Anal Electromyography

Wonder if anyone has had an anal electromyography test. I've been having bouts of fecal incontinence so my doctor sent me to a specialist and after a very through rectal exam he wants me to have this test. I'm pretty uptight about having it as it sounds very unpleasnt.

This test does not sound all that horrid to me. I stole this description from Wikipedia

Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles.[1] EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph, to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electrical potential generated by muscle cells[2] when these cells are electrically or neurologically activated. The signals can be analyzed to detect medical abnormalities, activation level, recruitment order or to analyze the biomechanics of human or animal movement.

Speed

Speed, the part you didn't describe is how they get the muscle activity recorded.

They use either adhesive pads with leads like we use in e-stim and

EKGs -- OR -- they insert fine wire or needle probes into the muscles

they want to examine.

EMG in general is sometimes claimed by the doctors to be painless. However, I (and several acquaintances) found it to be very painful due to apparent electrical feedback in the equipment (inserted wires/needles). Mine was done 25 years ago as part of a spinal workup.

Agreed intruder. My partner had an EMG a few years back, also as part of a spinal workup. He said it was most unpleasant, and he's pretty laid back about such things.

This proceedure is entirely new to me, how long has it been used by the medical profession, does anyone know? Any type of electrotherapy can be extremely uncomfortable if not painful if not carried out properly. The anal/rectal area is a rather sensitive area the though of having elertic shock applied in that regeion dosent really appeal to me.

Has anyone else undergone this proceedure? How did you find the who experience? Whould you feel comfort about undergoing the proceedure again

Just think in a few years we may be able to recharge our cell phones by using the electrical activity in our ass. Someone could get a million dollar grant from the White House to study this under the "going green" thing.

OK one more, can I recharge my electric vehicle by plugging into my ass?

Never mind, the meds are kickin in....

Smartalk, please reread the original question. This particular thread is talking about electroMYOgraphy. That is a test to measure the conductivity of the myelin sheath that surrounds muscles and nerves (sorry, my A&P skills are on the fritz today). We are not talking about shoving electrodes into peoples' bottoms and charging them full of juice. That would be under the category of e-stim and is covered in another board entirely.

When my partner had EMG testing done, it was on the muscles in one of his legs because that is the spinal nerve that was affected.

As for how long this has been done, I'd have to check. How long has electricity been around?

I have been having some episodes of fecal incontinence lately so I went to my family doctor who gave me a through rectal exam with a procotoscope ( which wasn't too pleasant). Since I'm only in my mid-thirties he suggest I see an anal/rectal specialist. When I called to make the appointment the nurse asked about my symptoms and said I would be given a few tests one of which is an anal electomyography. She said to eat a clear liquid diet the night before my appointment and to take an enema before coming to the office.

Has anyone had this type of test before and what should I expect?

I haven't had these tests done, but this is a pretty comprehensive explanation: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1948316-overview

Yikes Janice. Did they actually insert needles adjacent to your urethra?!?

Sounds like a pretty interesting procedure

Definitely curious about this procedure, as not a lot is written about it.

Bumping this thread since it’s nearly 10 years old now.

Anyone lately have any experience with receiving, observing, or - as a medical professsional - executing, this procedure?

—TYD

I had needle emg for leg pain. It was not painful. The needle is so thin I didn't feel the insertion.

Genital neurophysiology tests sound very hot to me!