med " of morphine...that too my dear is a narcotic (I don't know if you knew that) it is quite a hefty one at that....more than what is normally prescribed. But maybe he is thinking less pills...like a bigger one to take care of the issues, instead of many small ones??? I'm not quite sure. I did not see the emg question, it is a piece of cake. It only lasts a short time, and is basically almost like accupuncture, with little electrodes....nothing to get alarmed about. Should be in and out in less than an hour. Traction I never had (well not in a great sense) I had a collar device I had to hang from a doorknob to pull on my neck 4 times a day to try to pull the disks apart -pre-surg to try for pain relief, it didn't work. Thoughts to you tomorrow for a successful cath! Hugs EMG? Traction? Thanks to all who responded to this subject line. It helps to know others have been thru it, and one day I will be able to add my experiences when the next person asks. When it rains...it pours! May have already told you this, but you know how it is when you live in a medicated fog with short term memory loss... Saw pain management doc and requested a way to get off of the 7 pain pills and muscle relaxers. So he gave me morphine to try. Also scheduled mechanical traction for a month, as well as the EMG. Just waiting on insurance authorization for the traction now. If that doesn't work, he is referring me out to neurosurgery. Also got a call back yesterday from cardiologists office with results of nuclear stress test I had done on Dec 2nd. There is some problems, possible 1-2 arterial blockages. Nurse said doc would get back to me in a couple days with a plan. Less than 3 hours later, they called back and said I was scheduled for a heart cath tomorrow, with STAT insurance approval. So...tomorrow at 6:30am I will be prepped for the heart cath. If they see anything, then they will go in with a balloon or stents to fix any blockages. If only the cath is done, I will be home by Fri evening. If any fixing is done, I will be staying at least one night in CCU. This will be done at Shands Cardiovascular Center in ville, FL. And how are you all doing? All ready for Christmas? Viv in GA Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 > good luck tomorrow on your cath. < Thank you! > But maybe he is thinking less pills..like a bigger one to take care of the issues, instead of many small ones??? < That is what I am thinking...since when I went in there I asked him if there wasn't another way than taking 7 different pills, several times a day. The Kadian (morphine) I will take 1 every 12 hrs, once it kicks in...in a couple days. > I did not see the emg question, it is a piece of cake. < Whew...that is what the majority has said! > I had a collar device I had to hang from a doorknob to pull on my neck 4 times a day < Nothing like giving new sense to the phrase " just hanging around " ...LOL Thanks! Viv in GA Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 Viv in GA, thanks for your encouraging words to me as well. Let us know how traction is. Before my surgery, because I was so desperate to try anything, I filled out an application to rent this machine I found on www.backpaingo.com which uses continued passive motion - compression and traction. It was supposed to help sciatica pain. Unfortunately, I decided to have surgery after I already committed, so I now am committed to rent it for 3 months. Maybe later, in a month, I'll try it. Has anyone else used this machine - it's motorized. I'm impressed your docs are so thorough and open to traction; the one orthopedic surgeon I saw for a consult, and he said traction was only good for cervical back issues but not for my lumbar and sciatica issue. However, I am a believer of traction for lumbar also. My mother had a ruptured disc at L5-S1 also, just like me, but about 22 years ago; her doc says surgery and she opted not to. My dad had her on a traction machine during bed rest for 2 months; now her pain is gone forever with no surgery. But in those days, they may not have had the minimally invasive procedures we have now. So, I'm confident it will help. It makes sense logically - to open up the space and allow for the disc to heal itself. Take care with your meds; they are a blessing because one should not have to feel alot of pain. Hope you have a great Christmas in GA! Take care, Viv. Anne in CA EMG? Traction? Thanks to all who responded to this subject line. It helps to know others have been thru it, and one day I will be able to add my experiences when the next person asks. When it rains...it pours! May have already told you this, but you know how it is when you live in a medicated fog with short term memory loss... Saw pain management doc and requested a way to get off of the 7 pain pills and muscle relaxers. So he gave me morphine to try. Also scheduled mechanical traction for a month, as well as the EMG. Just waiting on insurance authorization for the traction now. If that doesn't work, he is referring me out to neurosurgery. Also got a call back yesterday from cardiologists office with results of nuclear stress test I had done on Dec 2nd. There is some problems, possible 1-2 arterial blockages. Nurse said doc would get back to me in a couple days with a plan. Less than 3 hours later, they called back and said I was scheduled for a heart cath tomorrow, with STAT insurance approval. So...tomorrow at 6:30am I will be prepped for the heart cath. If they see anything, then they will go in with a balloon or stents to fix any blockages. If only the cath is done, I will be home by Fri evening. If any fixing is done, I will be staying at least one night in CCU. This will be done at Shands Cardiovascular Center in ville, FL. And how are you all doing? All ready for Christmas? Viv in GA Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 18, 2003 Report Share Posted December 18, 2003 > and he said traction was only good for cervical back issues but not for my lumbar and sciatica issue. < Ummmm...the traction is for my neck (cervical), not my lower back. Vivian H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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