I HATE EMG'S

[LMonty]

I mean I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DESPISE Emg's.

Mid back both sides, down both legs.

This guy was obviously not aware of the Geneva Convention!

I am NEVER doing that again, EVER.

two surprises though- one he told me the results. Left leg sciatic damage, mild to moderate. Expects deterioration to continue, the pain to worsen over the next years, until its finally damaged enough to stop hurting about when it starts to lose function.

Cheerful bloke, isn't he? I already knew  that was bad, its a separate injury from when a woman dragged me down to the floor in 2003 when she coded from a standing position, throwing me back into the cabinet as we went down. Right after the injury, I got shingles in the sciatic nerve and have a nasty case of post-herpetic neuralgia. Surgery to release the damaged piriformis tendon did nothing or close to it. That's why I am on chronic pain meds and basicly only get about 50% relief from it.

The second surprise was more his than mine, though the chagrin was all mine.

At one point i was on my belly , he hit my calf with a jolt of electric or needle or something and my lower leg jumped right off that bed hand and fast bend at the knee.

My heel hit something soft. Really soft. He stumbled, made a high pitched but soft "ooofff" as the EMG machine on wheels skittered about 4 ft across the floor. About a minute, maybe two later he started again.

Totally accidental, and I feel and a bit guilty-but NOT very!

Did I mention I AM NEVER DOING THAT AGAIN?

(I wonder if he will....without making a personal purchase at the local sportings goods store first!)

Laura the Unhappy Pin Cushion

[essdipity]

Gosh, I'm with several of you above. I had EMG/NCS and it was next to nothing. I hardly remember it. It was normal, except I have pinched nerves in both elbows. No big deal.

These are used to find out whether nerve problems are peripheral, so it's an MS rule-out test. But so many of us have both peripheral and central issues that I don't see how it really is a diagnostic help.

Also, EMG finds problems in large fiber peripheral nerves. Small fiber (peripheral) neuropathy doesn't show up with this.

As for a kick where it does the most good---go for it!

ess

[cainer]

where  are you haveing the rmg- if in the arm- just need a short sleved blouse - i have had 2 so far and no problem, and he mived the needle alot too- but it did not hurt ,with me,  if on back or else where prob put you in a gown,  let us know how it goes- oh it didnt take long at all either

[risnerrose]

I am actually scheduled for an EMG . . . Yikes. . . Lol!  I would love info on how to prepare, etc.  Did you have to wear a gown?  Where all can I expect to be zapped?  Do you have electrodes on the scalp while they are testing?  Details, please, details :)

Sherry

[SarahL2491]

CAUTION

If any of you have MVP, please remind your Neuro that you need an anti biotic before they can poke you.........and possibly a pacer might require the same (check with your cardio)
inserting anything is letting bacteria in.......

Just remembered this....

[SarahL2491]

move the needle up and down???????
that's when I get up grab my clothes and say "thank you but no thank you"  torture is against the geneva convention. LOL

[LMonty]

honestly i have had both upper and lower extremities done before-it was never this bad. on the upper one time they said carpal tunnel just like you Sarah-and I also have no symptoms. the next time it was brachial plexopathy, and they didn't recommend anything for that. the leg one was right after the sciatic injury and it was normal then.

i never had them do this before- take the needle that was stuck in me and move it up and down dozens of times. in the past they just sent a jolt of electric thru it that was tolerable. i actually have mild swelling at a couple of spots he did that at.

so sorry if I scared anybody off I didn't think of that when i posted.yikes! hey the other 3 were nowhere near as bad, so it must come down to technique and this particular guy was brutal.   not all are.

so yea, it stinks, but if you really need this test to support a diagnosis and get on DMD's, PLEASE don't let my joking and venting put you off. Odds are good yours, like others, will be much less painful, maybe even not at all.

I am so sorry if I scared anyone. I apologize.

[SarahL2491]

strange, I had it done, had no pain from it at all but said everything was normal except I had carpel tunnel (I have no symptoms of that at all) idiot primary immediately made appt with neuro surgeon, called them both jerks, cancelled surgery, been 6 yrs, still no sign of carpel tunnel........strange bunch of docs

[Mand125]

Mine was like msisbs, lower extremities and I hardly felt anything

Mand

[Guitar_grrrl]

The good news on my EMG - Normal wave forms.
The bad news - when the neuro hit my left leg with the juice, my right leg jumped!  That's what got the whole diagnosis process going.

Not on my list of favorite activities, but not near as bad as the post LP headache.

[anon07072023]

Too funny! haha! :-)
My partner had it on her upper extremities and said it didn't hurt too much - but she's probably a lot tougher than I'd be.

I was wondering about the lower extremity one, too. Now, I'm not too sure about it....

-Kelly

[supermum_ms]

Well you sure know how to put a girl off lol i'd like to get the opportunity to hit a few doctors in their soft spot though, hmmm i'd even pay for the priviledge.lol

Not sure i want to do the tests, in my head i know its going to hurt hurt hurt, especially considering my left leg already has reactive repeditive muscle spasms that ripple from ancle to groin, it feels and looks like i'm being tazered and thats during basic neuro tests. Dont think these muscles of mine are going to be all that happy having a needle zap lol

You'd think by now science would of come up with a nicer patient friendly test!

Cheers...........JJ

[msisbs]

Obviously my EMG was done wrong or something, I didn't even feel anything but the slightest little tiny tingles...weird. Sorry yours was so "eventful" lol.

[gypcwmn]

I am getting an EMG on the 24 june. I have had it in upper extremities before. I also said never again.

This time it is lower extremities. Ms, lumbar stenosis, cervical stenosis, crushed L5, brain lesions, spinal lesions, And i always thought i was healthy! Just have to keep trucking

[drsdonthelp]

LOL, Hi, I couldn't resist to laugh at the way you described your test. I feel the same way as you do when it comes to NEVER EVER wanting to have an EMG test done again. Holy Moly!!! It hurts and my legs were jumping all over the place too.... My tests were normal, but I have always wanted to know how others have reacted on their tests, so thanks for your post.
Hugs,
Pam :)