Panic! Scared!

[speechgeek]

Well the stress card and crazy card can no longer be an option for the docs. Neuro just said "well you obviously have something real going on here."My EMG came back abnormal in 3 out of 4 limbs.  The part where he zaps you was normal. The part with the needle not normal in both legs and one arm. I was diagnosed with peripheral neurapathy. Neuro said he still could not rule out ALS. He said the MS folks do not have peripheral neurapathy. I do not have MS he saysI hope some of yu are falling on the floor laughter and are going to tell me that you have it. The plan

1. MRI thorasci and lumbar in the Am

2. More blood work I got that western blot for the lyme along with a host of other things,

3. He said it's his  job to figure out what is causing the neuropathy and if he can't he will refer me to Johns Hopkins.

I am scared to death this is  ALS... I asked him why I was feeling better. I can stand longer and walk farther and I haven't had to use the heating pad or take motrin in 2 weeks. I can work a full day at work. I couldn't do that a month ago. He said chronic disease are like that good days and bad days. I asked does als come on quickly and affect all 4 limbs in a matter of 4-6 weeks. He said it is rare. FYI I am 38 years old.

rebeccah

Quixtoic what do you think?

[young at heart]

IF THERE IS ANYTHING INPINGING IN THE CERVICAL THEN YES IT COULD EFFECT ALL 4 LIMBS.

YES, I HAVE MS AND HAVE HAD AN ABNORMAL EMG---I HAVE RADICULOPATHY,RADICULAR PAIN IN THE THORACIC AND THE LUMBAR AS IN I HAVE DENERVATION AND INNERVATION .THE NERVES ARE MISFIRING TO THE MUSCLES.

MYOPATHY'S ALSO CAN EFFECT ALL 4 LIMBS,BUT YOU ARE GETTING BETTER AND WHEN ALS EFFECTS ALL 4 LIMBS THE NORM IS YA DON'T GET BETTER.

I HONESTLY THINK THAT A REFERRAL  TO HOPKINS WOULD RELEIVE YOUR MIND.

I'VE BEEN THINKING OF YOU AND YOU ARE IN MY PRAYERS.

T-LYNN

[speechgeek]

He did not do an EMG on my spine. I thought of disc problems however you would not have problems in all 4 limbs like i am having. So do people with MS have abnorml EMGs?  I am trying to find specifics on understanding of UMN and LMN (upper motor/lower motor neurons) symtoms and what controls what. Any resources?

My son's swim team does bingo as a fund raiser and I am the bingo manager. Last month when I worked bingo the next day I could not stand for more than 15 seconds. The night of bingo I thought I was going to die.

I had to work bingo last night. My legs were a little tired.but not bad and today I can stand and walk etc.   My back and biceps are sore.

point being is that I am much better today than yesterday and evenbetter than last week and huge differenc since last month. ALS?? Not the ALS i am aware of. Yes you will find I obsess about things for awhile.

Rebeccah

[elsiek]

I agree, don't panic yet.  I know that is easy for us to say, but we have been in your shoes.  

My first dr said the plaque in my spine was either an inoperable tumor or MS.  I was overjoyed to get the MS diagnosis.

The next thing you need to do is find another dr.  You have to be 100% percert confident in your dr or you will never be happy.  I have had dr (not the one with the tumor) for 20 yrs.

Good luck.

Elsie

[young at heart]

I'M NOT A DR.,BUT YES MANY WITH MS HAVE PERIPHERIAL NEUROPATHY.
I HAVE RADICULOPATHY A FORM OF NERVE PAIN OUT SIDE THE SPINE.

GET A COPY OF THE EMG/NCS.WITH ALS MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YA HAVE TO HAVE DENERVATION IN THREE AREAS OF THE SPINE DID THIS NEURO DO THE EMG/NCS AND DID HE JUST DO THE LIMBS OR DID HE CHECK THE PARASPINAL MUSCLES RUNNING ALONG THE SPINE.

WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH THE DIAGNOSIS OF MS HERE IS WHAT A NEURO WROTE  

THE REVISED EL ESCORIAL CRITERIA FOR A;S REQUIRE THAT THE NEEDLE EMG EXAMINATION SHOW EVIDENCE OF ACTIVE AND CHRONIC DENERVATION IN AT LEAST 2 OF THE 4 REGIONS 1. BRAIN STEM  2. CERVICAL  3. THORACIC 4.LUMBOSACRAL.  PLUS BLOOD TEST NEED TO BE DONE TO SUSPECT A UPPER AND LOWER MOTOR NEURON DISEASE THESE ARE A CPK,CREATINE

THERE NEEDS TO BE VISUAL FASICULATIONS.

ON A EMG IT NEEDS TO SHOW POSITIVE FIBS,SHARP WAVES,ABNORMAL INSURTION(SP) OF NEEDLE,ABNORMAL RECRUITMENT,PROLONG DURATION ,POLYFIPS.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THE NCS WAS WHAT SHOWED THE NEUROPATHY.

DON'T GO INTO A PANIC MODE YET,I KNOW THATS HARD TO SAY.
IF THIS NEURO IS THINKING ALS DEMAND HOPKINS FOR A REFERRAL

I'VE HAD SEVERAL EMG/NCS AND IT DEPENDS ON WHO DOES THEM AND HOW ACCURATE THE NEEDLE INSURTION WAS.

HANG IN THERE AND WAIT FOR ALL TEST RESULTS,IF THIS MORON DOESN'T REALIZE THAT PN DOES EFFECT PEOPLE WITH MS I PERSONALLY WOULDN'T PUT MUCH STOCK INTO THE ALS RIGHT NOW.

GET THE MRI'S DONE,A PINCHED NERVE OR HERNIATED DISK CAN CAUSE ABNORMAL EMG'S.

THIS NEURO SHOULD OF NEVER BROUGHT UP ALS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

I WAS IN YOUR SHOES ONCE,AND ITS A VERY SCARY PLACE TO BE AND I WAS ABOUT YOUR AGE.

PLEASE HANG IN HERE WITH US WE WILL GET YOU THROUGH THIS

T-LYNN