EMG needle causes severer pain in the end-plate region compared to the silent site of the muscle.
We investigated the severity and the quality of pain in the end-plate and the electrically silent site during electromyography by self-assessment. In 42 muscles of 30 patients, the mean pain score was 52.0 +/- 5.3 of 100 for the end-plate region, and it was 27.7 +/- 4.8 for the silent site. The commonest type of pain was pricking both in the end-plate region and the silent site (19 and 31%, respectively). We suggest two hypotheses for the difference. The pain fibers may be more densely situated in the end-plate, or muscle fiber contraction precipitated by needle irritation may also cause irritation of pain fibers.
Sener
H O
HO
Department of Neurology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. ozdensener@hotmail.com
Gökdemir
O
O
Mutluer
N
N
D000818:Animals; D004566:Electrodes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards