Questions posted in the Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Subject: Re: BENIGN FASCICULATIONS vs CNS PROCESS???
Forum: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum
Topic Area:
Posted by CCF Neuro MD on October 09, 1997 at 15:31:18:
In Reply to: BENIGN FASCICULATIONS vs CNS PROCESS??? posted by Kelly on August 20, 1997 at 06:47:01:

: During the past 12 months and in addition to my other test's, have had two EMG's conducted to
document the FASCICULATIONS that effect just about every part of my body.

Of the 2 EMG's conducted, each of EMG evaluations show a page of numbers of the MUSCLE
ACTIVITY the needle is recording.

And between the 1ST EMG numbers and the 2ND EMG numbers there's an increased MUSCLE
ACTIVITY. On the First EMG, there was no LATENCY detected period on either side of my
body.

On the 2ND EMG there shows a LATENCY on my right side of the body. I understand the
principal of the EMG, is to check for NERVE damage, but it's clearly obvious that's something is
happening in regards to the INCREASE of fasciculations and LATENCY now cited on the below
EMG#2 report:

EMG REPORT #2:

CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS: FASCICULATIONS AND MYOCLONOUS

Summary of Findings:

1 The sural was slightly slowed in latency. The superficial peroneal, median, unlnar and radial
sensory studies were all normal. 2 The peroneal, tibial, and median motor studies were normal in
all measured parameters. 3 The peroneal and median F responses were entirley normal. 4 An
EMG was performed on selected upper and lower extremity muscles and demonstrated mild
amounts of fasciculations without any other evidence of membrane instability.

CLINICAL INTERPRETATION:

This is essentially a normal electrodiagnostic study with only minimal fasciculations noted scatter in
both the lower and upper extremities without appearance of acute membrane instability nor
accompanying neuropathic motor unit potential changes. Additional the sural latency was minimally
prolonged in latency. Clinical correlation is recommended.

So are benign fasciculations really BENIGN, because I have read that some
NEURO-DISORDERS are spefically tied to BENIGN FASCICULATIONS?

I want the military to perform another EMG byt they won't. Nerve damage doesn't start out over
night, and on both EMG reports they only placed the needles in my ARMS & LEGS!

My fasciculations have grown from just being in my feet, to legs, to back, to face, chest muscles
etc over a 12 month period, so I don't believe STRESS is a factor!

Dear Kelly,
There definetly is a condidtion called Beningn Fasiculations. A normal EMG, not showing any nerve changes and normal motor units and lack of spontaneous activity
is characteristic of Benign Fasiculations. The reasons that they occurr are unknown buta normal EMG should be a confort. A repeat EMG ina year or so may be helpful to further alleviate your fears.
Decreasing caffeine can be helpful to get rid of the fasiculations or atleast to decrease them.
There are neuromuscular specialist who are familiar in examining patients with complaints of
fasiculations to determine if there are any other signs on the neurological examinnation to determine if more testing is necessary.
We have a Neuromuscular Department here at the Cleveland Clinic, for an appointment call 216-444-5559. Good Luck!

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