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Hello, The Information Provided To Me Says I Will Need

Posted on Mon, 19 Nov 2018

Question: Hello, the information provided to me says I will need to discontinue the use of muscle relaxants prior to receiving a nerve conduction study. May I ask why this is necessary? What effect does a muscle relaxant have on a nerve conduction study? I assume it will influence the results, but how? Could it lead to a false positive, in which the results are invalid? Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Gopal (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
pl see below for details.

Detailed Answer:
Hi I am Dr Gopal Goel Orthopedic Surgeon.
All Muscle relaxants function by blocking the nerve endings or by central action ( causing sleepiness of brain centres) and thereby not allowing activation of muscles. In neve conduction study , muscles are activated by passing currents through nerves. But if they are not responding then the results will be false and cannot be depended upon.
If results cannot be depended upon then what is the use of a test?
Thanks. Please feel free to ask any other question.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Gopal (2 days later)

Thank you, Dr. XXXXXXX for your prompt and helpful answer. May I pose one final question? I'm receiving conflicting information. My doctor told me not to worry about discontinuing my muscle relaxant medication, but the information I received for the study states I should discontinue the medication. You convinced me it's better to be safe and stop the medication for the test. Thank you.

May I pose one final question? A nerve conduction study will yield either a negative (no evidence of peripheral neuropathy) or a positive (evidence of peripheral neuropathy) result. I'm intrigued to learn if muscle relaxant medication will contribute to a negative or a positive result?

Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Gopal (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
PL see below.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
In my opinion muscle relaxants are likely to result in false positive or negative results depending on the number of nerve endings affected.
Since the results are unreliable I would not like to label as positive or negative.
Thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj