Bad Weekend Symptoms: Need Advice

[miguel4life]

Hi Everyone- I had a bad weekend with my symptoms. I was twiching all over and when I went out to walk the dog I had pain and numbness in my feet. In partcular my big toes, lator, when I relaxed those wonderful pins and needles along with shocks started. I last saw my neuro in May and she said my twitching was benign, but this last dose of problems has caused me to rethink that. I am confident if given the same strength tests I would pass again with little trouble, but these intense symptoms have me a little scared. So I called and asked for a EMG. I do have issues with anxiety and panic attacks and I am tryng to keep a cool head. Sleep has also not been easy lately either. I know these all contribute to bfs quite a bit. I do have some questions though. Since I first noticed these symptoms back in March. What kind of shape would I be in now if I had ***? Also I here a EMG is painful. How painful? I am not freaking out, but I am concerned. So if anyone can answer these questions for me I sure would apprieciate it. THANKS- BIG STEVE

 

[jsageurge]

I hope the EMG brings you the comfort you are seeking.

I am extremely confident it will be clean for you. As you suspect, if you truly had a serious MND, there is pretty much no doubt that you would have noticed a significant change in your condition after this many months.

Please let us know how it turns out, and then be prepared to accept your clean bill of health and pledge to not let this consume your time and thoughts any more. I wish you all the best.

 

[totaltwirls]

Hey BIG STEVE - Sorry to hear about your bad weekend. I can't answer the question about the EMG (never had one), but I can say that if your symptoms started back in March and were due to ***, there's a 99.9999999999% chance that you would NOT be passing your strength tests. You are fine, so please relax (and keep relaxing even after you get your NORMAL EMG results).

Cheers,
-Bill

 

[JohnnyRocket]

Hello, Big Steve. I can tell you I don't like needles, but I had my EMG back in June. It wasn't bad. You do feel little pricks as they put the needles in you, but it is fine. Also, with the NCS portion, they will "zap you" at certain points on your body where your nerves feed your limbs. This will make your feet, toes, hands and fingers move. They are testing the nerve function to each limb and the timing it takes to get from point A to point B. This does not hurt a bit. I had the needles sticks from neck to toe and some on my back, probably about 15-20 in all, but some have much less than that. It takes about 30 mins to an hour depending on how many areas they test. I had worked myself up so bad before the test and then found out it wasn't that bad. Good luck, I am sure it will be fine. Your symptoms sound like many of ours on this Board. If you have been having them since March, you would definitely know by now if it were something bad and as said previously, you wouldn't be passing the tests. Keep us posted.

 

[MarksmanS]

Steve,

I have all the symptoms you describe, and it's been going on for 19 months. I went in for an EMG over a year ago, and they found "bilateral ulnar neuritis" (nerve inflammation in the elbows -sensory). The tests on the feet were inconclusive.

I first started having symptoms after taking a *beep* of drugs following sinus surgery (Avelox, Levaquin, Prednisone, etc.) The neurologist and my GP were at a loss to explain what happened. I had

muscle twitching
muscle and joint pain, especially in the legs
pins and needles in the hands and feet
numbness at night
a chicken-pox like rash on my palms
red hands

Ultimately, they concluded this was some kind of drug reaction. My symptoms have waxed and waned over 19 months, but there has been improvement compared to when this first happened.

I still twitch like crazy, and this comes and goes. yesterday it wasn't a big deal. Today, my calves are going crazy. My feet "buzz" frequently. I have to wear arm braces at night to keep my arms straight and not aggravate the nerves in my elbows.

They did 2 EMGs, 18 blood tests, and a couple physicals. Neither doctor thought it was MS. ALS was never mentioned. I did a little research, and it looks like people with MS almost always develop vision problems (optic neuritis), balance issues (problems walking), and numbness that is all day long, not just at night. Since I have no weakness, vision issues, balance issues, etc. I have no idea what my problem is.

I'm curious to see what your doctor says. I'm sure you are going to be fine, although I suspect they will check you for diabetes.

let us know.

 

[spinninghead]

As far as an emg being painful, I can honestly say it wasn't as fun as eating ice cream. But it wasn't bad. What was bad was sitting around worrying myself sick not knowing and imagining the worse. At that point they could have poked me with red hot pokers and it would not have been worse then the mental roller coaster I was experiencing.

Your EMG will bring an end to that stress and you will be glad. You'll undoubtedly come out all right.

When I walked out of my EMG, you couldn't have seen a happier man.

Take courage.