Arthroscopy Don't know what to do next/Knee-can't walk

[stephl]

An EMG test is next, before jumping to a tkr...he want to rule everything out. Is an EMG painful?

 

[Jockette]

I had one years ago. It wasn’t fun, but not too bad.

 

[Layla]

Here is an online overview, Steph -

An electromyography (EMG) test evaluates the health and function of skeletal muscles and the motor neurons that control them.
What the Test Involves
An EMG study typically combines two separate evaluations:

• Nerve Conduction Study (NCS): Small surface patches are placed on the skin, and mild electrical pulses are applied to measure how fast and how well signals travel along your nerves. It feels like a brief, mild static shock.
• Needle EMG: A very fine needle electrode is inserted through the skin into the muscle tissue to record electrical signals at rest and during muscle contraction. It may feel like a quick pinch, poke, or deep ache.

Common Reasons for Testing
Doctors order EMGs to investigate symptoms or diagnose conditions such as:

• Muscle weakness, numbness, tingling, or cramping
• Carpal tunnel syndrome or pinched/herniated nerves
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis, or muscular dystrophy

How to Prepare

• Skin care: Bathe or shower to remove skin oils before the test, and avoid using lotions, creams, or oils on your skin, as they can interfere with electrode readings.
• Medications and health history: Take your prescribed regular medications, but inform the doctor beforehand if you take blood thinners, have a pacemaker or defibrillator, or suffer from a bleeding disorder.
• Duration and results: The procedure generally takes 30 to 60 minutes. Preliminary thoughts may be shared immediately, and a formal report is sent to your ordering physician.

 

[Layla]

To answer your question through an online search -
An EMG (electromyography) test causes brief, mild-to-moderate discomfort rather than severe pain. Most patients compare the sensation to quick pinpricks or static shocks, and the procedure is generally well-tolerated without needing pain medication.

A quick SEARCH of the forum produced the following results after typing in EMG, if interested in wading through the posts -> HERE
@stephl

 

[stephl]

Thank you!

 

[spaniel]

As others have said the EMG is not particularly fun but it is relatively quick. Boy oh boy knees are tricky. i fell in May 26 and had four fractures as well as a DVT in calf (same side as fracture. Knee area was involved and had tibial plateau fracture and proximal fibular frac.ture. The MRI that I had in October 26 also showed complex meiscus tear, high grade lateral and medial facet cartilage loss, and mcl sprain. Also edema... effusion... The knee straigening issue was significant at first ( MAY, JUNE and JULY). I did pool PT and then land PT. I am walking slowly but with fairly little pain and much greater (though not absent) instability. I do hope you get better answers.