Motor Evoked Potentials (MEP)

Does anyone happen to know where I can get an MEP (motor evoked potential) study done here in Washington, D.C.? Because of some significant issues with my spinal cord, my spinal surgeon and trauma specialist have requested that I undergo both SSEP and MEP testing. I managed to get the SSEP (somatosensory evoked potential) completed over at Mayo Clinic, but when it comes to the MEP—I’m hitting a total brick wall. It sounds absolutely absurd, but it’s the truth: I haven't found a single hospital that offers this specific test. I’ve spent hours scouring the websites of private clinics, only to run into the exact same dead end. At this point, I feel like this forum is my last resort. Does anyone here happen to have any leads? Best regards to everyone...

SSEP is basically an intraoperative monitoring technique 😕 We aren't using this on patients just for diagnostics—it’s done during complex surgeries to make sure we dodge any nasty complications 😕

The spinal surgery regular just kind of messed up on you a bit 🤷

Rachel Brooks63 said:MEP is an intraoperative monitoring technique 😕 It isn't used on patients for diagnostic purposes; rather, it’s utilized during complex surgeries to prevent nasty complications 😕

It seems like your spinal surgeon is being a bit difficult here. 🤷

Yeah, I actually figured that out myself while browsing a neurology clinic's website. But how am I supposed to explain this to the doctor? I emailed him about the issue, and his response was basically that because of my specific condition, this test is absolutely necessary...
Here is a direct copy-paste of what he sent me:

Dear Madam,

MEP stands for motor evoked potentials.

This procedure is somewhat more complex (though not more painful) than SSEP (somatosensory evoked potentials), and it is required given your condition involving thoracic disco-medullary conflicts.

I am honestly not sure which hospitals perform MEP, but it is certainly always part of neurological diagnostics.

Please try using this information to find a facility where you can have this testing done.

So, what am I supposed to do now...?

So, he clearly doesn't get the full picture, but he’s certain it's always part of the neurological assessment 😕

Honestly, I’d just ask her: link na .pdf. She probably knows 😕
...

Rachel Brooks63 said:Essentially, he might not grasp the specifics, but he's certain it's always tied to neurological processing. 😕

If I were in this position, I'd just ask her directly: link na .pdf. She’s probably the only one who actually knows 😕

Thanks for the link. I'm going to try reaching out to that professor. If she doesn't have the answer, then nobody does... Lp

shadownomad43 said:Thanks for the link. I might try reaching out to my old professor. If she doesn't have the answer, nobody does, I guess... Lp

If you want, the neurology department over in Boston has some killer diagnosticians and they actually give a damn about patients.

Back in the day, maybe 23 years ago, I saw them doing that exact same thing over at the Mayo Clinic. Specifically on the neurology ward.
I’m pretty sure you’ll find the same kind of stuff happening in cities like Chicago too.

P. S.
It doesn't even hurt, really. You just end up feeling completely wiped out and exhausted from staring at those little blinking dots on the monitor all day.