EMG and MS diagnosis

I went to a new neurologist today and showed him my previous history of diagnosis of MS in 2002. He wants to send me for an EMG soon. Can somebody please tell me their experience with EMG and can it help this doctor with a diagnosis of MS? He said he doesnt know if I have been having strokes or if I have MS.  What should I expect and does EMG hurt? I have only had nerve conduction tests but never an emg....Help.


Mary

[twopack]

I think an EMG is one type of nerve conduction test.  I've had several on both lower and upper extremities.  They are uncomfortable enough to make me want to avoid them but not so bad that I wouldn't have one if I thought it would give useful information.

I don't know your symptoms or what your doc is looking for.  Is the 2002 diagnosis in question?  I'm not at all sure how an EMG helps him decide between strokes and MS.  EMG is an indicator of peripheral nerve dysfunction and both strokes and MS involve the CNS.

I think I'd be wanting to know a little more about why he wants the test, what info he expects to gather and how it will help him with diagnosis.  It's OK to ask these kinds of questions before consenting to tests.  It's hard to remember that when you're sitting on that exam table though.  I've sure been there/done that.

Hope someone else can add their experience.
Mary

[LoveMyBostons]

I had an EMG on my left hand/arm back when they thought my numbness was caused by carpal tunnel. I was under the impression that an EMG was used to test conduction of nerves located in the arm. My test ended abruptly when the doc said "There's no sign of nerve damage." It's my understanding that the problem lies in the conduction of nerves located in the brain, not in the extremeties.

Mine was not painful. The tech began by sending electrical pulses through my hand & wrist which caused my hand to twitch involuntarily. The doc did the next part which involved sticking tiny needles in various parts of my arm. It didn't hurt too badly and there were a couple of blood spots where the needles were.

Good luck!!

[Lulu54]

Like these other folks, I would not avoid an EMG if it were recommended, though it wasn't the most pleasant test, either.  I had two done before my DX.  

The first one my neuro couldn't make heads or tails out of the results. It took about 40 minutes from start to finish, and included a little mini-neuro exam.  My neuro said it was all mixed up and ordered a second one at his university.  

Well, guess what?  Yep, the second one came back with mixed results also. And they took almost two hours zapping both my legs.  

I have peripheral neuropathy AND MS and the EMG helped with both of those dx's.  

The current they use to test is minimal, but I won't lie and say it doesn't hurt.  It is such a temporary, fleeting pain.  It is well worth it if the  correct problem can be identified.

be well,
Lulu

[twopack]

My hyperreflecive self also jumped all over with every little mini-jule.  I found myself apologizing every time.  Funny as I think back on it now.  Not so much then.

Mary

[jibjen]

hi twopack,

Can I ask you a question? what do mean when you say you jumped all around..I had an EMG and my arms and legs were flinging every where.One thing that was strange to me..he zapped me on my left side and my right side went flinging in the air..Is that normal for the opposite side to be effected when it's the other side being zapped??????
(I almsot knocked my neuro out) hehehehehhe
He just said hmmmm.... then when I went for follow up he said EMG was normal????

(I am suffering from paresthesia and that was reason for test)

JibJen

[twopack]

That's basically what I'm talking about JibJen.  I don't remember it being specifically related to where the stimulation was.  I think it was usually strongest in the limb stimulated but also was a general startle and "Oh!" out of proportion to the stimulus.

Same type of thing happens when the phone rings in a quiet house, someone touches me unexpectedly, the neuro tries to run his reflex hammer up the bottome of my foot, and even once when an ortho was injecting an arthritic hand joint (he got kicked in the shin).  

Otherwise I'm a calm person. NOBODY called me hyper.

Mary

[jibjen]

Thanks ;o)

I gotcha...It is rather wierd..

Have a good weekend

Jib

[mary2010]

thanks everyone for your advice :)

When the neuro checked my reflexes, I had no babinski reflex in left foot, in fact my foot did not respond to being poked with an object at all, I only had a positive sign in right foot and no reflex action at all in left knee only in my right knee. I have weird reflexes to say the least.  I will have to wait and see what happens.....I am not afraid of this test, it cant outdo the horrendous spinal tap torture i went through....

Mary