When a patient is dealing with sciatica, finding which nerve is injured can greatly help the healing process. A neurologist determines if a nerve is injured with about 80% accuracy in the exam room. When a clinical exam  combines with EMG testing, this helps bridge the gap to 100% certainty. EMG stands for Electromyogram, an electrical test used to test the “electrical circuits” of nerve and nerve roots.

When performing an EMG, tiny pin electrodes are inserted into specific muscles whose electrical connections are known. An EMG is always performed in conjunction with nerve conduction testing (NCV). This tests the electrical conduction of specific nerves. These tests can be uncomfortable, so it’s very important that they are carried out by a specially certified physician. Only necessary nerves should be stimulated to find the problem.

Sciatica and Radiculopathy Testing Must Correlate with Symptoms

For everyone with sciatica or radiculopathy, it’s important that any testing done correlates with a patient’s history and neurological exam. The physician that is examining the patient needs to check muscle strength and reflexes in different parts of the body. This helps determine the muscles and nerve roots or nerves that need testing.

Additional testing that could help include X-Ray and MRI. X-Rays in the bending, lying, and standing positions can let the doctor see if there is any spinal instability that may be contributing to the patient’s problem. This could be due to a congenital defect. With an MRI, the doctor will be able to see soft tissues like ligaments, discs, tendons, and muscles. These images will also give the doctor valuable information. Keep in mind that an X-Ray and MRI are complementary to EMG and NCV testing. They give a different kind of information. By gathering as many details as possible, the doctor can pinpoint the problem area and create the best course of treatment.