Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
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Subject: Re: EMG I am a 39 year old female who is a legal scretary with "heavy duty" typing. During this past year I felt shooting pains in both armpits for a brief period (like coughing and going upstairs and some times when toileting). What would cause this? I went to a neurologist who performed general exam and when he told me to put my arms out he asked that I don't allow my arms to fall down against gentle pressure that he placed on my hands. I felt this shooting pain in armpits at this point and told him. He said I need an EMG to rule out radiculopathy. What is radiculopathy, how is it treated and what happens if left untreated? Is there any way to minimize pain during EMG (I walked out of one just after the needle examination after discomfort. This was initially done for carpal tunnel, which the part of EMG they did get results on had ruled out and suggested that it could not rule out radiculopathy. That was in 1997. At work I got an ergonomic keyboard and different chair which gave me a long reprieve from the symptoms. But this past year it came back.). What other kinds of conditions is an EMG used to diagnose? The neurologist said the pains in my armpits were unusual and it scares me when it happens. Your earliest response is much appreciated. Radiculopathy is any condition where a nerve root is irritated, as it leaves the spinal column. Radicle is the latin word for root, thence the name, so the term refers only to the anatomical location of the problem, not to the underlying cause which could be due to a disc, collapsed vertebra etc pressing on the nerve root. The treatment obviously depends on whatever underlying cause is found, if this is a disc problem then the treatment may be surgical, it could also be posture related in which case physical therapy and ergonomic adjustments will help. If untreated the problem will either stay the same or worsen causing more severe pain and possibly utlimately weakness in the muscles supplied by the nerve root. The pain in an EMG may be minimised if you explain your fears in advance and ask if a very fine needle can be used, it cannot be eliminated completely but this should help somewhat. EMG is used to diagnose and localize ANY problem involving peripheral nerves or muscles. | |
