Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) Test in Brooklyn, NYC & NJ

What’s a Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) Test?

If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling or weakness in your arms or legs, you may have a problem with your nervous system. To diagnose the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend a diagnostic test called a somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) test. The SSEP test measures how your brain receives and processes sensations from your body. It can detect conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and more.

At Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey, there’s a team of experienced and compassionate neurologists who can perform the evoked potential test and provide you with the best treatment options for your condition. Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin and Dr. Leon Reyfman have extensive training in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. They work with you to create a personalized plan that works.

How Does an Evoked Potential Test for MS Work?

An SSEP test measures the electrical activity in your brain and spinal cord when you receive a mild electrical stimulation on your skin. The stimulation is usually applied to your wrists, ankles or back using electrodes. The electrodes also record how fast and how well the signals travel from your nerves to your brain through your spinal cord.

The evoked potential test for MS confirms disorders like multiple sclerosis that affect your somatosensory system, which is responsible for processing sensations such as touch, pain, temperature, and vibration. By comparing the speed and strength of the signals from different parts of your body, your doctor can identify where the problem is and how severe it is.

Some of the other disorders it can identify include:

• Multiple sclerosis, which can cause demyelination, or a loss of the protective coating of the nerve fibers, resulting in slower and weaker signals
• Spinal cord injury, which can cause compression or cutting of the nerve fibers, resulting in reduced or absent signals
• A stroke, which can cause a lack of blood supply or bleeding in the brain, resulting in delayed or distorted signals
• Brain tumor, which can cause pressure on the brain tissue, resulting in altered or blocked signals
• Peripheral neuropathy, which leads to damaged or dysfunctional peripheral nerves, resulting in decreased or abnormal signals

What Can I Expect during an SSEP Nerve Test?

The doctor begins by explaining the test and asking about your medical history as well as what medications you’re currently taking. They will then make markings where they intend to attach the electrodes.

The SSEP nerve test lasts for about two hours and has no side effects and very little discomfort except for a little scratchiness where the electrodes were attached.

The process follows a basic routine that involves:

• Attaching electrodes, which are small metal discs, to your head and limbs
• Stimulating nerves in the arms or legs with small electric impulses
• Recording the nerve responses

Why Should I Take an SSEP Test?

An SSEP nerve test has several benefits for diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions. It’s a non-invasive, quick and painless procedure that doesn’t require any sedation or fasting. The evoked potential test can detect problems with the spinal cord and brain that cause numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs.

In addition to detecting disorders that affect the somatosensory system, other benefits include the test’s ability to effectively:

• Confirm sensory abnormalities
• Identify silent or invisible injuries, like traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Evaluate the extent of nervous tissue damage
• Monitor changes in the spinal cord and brain during surgical procedures and alert the surgeon if there is any risk of injury

What Are the Next Steps for Treatment after a Somatosensory Evoked Potential Test?

The results of an SSEP test are based on the analysis of the electrical signals recorded by the electrodes on your scalp, neck and back. The next steps for treatment depend on the underlying cause of your abnormal readings, such as in the case of the evoked potential test for MS.

Your doctor will discuss with you the possible diagnosis, the treatment options and the prognosis. You may need further diagnostic tests, such as an MRI, CT scan or blood tests, to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions. You may need medication, surgery or rehabilitation to treat the underlying condition and improve your symptoms.

Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey have the expertise, experience and equipment to successfully perform SSEP tests and other evoked potential tests for various neurological conditions. They also offer a range of treatment options, such as medication and neurostimulation. Contact Neuro Injury Specialists today to arrange for a consultation and potential SSEP nerve test to find out what’s going on with your symptoms.