Diagnosis

Your doctor will review your medical history, ask about any accidents or previous surgeries, and discuss your symptoms with you. Your doctor will also conduct a physical and neurological examination. If your neurological examination shows signs of a nerve injury, your doctor may recommend diagnostic tests, which may include:

• Electromyography (EMG). In an EMG, a thin-needle electrode inserted into your muscle records your muscle's electrical activity at rest and in motion. Reduced muscle activity can indicate nerve injury.
• Nerve conduction study. Electrodes placed at two different points in your body measure how well electrical signals pass through the nerves.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to produce detailed images of the area affected by nerve damage.