Confused About Discrepant EMG Results

[ho.katiemccann]

As some of you know I have had 2 EMGs. One done by a physiatrist and one by a neuro.
The first one was 'abnormal' , the second one normal.
The neuro wasnt concerned by the first study and said that EMG's should be left to the experts.
The discrepancy worries me a lot.
The first report noted "denervation potentials in left deltoid and paraspinal at c5/c6". It also had a note of 1+ and 2+ against the column marked "FIBS" for those muscle groups. I guesss FIBS means fibrillations. There is no column for Fasics. Do they lump them together ever?
Anyway, like an idiot, while worrying about it this morning, I looked up fibrillations and found this "as a general rule, fibrillations never occur in normal individuals. They are symptomatic of neurogenic disease." Fasiculations can be benign as you all know.
So if the first guy thought he saw some major problem in my EMG which he concluded was a radiculopathy, why on earth do you think the neuro would disregard it in favor of the study done at his hospital which was normal.
Have any of you ever had anything abnormal turn up on an EMG that has subsequently turned out to be ok and not the dreaded ALS?
My husband says we should go with the word of the neuro who is an ALS specialist at a top NYC hospital rather than the physiatrist.
But surely computers dont lie - I mean how can one EMG be abnormal and another normal?
Doesnt make sense to me yet no-one else seems concerned.
Anyone got any info on this stuff?
Kate

 

[EyeoftheWild]

When I saw the title of your post I thought to myself, "uhm yeah, your doctor."

Forget about trying to read, or read into what the results mean. You already had an expert determine that you are fine...what more do you want?

A machine is just that. The neurologist relies firstly on his/her wealth of experience, then on some well established physical tests, along with a physical exam. most emgs are unnecessary, but they do them "just in case."

You can look to a machine, or you can look to yourself. Those are your choices, I'm afraid.

Basso

 

[garymills]

First, Basso is right, the only person qualified to read/interpret your emg is a qualified doctor....which you had. That said, don't worry about having some fibs. I had fibs in one area of my back and the neuro said it was probably due to nerve compression. Also, Dr. Harati at Baylor said he sees patients that have fascics, fibs and other stuff that have a benign dx. That is the problem with people like us trying to interpret complex medical information eventhough we are absolutely not qualified...we often cause ourselves unnecessary grief.

hang in there, and believe what your docs tell you.

Gary

 

[ZekesTraveller]

kate
My first inclination was the same as EyeoftheWild got. Your neurologist. He is correct. EMG should be left to the experts. If you can't take the word of a
1. Neurologist (man many years of specialized training)
2. ALS specialist (more years of specialized training)
3. Practicing at a top NYC hospital (very competitive-best of the best)

Then I don't think you could ever accept anybody else’s word. Anyways to save you anymore worrying I will tell it to you how I had to hear it to make me snap out of my MS crisis.

No you don't have ALS! Stop the worrying and start living because you obviously don't meet the criteria for ALS. Not by a long shot. Maybe 30 or 40 years from now....but not now!

Believe me I sympathize with you because I saw 27 doctors before I believed it. Top that! Including one world renowned neurologist, research, published the whole nine yards. I had BCFS! That is all!

Remember BFS is benign but it’s a crappy transient benign.

One EMG can be abnormal because the guy interpreting it could be seeing especially if he has little training on it. I have spent most of my working adult life looking a data streams (waveforms) from oscilloscopes to network analyzers and it always comes back to the guy doing the interpretation. This is because the test is suppose to be comprehensive meaning the doc looks at the trace as well as the person under test (PUTs) during the test. Holy shyt! I created a new acronym

 

[ho.katiemccann]

Sorry. I am probably THE most neurotic person on this board. I am probably going to top the "27 doctors" by the time I get to believing that there is a chance I may live. My husband is losing patience, my kids don't understand why mommy is sad. I feel like a failure all round.
Sorry everyone for whining. Just another bad day of symptoms and fears.
Kate

 

[SharonSmoove]

Hi Kate,

Just flicking through the posts and noticed yours. I just want to tell you to hang in there. I know exactly what your going through, I started with this 7 years ago, and the first year I was a wreck. I don't want anyone to go through what I did. I was so absolutely desperate for someone to tell me what was wrong with me. I was searching the net constantly. I went to 5 Neuro's in 12 months, not to mention the doctor over and over again. It's very scary and NO ONE understands. We search for a reason why we have these strange symptoms. But, try and give yourself a rest from the worry, take one day at a time. Panic is the worst thing that you can do to yourself, it makes you breath to fast and causes symptoms throughout the body.
Try and do something nice with your family, and everytime a negative thought on your heatlh breaks through see if you can not let your mind go there. When we are down we tend to bring it into every area of out lives, just give yourself a break.
Hang in there and maybe for the sake of your family just try for a few days to pretend that your alright. If I can be of any support please pm me.

Take care
Sharon

 

[ho.katiemccann]

I looked at the first report again last night and horror of horrors it has FIBS and postive sharp waves. I thought the two of those combined were really omninous. But I hear what one of you said about trying to do the job of the doctors and interpret stuff ourselves.
i am so confused. Have resolved to call the neuro again today and ask why he isnt concerned by these things. I suspect he dismissed the report outright because it wasnt done at their hospital. Who knows.
Got no sleep last night and had an argument with my husband just to top things off.

 

[Supabro]

Kate,

I recently went through what you're going through. I had an abnormal EMG that showed both chonic and active denervation. (I won't bore everyone here with the story again; you can find my posts on the Support Group Board). The EMG specialist that I was referred to said that the EMG changes, including fibs and positive sharp waves, were caused by various herniations in some discs (seen on MRIs) that led to radiculopathies, and had nothing to do with motor neuron diseases.

The reading of EMGs should be left to professionals. But if you feel like you have good neurologist, then trust him/her. In the long run you'll feel a lot better.