Electrical tests

Three basic types of electrical tests may be employed in difficult cases involving leg pain lasting more than a month. They may help the doctor localize the source of pain or numbness or suggest the cause of the pain (for example, whether it is due to disk herniation or nerve damage from an unrelated disorder, such as diabetes).

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In one such test, called electromyography, electrodes are used to measure muscle abnormalities. The two other tests--nerve conduction and sensory-evoked potentials--examine nerve function by measuring how fast the nerves conduct impulses. These three tests are used only if the diagnosis is in doubt, since there is still some debate over their usefulness.