Neurophysiology Care at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, Mumbai
CritiCare Asia Hospitals is a neurology hospital in Mumbai that investigates how the nervous system actually works, not only how it looks. An MRI shows what a nerve looks like, but it does not show whether that nerve is working. Neurophysiology fills that gap by studying the nervous system electrically, tracing how signals move through the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles in real time. Patients looking for neurophysiology in Kurla, Mumbai will find tests that are chosen for a specific clinical question and explained before they begin.
Take a nerve running along the inner forearm. On a scan, it can look completely normal. But if the electrical signal slows by even a few milliseconds crossing the elbow, that points to compression an image alone would never catch. Neurophysiology does not take a picture; it records activity, live, and sometimes activity that changes within seconds.
Why These Tests Are Needed
Many patients arrive with symptoms that do not show on the outside: tingling fingertips, numbness down the outer leg, brief blackouts nobody can explain, or muscle weakness with no obvious cause. Neurophysiology helps answer the questions imaging cannot:
- Is the problem in the nerve, the muscle or the brain itself?
- Is it mild irritation or actual nerve damage?
- Is it localised, say at the wrist, or more widespread?
For patients who have been told their scans look fine while their symptoms persist, neurodiagnostic tests in Kurla often bring the first concrete answer. Sometimes that is the most reassuring part of the process.
Conditions Neurophysiology Helps Diagnose
Our Department of Neurology uses these tests across a wide range of symptoms:
- Peripheral nerve disorders
diabetic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy at the elbow - Muscle disorders (myopathies)
weakness in the shoulders or thighs, difficulty rising from a seated position - Neuromuscular junction disorders
including Myasthenia Gravis, where nerve-to-muscle signalling becomes unreliable - Brain-related conditions
epilepsy, unexplained fainting, sleep disturbances - Spinal cord involvement
sensory changes travelling along an arm or leg, and weakness linked to nerve root compression
Types of Neurophysiology Tests
More than one test is often needed, depending on the pattern of symptoms.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
records the brain's electrical activity through small electrodes on the scalp. It typically takes 45 to 60 minutes and is used to evaluate seizures, unexplained fainting, and sleep disorders. When events are infrequent, video EEG monitoring over a longer stretch can capture what a single session might miss. - Nerve Conduction Study (NCS)
stimulates a nerve, most commonly at the wrist or ankle, with a mild electrical impulse and measures the response further along the same nerve. Patients often expect a shock, but it is closer to a brief tap. The test measures conduction speed and signal strength and pinpoints where along the nerve a problem sits. - Electromyography (EMG)
goes a step further and assesses the muscle directly. A fine needle, thinner than a standard injection needle, records electrical activity first at rest and then during controlled movement. Comparing the two patterns helps separate a nerve problem from a muscle one.
A neurophysiology specialist in Kurla can advise which test suits your symptoms.
What to Expect
Before the test. No fasting is required, so eat normally. Skip oils or lotions on the arms and legs that day, and wear loose clothing that allows easy access to the forearms, calves or thighs. Let the team know if you are on blood thinners or have a pacemaker. For select tests, such as those used in Myasthenia Gravis workups, certain medications may need to be paused, but only under medical guidance.
During the test. You are awake throughout, and most sessions are outpatient. EEG involves lying still while electrodes are placed on the scalp, and you may be asked to breathe deeply or look at a flashing light. NCS causes a brief twitch, similar to the thumb jumping when the median nerve is stimulated at the wrist. EMG brings a short pricking sensation as the needle enters the muscle, a few millimetres deep at most. Depending on how many tests are needed, the full session runs anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, and the technician tells you what to expect at each stage.
After the test. There is no recovery period to speak of, and most patients resume their day immediately. The neurology team interprets the results and shares them with the referring doctor to shape the next step in diagnosis or treatment.
Neurophysiology Test Results
Results are not a simple pass or fail. Your neurologist reads them alongside your symptoms, history, and any imaging already done, since the same electrical pattern can point to different causes in different patients. Reports typically take a few days to compile and review. Once ready, the findings are discussed with you directly in plain language: what they show, what they rule out, and how they shape the treatment plan going forward.
Neurophysiology Care at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, Mumbai
At CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla, neurophysiology is not run as a standalone lab. It is built into how our neurology team investigates and manages complex cases. Tests are ordered with a specific clinical question in mind, not as a routine add-on, and results feed directly into the treatment plan your neurologist builds. If symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or unexplained episodes have not been fully explained by imaging alone, a neurophysiology assessment may be the missing piece. Book a consultation with our neurophysiology specialists in Kurla to find out which test is right for you.