Just Back From Northwestern, Worried

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Skittleborg

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Just got back from Northwestern, and Im a nervous wreck. He did a pretty thorough exam and felt that he found some physical abnormalities (brisk reflexes) that warranted another EMG, MRI and a Creatine Kinase blood test. Whatever that is. Anyway I need to call tomorrow to schedule these tests and Im just sick with worry.

Don
 
Hey Don...

You should ask Kerri about this, and someone else posted the same thing recently. Brisk reflexes are not really abnormal...they can happen when you are under stress. They are not the same thing as clonus, (Repeated movements after you they test your reflexes...and which is seen in ALS patients....) If that is your only abnormality I think you have nothing to worry about. But Kerri...she was a wreck for a year after she had brisk reflexes, and despite numerous clean EMGs after that, she still was freaked out.

Your doctor just wants to be thurough. So make the appt., get the tests, and try to relax. Easier said than done...I know.

Peace, Jen
 
Jenn's right. Brisk reflexes (propablly knee reflex, am I right?) are nothing to worry. If you are under stress you may have brisk reflexes as a result of stress. According to my neuro brisk reflexes have no signification in ALS diagnosing. Especially when they are billateral (the same in both legs or both hands) and seen in young patients.

Nothing to worry, I'm sure your tests will be OK.

BTW, how long do you have fascics? And did you have EMG in the past? If so, when?

regards
Marcin
 
I have seen 4 neuros and a zillion GPS only two said my reflexes were brisk, and I was very nervous at the time. My neuro says that young people are supposed to have brisk reflexes, and he does not think mine were ever brisk.

NERVES MAKE THEM BRISK.............

And Pole and Jenn are correct brisk can be normal and both sides brisk is a good thing.,

Kerri

;)
 
I've been having twitches for about 5-6 months. Had an EMG about 1 1/2 months ago and the Neuro said it was clean. Howeve since I was still having twitches he sent me to Northwestern. I was feeling pretty good until the neuro up there said he found some physical abnormalities (brisk reflexes - and he kept stroking my foot alot, so now Im worried about the babinski sign) and he wanted to run another EMG, MRI and Blood work. Now Im a nervous wreck. I was expecting him to say its just anxiety and then be done with it. I am scheduled for those tests on the 30th and then get the results back on the 8th of October.

Don
 
Don,

I just saw my neuro on monday and he said I had brisk reflexes, but told me not to worry because they were not extreme. Also said it was caused by anxiety. He also said that people with ALS have exagerated reflex to the slightest tests. According to my neuro, your leg would almost straighten out when tested. By the way, this dr. is a nerve and muscle specialist at the Nerve and Muscle Center of Texas and a Prof. at Baylor College of Medicince and sees ALS a lot.

Get the follow up tests, but try hard not to stress. I know how hard it is, because prior to my last appt. I was a nervous wreck. I do feel better now but continue to fight the anxiety.

Gary
 
Don

The truth is that brisk reflexes are a kind of abnormality. There is a scale according to which neuros account reflexes.
0=no reflex
1= decreased reflex
2= normal reflex
3= brisk reflex
4= hyper reflex (usually with clonus)

So as you can see brsik is not the same as normal. So if somebody want to be very precize may call it an abnormality. But this "abnormality" is nothing suggesting ALS or something like that. You can say it a very slight abnormality with no diagnostic signification.
Many of BFsers have brisk reflexes- check old posts here an on braintalk.


regrads
Marcin
 
Don,

The normal reflex when you are testing deep tendon reflexes are just one little kick or reaction. With brisk, it's an extra kick or two on top of that. With clonus, the reflexes just keep going crazy....this is almost always indicative of a neurological disorder. But you've had one clean EMG...try and let that make you feel reassured that it is most likely nothing serious.

Jen
 
I have brisk reflexes and have a few beats of clonus in my ankles, as well.

There are several people on braintalk that have the same symptoms.

Try posting over there. You will get some immediate responses on this subject.

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Mike
 

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