I had my SEP (somatosensory) test done. Apparently this is a test that isn't done very often. At least around here any way. In the seven years my Neurosurgeon's secretary has worked for him, this is the first time she has ever heard of it. Even at the hospital, the technicians said they rarely perform it. So it was a bit painful but tolerable. Luckily I have a high tolerance for pain. They put electrodes on the inside of my arm, shoulder, side of my neck, back of neck, forehead, and two on the top of my head on my scalp that they hooked wires to and had me connected to a computer. Then they shocked me at my wrist raising the voltage until my thumb twitched, then held it steady for 5 minutes or so while the computer took it's readings. They did this on both arms. What this does is show how the electrical current travels through the nerves into the brain and back and whether or not there are any disruptions. This is what we are hoping to find. I want to find a disruption near my brainstem from the Chiari so I have an answer for the way I am walking. We'll know on Tuesday when I see my Neurosurgeon and get the results. Hopefully it shows us something so we can decide about surgery. If not, then I have to ask him if there are any other tests out there to determine why I am walking the way I am. For now, I will rest this weekend and hope and pray that Tuesday will give me the answer I am waiting for.
What an interesting test. I hope you get the answers you are looking for, too! Good luck on Tuesday!
I copied this off a website to explain the test:
An SEP test studies the relay of body sensations to your brain and how the brain receives those sensations. A stimulating electrode is placed on your arm or leg, and it generates an electrical signal. Recording electrodes are placed on your head and/or spine. The information received from these electrodes can help to diagnose your problem.
- The test evaluates the health of your peripheral nerves and your spinal cord.
- It tests how your spinal cord and/or brain transmits information about body sensations through your peripheral nerves.
- It can localize a "signal blockage" either in the relay system (your peripheral nerves act like telephone wires) or in the interpretive center (your brain and spinal cord act like a telephone receiver).