There's nothing worse than walking into a doctor's examination room and seeing some torture machine waiting for; unless you're a woman walking in your gynecologist and KNOW what to expect.
I spent one morning this week at a orthopedic Rehabilitation specialist's office getting an EMG and NCV test done to see why my left arm (from my elbow to my hand) and my pinky and ring fingers continue to be numb since my auto collision last September.
And this (image above) is what was waiting for me after I changed into a gown.
Now I have never claimed to be strong... tolerant of being poked and prodded by medical professional... but this little technology thing with all its wires and buttons was a little intimidating.
I am afraid of needles. I hate having my blood drawn (I whimper like a hurt puppy). I don't like having medical personnel near me.
But I needed to have these tests done to find the root of my numbness, get a diagnosis and then move on to treatment.
Electromyography- EMG
According to Hopkins Medicine website, an EMG is as follows:
Electromyography (EMG) measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle. The test is used to help detect neuromuscular abnormalities.
Nerve Conduction Velocity- NCV
According to Hopkins Medicine website, an NCV is as follows:
A nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test — also called a nerve conduction study (NCS) — measures how fast an electrical impulse moves through your nerve. NCV can identify nerve damage.
So the first part of the test was ok; kind of weird, but do-able.
The doctor placed electrodes on certain places on my elbow, wrist and fingers on my left hand. Then he took this prong like device and zapped my wrist and elbow; which caused involuntary hand movements and my fingers to jump. It didn't hurt; it was just weird to see your hand and fingers moving without any control. Not really any discomfort involved... just unnatural.
It was the second part of the test that got me.
The doctor took this little needle (have I mentioned I am afraid of and hate needles yet?) and pushed it into my skin on my shoulder (three places, my neck and my wrist. Then he was pushing buttons on the machine to send signals to my nerves. This was pretty uncomfortable. Especially the one on my wrist.
End result... my nerves seem normal from my shoulder down to my elbow; but then it gets a little sketchy. The doctor told me I have slight nerve damage on the ulnar (left side of my left arm) from my elbow down to my fingers; which is the cause of my fingers' numbness.
For now he has me wearing a volleyball elbow pad backwards with the hope that by keeping my elbow straight (unbent) will help the nerve to get back into position of where it needs to be. If after two to three months, and possibly another test like this one, there is no change, then we will be discussing surgery to have the nerves in my left elbow re-positioned to a new location.
All the way home from this appointment and since then, once again, I have been cursing that semi-truck driver for rear-ending me. When will all of this ever end?
I go for another MRI in April for more close up images of my left shoulder and neck area too; as the discomfort and pain there has not lessened any. Even after three - almost four- months of physical therapy. I have had my fill of doctor appointments, tests and anti-inflammatory/nerve prescriptions.
Bright Side... Is There One?
My parents have always told me to look for the bright side in every day life occurrences... and I swear, I have yet to find one in this entire scenario.
