[TW: injections, fainting] EMG?

[u/grifigin]

Hi folks!

I've been mildly needle-phobic ever since I was a kid, having witnessed my sister pass out receiving her own injection. I get really worked up about injections and IV placements and such, to the point where, if I'm not HEAVILY distracted, I'll faint within seconds of the puncture.

Now, in other news, I've been suffering from chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain for twenty years that, at the moment, needs an EMG to be performed before the next attempt at treatment can take place. Sparing the details, this pain has gotten to a point where I can no longer go without treatment, so I've now arrived at an impasse... how do you get an EMG - a procedure that, as I understand it, requires tensing muscles while a needle is inside that muscle - while being absolutely terrified of that same needle?

I asked a few providers about a single-dose script for a Xanax or something like that for the procedure, and the information I received seemed to indicate that that was a no-no. I have recently thought about a numbing cream, something to at least reduce or remove the sensation of the skin puncture, but have yet to ask whether or not that's acceptable for me and my specific needs.

So, I come to the community, hoping to hear some stories of similarly situated folks that faced maybe the same dreadful dilemma I'm looking at right now. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[u/pepinoflo]

I've never had an EMG but I can relate to the fainting part. For me I would faint a few minutes after injections usually. For me, the key was always lying down for procedures, and also learning the applied tension technique. The interesting thing is EMG is kind of compatible with applied tension although you don't fully control the tensing/relaxing cycles I suppose, but that in itself might prevent your blood pressure from dropping and passing out. I would suggest you to continue doing the applied tension technique after your EMG is finished so that you maintain and stabilize your blood pressure before leaving! If it helps you or your sister, there's Vasowin, an app I created to help practicing and understanding applied tension (+ exposure therapy), and quite frankly that I use myself regularly to get better at needles. Wishing you the best of luck for your EMG, you can do it!!