
Knowing which nerve(s) are injured and the extent of the damage helps your doctor to determine the best course of treatment, whether it is medication, therapy, injections, or surgery. How does my doctor use an EMG to diagnose my condition? An EMG helps your physician determine if there is nerve involvement and what part of the nervous system is affected. There are many reasons why you might experience pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling.

If your doctor has ordered an EMG test for you, here are some questions you may have before your appointment: Why does my doctor want me to have an EMG? This special test assesses the function of each nerve individually to find out which nerves are damaged, what part of the nerve is affected, and the severity of the problem. “EMG” is short for electromyography and nerve conduction study. Situations like this can be frustrating, but one method to cut through the confusion is for your doctor to order an EMG. A pinched nerve in the neck can cause tingling in the fingertips or inflammation at the wrist can make your whole arm feel like it is burning.

However, when you damage your nerves, disruption of these signals make it harder to pinpoint the problem. For example, when working properly, the nerves of a stubbed toe send signals to your brain that your toe is hurt and you respond by stepping carefully for a bit. When you are injured, your nerves tell you where the damage is located in your body.
