Nerve Self Test

A hand with two fingers extended straight ahead. The thumb is bent and the index and middle fingers are resting on the thumbnail and pushing the thumb into a bent position. The thumb is trying to straighten by pushing against the fingers.

If you’re going to do higher-risk ties, one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself safe is to learn how to test your nerves while you’re in bondage. We recommend performing a nerve test every 5 minutes when you’re in a higher-risk tie.

We like that you can perform this test on your own. The nerve partner test is more comprehensive but requires help from your rigger.

Make sure to practice the test before you’re tied, so you have a baseline for what your thumb strength ought to be.

Attribution

We learned this test from Topologist, who has an excellent video of it.

Step by step

A hand with three fingers extended straight ahead and the index finger stroking the back of the thumb right below the thumbnail.

1: Stroke your thumb

Use your index finger to stroke the back of your thumb, starting at the nail.

Numbness between the tip of the thumb and the knuckle suggests sensory damage to the median nerve.

A hand with three fingers extended straight ahead and the index finger stroking the back of the thumb just below the knuckle.

2: Keep stroking

Keep stroking all the way to the base of the thumb.

Numbness between the knuckles suggests sensory damage to the radial nerve.

3: Push with your thumb

Push your thumb against your index and middle fingers, as though trying to make a thumbs up gesture.

Loss of strength in the thumb suggests motor damage to the radial nerve.

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