Anxious about MS: EMG Tomorrow

[ryan2513]

Hi, i have got my emg tommrow and very worried, could do with some advice, My trouble started back in october. I haD a strange sensation in big toe, which lead me on the road to being anxious aout ms, I started to have strange aching in legs, weakness (well to me not my neuroglist) Well i went to the neuroglist and he did his examination and said i was fine, his tests all fine, well i still worried and he saw me again, in that time the twiching started, it is all over mainly at rest in calves and side of feet. This started me to worry about asl, i am 31 with two lovely little boys. I saw him again he as been super to me, again said i was fine but could have the test done for peace of mind. so i have had mri on the brain and spine all normal and i have my emg tommrow. I am a terrible worrier which doesn't help me. MY aches and i have burning type of sensation inside of calf and the twiching all go in a cycle, some weeks twiching bad as so on. I am so worried about asl,does it sound like it. HAS ANYONE GOT ANY ADVICE???/

 

[santos271]

I have not had an EMG or seen the neuro yet, but this does not sound like you have ALS, particularly in light of the fact that you have had several neuro exams and your doctor says you are fine. It would have been good if you could take your neuro's reassurance without getting the EMG, b/c I understand EMG's hurt! Also, I've read other posts where neuro's have actually not recommended EMG's b/c they are only as good as the person who conducts them so they are not entirely reliable - meaning that you could see things on there that make you worry when you should not. More than likely it will show nothing but even if it does, that is not necessarily something to worry about b/c again, there can be many reasons for it and also, the test itself depends highly upon the skill of the person conducting it. There are many on this board who have lots of experience with EMGs, so they would be better to answer, however I really hope you do not worry. Your neuro would have picked up anything of concern when he examined you and he told you that you have nothing to worry about, so try not to. Good luck -Joanne

 

[bluestarman]

I'm a fresh EMG subject--two weeks ago. The test is a bit uncomfortable (OK, more than just a bit for a few test of the test points), but the discomfort doesn't last. The NCV portion where they deliver shocks (the worst is like getting a hefty static shock from walking across a nylon carpet) tells the examiner how well your sensory nerves conduct. There will be like three shocks of varying strength per test point, and about 8 test points on arms and legs. Then the EMG part requires some very fine, but long needles, to determine how your muscles and motor nerves work. The examiner will place these needles deep into various muscles, depending on where you report your issues, and move them around some as they look for specific electrical waveforms. You will likely be asked to move the muscles as well once the needles are placed. The needle part is a bit uncomfortable when in your hands, but in other parts like most leg muscles, you can hardly feel it as anything other than a slightly odd sensation. You may have some post-test bruising which goes away in a couple of days.The biggest challenge for a patient is to relax as much as possible, as the test goes quicker that way.The exam machine will make all sorts of clicking noises during the needle test. This is normal.My EMG was clean, as were most of ours on the forum here. The frustrating thing for me, as for many boarders here, was that probled muscles never twitched during the test, although they did so freely before and afterwards!-Dave

 

[SirTrouserz]

Your symptoms/sensations sound very typical of BFS and you should trust that your neurologist wouldn't reassure you unless he had a good reason to. They are not prone to do so, believe me. If he said he's doing the EMG for your peace of mind, then that's all it is and you should try not to worry. I know it's difficult not to do though. Best of luck. Hope that helps,Sir_Trouserz