I have an EMG test coming up. Should I take the day off from work?

July 10, 2007 5:53 PM

I have an EMG test coming up. Should I take the day off from work?

Without getting too in-depth about my current medical problems, I have to get an EMG in about a month. I have a rough idea of what to expect from the test itself, but my question is this: how painful and/or fatiguing is it really? Am I going to be able to go to work after the procedure (my appointment is at 8am), or will I want to go home and go back to bed?

posted by tugena13 to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

it's somewhat painful, but it is not a lasting pain. i went back to work afterwords.
posted by barrakuda at 5:57 PM on July 10, 2007

Honestly, I could have gone back to work after I was done, but I guess I lack true passion, because I used it as an excuse to take the whole day off.
posted by kbanas at 6:00 PM on July 10, 2007

I have had several EMG studies--there is only minimal discomfort. You will probably experience more pain/discomfort in your usual day to day activities before and after the procedure than during the procedure. You should be able to go to work immediately after the procedure. Good luck with the test.
posted by rmhsinc at 6:08 PM on July 10, 2007

It's not bad. There'll be no lasting effects whatsoever.
posted by ikkyu2 at 6:17 PM on July 10, 2007

I have had needleless EMG done (which is MUCH less of a deal than the kind with needles, but probably remotely comparable), it was mildly uncomfortable during the test itself (worse than a static shock, less painful than hitting your funny bone), but there were no lasting effects or discomfort at all.
posted by biscotti at 8:22 PM on July 10, 2007

Prepare to take the time off, just in case. I had issues with the needle in my palm and was in severe pain following the EMG. I would not have been able to work afterward.
posted by SuzySmith at 8:57 PM on July 10, 2007

Once I stopped shaking from the terror of having needles repeatedly stuck in my arms, I was fine. Work would have been no problem, had my appointment not been at the end of the day.

(Truly, it wasn't that bad. I have a terrible needle phobia, but I was still highly entertained by the doc's ability to make my muscles twitch without me doing anything. I think it's one of the coolest demonstrations of modern medical knowledge that you can personally experience.)
posted by vytae at 7:00 AM on July 11, 2007 [1 favorite]