Years ago a medical school professor assigned several of his students, guided by a senior resident, to give me an EMG. They started at my feet, and ended at my forehead, missing nothing in between. And yes, it was painful and embarrassing. My expressions of pain they told me were reassuring; when their needles and electricity caused me no pain, that meant the nerve(s) there were not working. They explained that giving me an anesthetic would have given them false results, so I soldiered on, glad and relieved when it was over. This test should give your doctor valuable information, which, hopefully, will justify the pain and embarrassment it causes. If you must deal with GI issues, this could be especially helpful. Good luck. Brace yourself, and report back when you get home.
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