Factor Affecting the Pain that Subjects Feel when Electrodiagnostic Study is Performed

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 1999;1(1):93-98.
Published online January 1, 1999.

Abstract

Objective : To investigate various factor affecting the pain during electrodiagnostic study. Method : 130 subjects (men: 83, women:47) were studied. We divided subjects into two groups such as subjects to be given a information paper about purpose and method of electrodiagnostic study and those not given a information paper when they reserved, and just before the test we performed Symptom Checklist-90-Revision and questionnaire. Using Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) we examined the expected pain scale when subjects were tested. Right after the test using Visual Analogue Scale we checked the real pain scale of patients of nerve conduction study(NCV) and electromyography(EMG). Results : (1) Cases over 6 points at VAS were 29% of NCV pain and 61% of EMG pain, Mean EMG pain, m Mean EMG pain was higher than mean NCV pain. (2)After the test, 31.5% of patients did not want to retest in the future. (3) Women felt higher pain than men did: EMG pain was statistically higher than that of NCV. (4) In Symptom Checklist-90-Revision, subjects who had high anxiety, depression, obsession, and hostility scale had higher expected pain, but those scales did not affect real pain, and groups who felt pain higher didn't show high anxiety level. (5) Various factors such as test time, waiting time, time of day, day of week, level of education, height, weight, past history of acupuncture, and causal disorder and so forth, were not significant to pain scale after electrodiagnostic study. Conclusion : So we think we need more efforts to decrease pain with concern to physical injuries itself by electrical stimulation os insertion of needle electrode, and many more studies about anxiety and pain perception scale should be followed.

Key Words: Electrodiagnostic study. Pain, Anxiety