Waikato Neurology Group

What should I wear to my appointment?

It is important that you wear clothing that is loose-fitting as we try where possible to avoid asking

you to change into a gown unless necessary. Generally, for nerve conduction study testing, we need to have access to your arms and legs as high as the elbows and knees. You may be asked to remove bracelets or a watch, but most rings do not interfere with the test.

It is also important to try to keep your hands and feet as warm as possible, as the nerves do not conduct electricity as fast when they are cold, and this can interfere with the test results. Gloves and warm socks in winter are a good idea.

It is important to not wear lotion on your hands and feet as this makes the electrodes fall off.

What information should I bring to my appointment?

We ask that you bring any relevant correspondence from previous specialist visits, and any neuroimaging scans (e.g. CT or MRI scans). We will also ask you to provide basic contact details, next of kin, and GP information. If you have an active ACC claim for the visit, please ensure that the number has been given to staff before the visit, or otherwise bring it with you.

We will also ask you to fill in a registration form, a copy of which can be downloaded here

What forms of payment do we accept?

We happily accept EFTPOS including credit card, and personal cheques. Payment is required at the tme of service, and we can issue a tax invoice if you wish to claim the expenses from your insurance company.

Can I have a copy of the results for my records? How long do the results take to get to my doctor?

Yes, absolutely. Simply ask for a copy to be sent to you. In some cases it may be printed out immediately at the end of the test. Even if the report is not immediately available, the results are interpreted immediately and can be relayed to you verbally before you leave our office.

I have just had the test, and it made my symptoms worse? Has there been any damage?

This is a fairly common report after this type of test, and does not mean there has been any damage as a result of the test. Partly this is due to the doctor perhaps asking you to do “provocative tests” to bring out the symptoms when examining you during the test, but the test itself may also transiently worsen the symptoms. Typically, this lasts only a few minutes or at the most hours, and may settle with either Panadol or anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen.

NOTE: Bleeding, oozing, or bruising that raises the skin is not normal after this test. If this occurs, you must call our office immediately, but fortunately this is very rare.