Low Back Pain, burning, aching or sharp/jabbing that refers to your gluteal region, if worse is now shooting down your leg.Chronic Low Back Pain that has been present for many months/years.Your doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm, test your reflexes, muscle strength, and other nerve changes. In the physical exam, and neurological exam your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting any movement that causes you pain. The test should be ordered after 1 month of symptoms of numbness, tingling, weakness in the leg or foot, persistent referred pain from the back to the hip or leg or overall history of leg and or back pain for over 3 months with no relief from other therapies. Often this test is ordered very late in the patients condition and symptom history, this a mistake. Using this information, he or she will be able to make the best, accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of your sciatica. Together, all these various exams and tests, with the EMG Testing the most specific and accurate test, will give your doctor a more complete picture of your sciatic nerve pain or “pinched nerve”. If your doctor thinks it's possible you have a herniated disc or spinal stenosis that's causing your sciatica, your doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. You may have an x-ray or a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. MRI/CT scan can show disc bulges or herniations but may not always correspond to your pain pattern.

To diagnose sciatica correctly and develop a list of possible causes, an EMG/NCV (Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Velocity Study) is required.

A complete report on your nerve conduction study will be sent to the consultant that ordered the test.How Your Doctor Properly Diagnoses Sciatic Nerve Pain The technician may be able to tell you the results of the test before you leave. Nerve conductions studies are usually performed as an outpatient meaning you can go home the day of the test. The nerves in the opposite side of your body may also be tested for a comparison. Don’t worry, the shocks are very small and should only produce a slight tingling sensation. The time it takes for the muscle to contract (tighten) is recorded. The electrodes are connected to a machine that can send electric signals to the areas and record the activity.ĭuring the test several electric shocks are produced via the electrodes. They will also place electrodes on the muscles supplied by the nerve. What happens during a nerve conduction study?Ī technician will place small pads with metal discs called electrodes over the nerve being tested. It is often performed before an electromyography (EMG) to diagnose and treat conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve injury or sciatica.

Nerve conduction test for sciatica