What to Expect During Your NASA Certified Nerve Scan Technology Appointment

Before the Scan: Preparation and Consultation

When you arrive for your NASA nerve scan, you’ll first have a brief consultation with Dr. Beth. We’ll discuss your symptoms, health history, and what the scan will tell us. This conversation helps Dr. Beth know what to look for and helps you understand what’s about to happen.

If this is your first visit, we’ll also discuss your main concerns and what you hope to achieve. This context is valuable—it helps us interpret scan results in light of your specific symptoms.

Positioning for the Scan

You’ll be positioned lying down on the examination table, face-down or face-up depending on which areas need scanning. The position is comfortable and well-supported. You’ll be draped for privacy and comfort.

Sensor Placement

Small electrode sensors will be placed at specific points along your spine. These sensors are gentle—you’ll barely feel them being applied. The sensors are about the size of a small coin and use adhesive to stay in place. There’s nothing sharp, nothing painful, just simple contact with your skin.

The Scan Process

Once sensors are in place, you simply lie still. The scanning device measures electrical activity from each sensor. You won’t feel this measurement happening—it’s completely passive on your part. The process is silent and uneventful.

The scan typically takes 5-10 minutes depending on how many spinal levels are assessed. During this brief time, data is collected showing nerve function at each level of your spine.

What Happens After the Scan

The sensors are gently removed—this takes just a moment. You’re free to sit up and see the results immediately. Dr. Beth will review the findings with you, explaining what the graph shows and how it relates to your symptoms.

Understanding Your Results

The scan produces a graph showing electrical activity at different spinal levels. Healthy readings show normal nerve function. Areas where function is compromised show different patterns—these are areas where nerve interference exists.

Dr. Beth will point out areas of concern and explain what problems these areas might be causing. This visual representation often helps patients understand their condition in ways that words alone cannot. Seeing the objective data makes everything clear.

Using Results to Guide Treatment

The scan results directly inform your treatment plan. If the scan shows nerve interference in your cervical spine, we know to focus treatment there. If multiple areas are affected, we prioritize based on scan findings. This turns treatment from general to specific—precision medicine based on actual data.

Repeat Scans During Treatment

Many patients have follow-up scans partway through treatment and again at the end. This shows objective evidence of improvement—the graph changes as nerve function normalizes. Seeing this visual evidence of progress is incredibly motivating and confirms that treatment is working.

No Recovery Time Needed

After the scan, you can immediately return to normal activities. There’s no recovery period, no side effects, nothing to manage. The scan simply gives us the information we need to treat you effectively.