Sometimes you may feel like your hands or feet are tingling, or you may feel like you're being bitten by ants for no reason. Sometimes these things go away after a while. But if this tingling, pain, or weakness in your limbs persists, it could be a sign of a problem with your nervous system. So, at a time like this, your doctor may recommend that you have a nerve conduction study, also known as a 'nerve conduction study'.
What is a Nerve Conduction Study?
Simply put, this is a test that checks how well and how fast the nerves in our body are working.
Think of it this way: our brain and spinal cord are the main control center. It's like a light post. From there, there's a system of 'wires' that carry electrical messages to every part of our body, including our hands, feet, and even our fingertips. We call these peripheral nerves . This test mainly looks at whether these 'wires' have been damaged and whether the speed and strength of electrical messages traveling through them have decreased.
There are two main types of these nerves:
- Motor Nerves: These are the nerves that control our muscles and help us move our limbs, walk, and grasp things.
- Sensory Nerves: These are the nerves that carry things we feel, such as touch, pain, heat, and cold, to the brain.
This NCS test can measure the function of both types of nerves.
Why would a doctor recommend this test?
If you have tingling or numbness in your arm, leg, hand, foot, or even your face, your doctor may recommend this test. This test can mainly find out about two types of medical conditions.
| Type of medical condition | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Peripheral Neuropathy | Damage to the peripheral nerves that run throughout our body can cause symptoms such as tingling, pain, and muscle weakness. |
| Nerve Compression Syndromes | A nerve being compressed by a bone, muscle, or other tissue. This is also one of the causes of peripheral neuropathy. |
| Some common causes and examples of these situations | |
| Diabetes | Uncontrolled diabetes can damage nerves over time. |
| Vitamin deficiencies | Deficiency of vitamin B, in particular, affects nerve function. |
| Autoimmune Conditions | Disease conditions in which the body's own immune system attacks the nerves. Examples: Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Guillain-Barré syndrome. |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Tingling and pain in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger of the hand due to compression of a nerve that passes through the wrist. |
| Sciatica | Leg pain caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that runs from the back down the leg. |
Are NCS and EMG the same test?
No. Most of the time, these two tests are done together, but these two are separate. Let's take a small example to understand this.
Imagine, a nerve is the 'wire' that carries current to a light. A muscle is the 'bulb' that is lit by that current.
- The NCS (Nerve Conduction Study) test checks whether the current in the 'wire' , that is, the nerve, is flowing properly, is flowing too fast, and is there a break somewhere.
- An EMG (Electromyography) test is performed to see how the 'bulb' , that is, the muscle, works after the current comes from the 'wire' and how much electricity it produces.
So, by doing both of these tests together, the doctor can determine exactly whether the problem is in the 'wire' or the 'bulb'. That is, he can clearly confirm whether the problem is in the nerve or the muscle.
How is this test done? What should I expect?
Let's now talk about what happens before and during this test.
Here's how to prepare before the test:
There are a few simple things you need to do before coming to the test.
- Wash your body thoroughly and come clean. But do not apply any creams, lotions, powders, or perfumes to your body. These can affect the accuracy of the test.
- Come dressed in comfortable, loose clothing .
- If you have a pacemaker or other electronic medical device implanted in your body, be sure to inform the doctor or staff conducting the examination in advance .
What happens during the test?
1. First, you will be asked to sit in a chair or lie comfortably on a bed.
2. Next, the doctor or technician who is conducting the test will place several small electrodes on your skin, along the nerve being tested. These are just sticker-like things.
3. Then, a very small, subtle electrical current is delivered to that nerve through one electrode.
4. Don't worry, this is just a slight tingling sensation, like the "tick" and "shock" that we get when we touch something metal on a dry day. It's not painful.
5. The time it takes for this electrical signal to travel along the nerve to the muscle or other part of the skin, and the strength of the signal, are measured by other electrodes and recorded on a computer.
6. To find the exact location of nerve damage, this electrical current can be administered to several places along the nerve and tested.
Typically, this entire test can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more , depending on the number of nerves being tested.
Does this hurt? Is there any risk?
Actually, this is not a painful test . There is a slight tingling sensation when the small electric current hits, but it is only a slight tingling sensation that goes away in a few seconds. Most people can do this without any difficulty.
The NCS test is a very safe test . It does not cause any long-term harm or risk to the body.
What does the investigation report say?
This is very important. You cannot make a diagnosis based on the NCS test report alone. Your doctor will combine this report, your symptoms, the findings of your examination, and other tests (such as blood tests) to make a final diagnosis about your condition.
Typically, the report can be received within 24 to 48 hours of the test.
So if you have any questions or concerns about this test, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor. He or she will explain everything to you and resolve any concerns you may have.
Take-Home Message
- NCS is a very safe and important test used to find the cause of symptoms such as numbness, pain, and weakness in the limbs.
- This is not a painful test, and only a subtle electrical current is felt.
- Do not apply any creams, lotions, or powders to the skin before the test.
- If you have a medical device such as a pacemaker, it is imperative to inform your doctor in advance.
- This test report is only one part of your diagnosis. The final conclusion is reached after your doctor considers all the facts.
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