Aa
Had EEG; is this the same as "evoked potentials"?
Had my EEG on Monday. Forty minutes of relaxing in a "dentist" chair, eyes closed, lights off. Then Wham! all these lights start flashing at you. I'm surprised I didn't have a heart attack. Is this test the same as "evoked potentials"? I'm not sure what the difference is. Oh, and I was able to get the doctor to ok my LP at the hospital instead of his office. Now I don't have to run around town carrying my own spinal fluid and then get labs done after. Yay me. And they have a florascope at hosptial too. God bless you all today, Amy
P.S. I feel a little silly posting such a "regular" question, with so many members (like T-lynn) going through so much. I pray for this group every day.
P.S. I feel a little silly posting such a "regular" question, with so many members (like T-lynn) going through so much. I pray for this group every day.
I've had 2 abnormal EEGs over the years, now symptoms much worse like numb foot, ON in right eye,,,ect. Am getting MRI soon. I've no doubt lesions will be found, been going through relapses for years. Urinary tract too. :( getting pretty scary, my walking is affected. Stairs are a nightmare now and hiking is out. I've also read the incidence of seizures IS higher in MS, esp in the temporal lobe. (Mine is there)
I think what we learn from JT's post, is that everybody is entitled to their own opinion. What we are NOT entitled to, is to insult anyone.
I have to concur with Quix's advice-if you find this site misleading, you might want to seek information elsewhere.
Heather
I have to concur with Quix's advice-if you find this site misleading, you might want to seek information elsewhere.
Heather
JT,
Sorry, but your post is simply insulting. Many of us have a learning curve or two, but when you put us all together, we are quite the team, with varying skill sets, with a lot to offer one another.
Of course this forum is open to all who want to post, but you should refrain from insults and this is as direct as they come. I'm an adult, like most of us here, surely, you can find a way to control yourself from making statements like this. . . .especially because it's childlike and completely inappropriate.
Sorry, but your post is simply insulting. Many of us have a learning curve or two, but when you put us all together, we are quite the team, with varying skill sets, with a lot to offer one another.
Of course this forum is open to all who want to post, but you should refrain from insults and this is as direct as they come. I'm an adult, like most of us here, surely, you can find a way to control yourself from making statements like this. . . .especially because it's childlike and completely inappropriate.
JT - Equating EEG's with EP's is a vast over-simplification. Yes, both tests use electrodes and they both record electrical impulses in the brain, but the similarity mostly ends there. The majority of the EEG is a "passive" (non-evoked) recording of the brainwaves. When they do the special manuevers of hyperventilation or strobe lights they are, indeed, doing a form of "evoked" testing, in that they look for an electrical response "evoked" by the stimulus. However, this response is not measured, but rather evaluated qualitatively.
An EEG differs from the tests called Evoked Potentials in that, in EPs the actual velocity of the specific electrical response to a stimulus is measured. The EP is more quantitative. This velocity is then compared to norms. This is NOT the case in EEG's. An EEG may show "slowing" in the brain, but does not measure it. Another difference is that the EEG is more "global" looking at large sections of the brain's activity. An EP focuses on specific pathways such as visual, auditory, or somatosensory.
The tests also have different purposes and different indications for being used.
JT - For the most part here on the forum, people share their experiences, support, and their knowledge with others. Sometimes, their info is a little off, but certainly, when I see information that is incorrect (and important) I will correct it. You do a disservice to claim that 2/3 of everything said is incorrect. Why make such a sweeping condemnation? ---especially when your own answer gave such poor information.
That said, and as we have said many times before, everyone should take their answers here and verify the information with their doctors, with scientific sites online, or other trusted source. Your advice to educate oneself on their disease, if they have a diagnosis, is very good. Also it behooves us all to periodically read the general disclaimer above that " Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum."
I would recommend that people who find this site to be misleading or uninformative should save themselves the aggravation and read someplace else.
Quix
An EEG differs from the tests called Evoked Potentials in that, in EPs the actual velocity of the specific electrical response to a stimulus is measured. The EP is more quantitative. This velocity is then compared to norms. This is NOT the case in EEG's. An EEG may show "slowing" in the brain, but does not measure it. Another difference is that the EEG is more "global" looking at large sections of the brain's activity. An EP focuses on specific pathways such as visual, auditory, or somatosensory.
The tests also have different purposes and different indications for being used.
JT - For the most part here on the forum, people share their experiences, support, and their knowledge with others. Sometimes, their info is a little off, but certainly, when I see information that is incorrect (and important) I will correct it. You do a disservice to claim that 2/3 of everything said is incorrect. Why make such a sweeping condemnation? ---especially when your own answer gave such poor information.
That said, and as we have said many times before, everyone should take their answers here and verify the information with their doctors, with scientific sites online, or other trusted source. Your advice to educate oneself on their disease, if they have a diagnosis, is very good. Also it behooves us all to periodically read the general disclaimer above that " Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum."
I would recommend that people who find this site to be misleading or uninformative should save themselves the aggravation and read someplace else.
Quix
JT68 doesn't like our forum! I'd sure like others' reactions to his/her allegations.
ess
ess
An EEG is the same thing as a evoked potential. I've had MS for about 10 years and work in health care. I've been reading this forum and 7 times out of 10 these posts are filled with incorrect information. Please go to Medline (a publication from the National Institute of Health) or the library and get some solid information. Do not make decisions on what is posted on this site. Please educate yourself about your disease, don't let others give you advice.
Hi there, you haven't asked a silly question at all! It is common for the symptoms of MS to look like a seizure disorder and vice versa. So an EEg is often a part of the neurological workup. More than a third of people with MS will have an abnormal EEG, because the brain lesions interfere with the proper spreading of electrical activity through the brain. The incidence of seizure disorder, though, is NOT higher in MS than in the general population.
The flashing lights they do as part of the EEG is done to see if they can elicit abnormal electrical activity. I believe they flash the lights at 6 per second (well...some number per second) which will cause seizures in a good number of people with seizure disorders.
In the visual evoked potential they record the actual length of time it takes for the eyes to register the changing pattern and for it to be recorded in the vision portion of the brain. In Optic Neuritis the optic nerve is damaged and the damaged nerve will have a slower conduction time in transmitting the image to the brain. It is also done with electrodes, but the stimulus and the measurement is done differently.
Hope this helps.
Quix
The flashing lights they do as part of the EEG is done to see if they can elicit abnormal electrical activity. I believe they flash the lights at 6 per second (well...some number per second) which will cause seizures in a good number of people with seizure disorders.
In the visual evoked potential they record the actual length of time it takes for the eyes to register the changing pattern and for it to be recorded in the vision portion of the brain. In Optic Neuritis the optic nerve is damaged and the damaged nerve will have a slower conduction time in transmitting the image to the brain. It is also done with electrodes, but the stimulus and the measurement is done differently.
Hope this helps.
Quix
Good for you! I'm so glad to hear that this forum has helped you to be informed, so that you don't have that backwards sequence of lp, then blood. That was a BAD idea. Hope it all goes smoothly.
No, an EEG is not the same as Evoked Potentials, though I can see why you might be confused. Most doctors order EPs if MS is suspected, but I haven't heard of many ordering EEGs.
ess
No, an EEG is not the same as Evoked Potentials, though I can see why you might be confused. Most doctors order EPs if MS is suspected, but I haven't heard of many ordering EEGs.
ess
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Multiple Sclerosis Community
Top Neurology Answerers
Australia
ON
Queensland, Australia
Queen Creek, AZ
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
