Believe a Neuro-Muscular Specialist

[ytewestGo99]

If he's a neuro-muscular specialist, just believe him. I went to an ALS specialist and he told me OVER THE PHONE that I didn't have ALS. I saw him anyway. He did all the normal tests. He did the EMG for my peace of mind and guess what? He was ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. Clean EMG and quite honestly, a waste of money. Because after that, you wonder ... did I get the EMG too soon? Did I have the wrong side of my body tested? Was he thorough enough? With more knowledge come even more questions and worries. I would agree with your neurologist and deal with the psychological issues. That's what I also had to do. The EMG is slightly painful but definitely bearable. I would hope you would not carry it as far as I did. I had 3 EMG's done in the space of 4 1/2 months. The onlly thing that has REALLY helped me is reading my Bible and getting counseling. If you get your peace from those sources and not from test results that are unnecessary and expensive, you'll benefit much more. At least that has been my hard learned experience. Glad to hear he said you are OK. Sounds like e did all the right things. By the way, you can exclude ALS and diagnose BFS without the need for an EMG. At least the doctors at the famous Cleveland Clinic believe so. Here is what they said:

"In the case where there are no findings of a neurological disease (usually meaning a normal neurological exam, normal laboratory values of routine blood work), a medical history of no chronic neurological diseases or trauma, the diagnosis by exclusion is benign fasciculations. They cause no damage, either muscular or neuronal, and they can wax and wane in their presence. Fatigue and anxiety can make them worse. They can present for days to years. They can be localized or generalized over the whole body. Sometimes they follow a viral illness, but sometimes they just seem to show up."

God bless...

 

[DuelingNerd]

Hi - I can totally relate to what you say.
I too haven't had an EMG yet, but think I want one.
However, I've also read the numerous posts here from people who that first EMG didn't seem to help - some seeming to have 5 or 6 EMGS and still not reassured and still searching.
Troy - I find your last message here very reassuring. You seem like a very caring person who has alreay walked in those shoes for sometime and come out a calmer and wiser person on the other side.
I guess that in the USA, because of litigation problems that many neuros would do an EMG, partly to cover themselves? I think that maybe here in the UK and perhaps also Aus that the litigation problem is not the same - so a GP or neuro feels more comfortable relying on their experience to rule out nasty diseases based on the clinical presentation alone.

Take care,
Seldean

 

[Medusa13]

Ayeisha,
I'm sure this doc knows ALS when he sees it, so you should feel free to scratch that off your worry list. However, I don't understand why he didn't run any labwork on your blood. My neuro sent me to the lab 3 different times. He kept coming up with things that could cause twitching besides ALS and BFS. In my case everything was ruled out. To my mind, that's what should be done...rule things out. Heck, you might just need to take a cal/mg supplement.
-c

 

[akohler1]

I would do the EMG but ytewestGo99 is correct about always wondering about this and that concerning the test. . He seems very knowledgeable,,,,,

 

[MarioMasher]

Bumping another great old post which has some very detailed, reassuring, and oft-repeated advice from an actual neurologist. These are the types of posts that were invaluable to me when I first came to this board. This is almost the exact same advice my neurologist gave to me about anxiety and looking things up on the internet, almost word for word! He and I decided not to even bother with an EMG either.Hope this post helps!

 

[cindyandco]

Hypnosis??? That's a great idea. I have a friend who does this for people for smoking cessation and he said it really works - never thought about using it in this situation!

 

[WorldMeg]

If you're interested...I've been using Medical Hypnosis for over 2 months now and it's made all the difference in the world (but it took 2 months of daily use to start to notice the benefits).It's more than just 'not noticing' the symptoms too. I no longer have the muscle cramps/spasms in calves (I've had two in the last two months - I used the get them every night as I tried to sleep)

 

[MahwahFresh]

I'm not sure if this is relevant or not, but I'll post anyway. I keep trying to remind myself that when a doctor tells you that you are fine that is a very good sign. When I was pregnant with my daughter, she developed a condition caused hydrops which is linked to numerous terrible genetic conditions. they told us over and over that she would not live. We discussed her autopsy. they made absolutely certain that we were hearing what they said and that we were not in denial. they ran test after test with us until there were no tests left. Well, she is almost two now and totally fine. She has had every gene in her body tested and everything has come back normal. My point to all of this is that if a doctor thinks there is something really wrong with you, even if they are not sure they will let you know. When they assure you that you are o.k. then they must be really sure so that should be comforting to all of us.

 

[FantasticFurball]

The bottom line is usually:if the doctors are worried they tell youif the doctors are not worried they also tell youAnd if you had a benign dx based on whatever method used, it IS usually benign. Havent heard about the opposite, yet.

 

[FantasticFurball]

YeahThe best reassurance is when the doctors really dont care about your condition.