EMG Experience - Who Never Had One?

[octavia031]

I was wondering who of you never had an EMG done but has only been checked clinically by his/her neuro?

 

[MarioMasher]

Me. And dozens of others here. Never had an EMG, never wanted one. IMO once you go down that path of needing an EMG to reassure you, you'll probably need 2 or 3 more later when that first reassurance wears off. So why waste the money?

 

[BarbiePetals]

I agree with Mario on this one. I had an EMG and it didn't make me feel any better. I fell into the trap of "Did I have it too soon"? If your neuro tells you that you don't need one I would believe him. My neuro wasn't even the one who ordered my EMG it was my family doctor and it was only because I begged for one.

 

[juliacristina]

I had an EMG. Doctor didn't think it was necessary based on clinical but gave me one as a precaution. Was pretty painful but nothing too bad until one spot he jammed the needle into the muscle and the pain was bad enough I started sweating. He said something like, "sorry about that, only one in one hundred chance of me hitting that and I just hit it."no idea what he was talking about but it sure did hurt. For comparison purposes, I'm no wimp. 10 cavities drilled, never had any kind of numbing agent until I had all four wisdom teeth removed while awake.

 

[juliacristina]

Forgot to mention - doctor was right i didn't need the emg. No roblems found.

 

[AussieSurvivor]

have had NO testing beyond the GP (Dr).And that was blood only-usual stuff. Wont unless symptoms change for the worse, can see no point. cheers Rodger

 

[amyfisher]

I have only had one in all the 11 years of twitching - and that was after about 3 years of the twitching. It was normal and that was 8 years ago, and even though I continue to twitch and continue occasionally to go down dark paths of "WHAT IFS"....I have not asked for any. I recently told my neuro, I do not want another EMG - he laughed and said "I would not even suggest an EMG. there is nothing in your clinical to suggest even going there".....

 

[Krackersones]

I had three EMGs within the first four months or so of my twitching. After three clean EMGs, I had a muscle biopsy on the same day as the third EMG. The muscle biopsy showed denervation/reinervation which is the exact thing the EMG looks for. After a year and a half since the muscle biopsy, the neurmuscular specialist who did the EMG and muscle biopsy would not order another EMG even though I still twitch. Since my symptoms haven't changed (and may even have improved a bit) he said an EMG would tell you nothing. Basically, if clinical symptoms do not change you cannot expect the EMG to change. Even if an EMG or biopsy showes nerve damage this does not lead to a diagnosis. These diagnoses have more to do with progression over time, nature of onset, blood tests, and the symptoms in combination with other findings. I wish the EMG was some definitive test but it tells you little more than a clean clinical if you have widespread twitching. I think an EMG only makes sense if you have weakness, fast progressing symptoms, or a localized problem. This is just my opinion based on my experience with all this.

 

[FantasticFurball]

Never had one. First my GP didnt find it nescessary to even go to a neuro, then the neuro didnt find it worthwile to pursue an EMG. "Overkill" he said... In the end they where right afterall. Im still here twisting like a madman...

 

[suegirl]

3 1/2 years of severe twitching and no EMG. I have not seen a Dr. for the twitching since soon after it started. Dr. did not think EMG was necessary at that time.