Anyone have an EMG as part of your testing?

[jibjen]

Hi,

went to my neuro today for follow up and described to him my numbness and tingling that I have had since Aug. with left side (I have had an abnormal MRI in June which showed 20 T2 hypertensities) I have also started having difficulty with left leg including little zaps down to my toes, cramps at the bottom of my feet and my thigh and calve feeling tight making it difficult to climb stairs or bend as my knee is sore. I have had back pain and neck pain the back and neck pain is new and did not start with the numbness..He ordered me an EMG which I go for tomorrow and he said that he will reveiw the results and then talk about MRI to see if I have a pinched nerve. He said we are going to take this one step at a time....He also checked my reflexes.. (my knees) It took about 4 times for them to respond..on the left and 3 on the right is that normal? Is an EMG part of a normal testing routine to rule in or rule out MS? Does it hurt and what does it prove?

Sorry for all the questions but I don't know what tests are for what.

Thanks for listening
JibJen

[jibjen]

Thanks for your input. I just got back from my EMG. Was more weird than painful although I am a little sore.
My neuro did not say anything about the test esults. He wants to do MRI of my spine but said he thinks for sure my insurance will "bosh it" He asked me if I ever had physical therapy, I said yes many many many years ago when I was in a car accident, he said he was refrring me to a a chiropractor................................
I follow up with my neuro in a month?
jibjen

[Sarahsmom46]

I had an EMG/NCS, my second one, last week.   The neurologist explained again that the test is to check for muscle damage and nerve damage, but not a test for detecting MS. They do this test to rule out neuropothy that can have similar symptoms as MS.   Other similar tests that they call evoked potential tests are more often used when a neuro suspects MS.  

Lu is right, it does hurt a bit but it is over before you know it and the information is very helpful for your doctor.  

Hope this helps.

Julie
  

[Lulu54]

Hi JibJen,
EMG's are fairly common as jen wrote.  This is the only way they can tell for sure what type of signal problems you are having with that leg.

I have a numb right foot, which is peripheral neuropathy and NOT my MS - the neuro would not have known that without the EMG.  That leg is also affected by my MS and that also shows up on my EMG.  It is quite the test for determining problems with the nerve connections.

The test itself is relatively easy - it involves little jolts of electrical current, and if it hurts, it is over in a flash.   I did notice a fatigue and soreness a day or so after in my legs, it was as if they had been overstimulated.  Actually I guess they had.

Google about EMG's if you want to know more details of how the test gives its details to your doctor.  Its more complicated than I pretend to understand.

my best,
Lulu

[jensequitur]

Many neurologists will schedule you for an EMG to check your nerve connections.  

However, with 20 hyperintensities in your MRI, calling it a pinched nerve seems unlikely.