EMG for Left Hypothenar Dimples

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TwitchyMD

Well-known member
Friends, I am going for an EMG because my left hypothenar is showing dimples that hopefully are caused by tissue damage and not muscle atrophy. I am scared, very scared. I noticed that issue few days ago and I am sure it was not there. My hypothenar muscles seem to be working fine, yet the dimples and asymmetry is remarkable. Unfortunately there are no sensory symptoms so no tunnel syndromes. Hope I will report in the next 24 hours.
 
It was cancelled, some superirous or whatever found out I did not book in advance and because of I am working closely with the ones performing my EMG...that sucks. I feel really despair, there are only 3-4 explanations for painless atrophy in hands - compression of motor nerve, rare syndrome and MND. I feel I lose it :(
 
Docen,Please relax. I've been through that phase where I was sure that my hand had dimples that were not there previously. Many of us have. I had my emg too (back in November) and ofcourse, it was clean... just a few fascics. Without any loss of function, why would you be so concerned? Wouldn't it make sense that if you had any kind of atrophy, especially in your hands, you would notice significant weakness by now? I mean, you wouldn't lose muscle in your hand and still be able to fuction normally. As you said, "My hypothenar muscles seem to be working fine."-Matt
 
Matt, thanks, I see your point but this is not just a dimple or dent, this is loss of muscle bulk so the muscle is flatter and the contracture is also not that convex as it should be. I showed to few colleagues, they could not say for sure it is not (or it is) atrophy. I worked with that hand manually few weeks ago so I really hope I damaged some subcutaneous tissue but I do not believe it much. In hands unfortunately, especially in hypothenar, you would not notice much weakness as this muscle is not that used and so with 75% of its mass you would probably noticed nothing wrong.Well, tomorrow I am seeings neuromuscular specialist..I will not sleep, I know that for sure.
 
Hello TwitchyMD,I know how you're feeling. A couple of weeks ago I complained about the SAME THING to the people on the chat. When I look at my hands at rest they're about the same. However, when I contract the muscles (by making a fist for example) I can clearly see a big dent (cavity) in my left hypothenar (there is no such thing in my right one). I really really freaked out about it when I first noticed it and the following days I was only checking this hand all day long. Now I try to convince myself that ''it might be a normal asymmetry'' even though I don't totally believe it. Can a cavity between two muscles be atrophy? My strength seems to be ok... even though my hands get tired much more easily than before. What exactly do you see and do you see it when your hand is at rest or when the muscles are contracted?Anyway, good luck with the EMG.
 
Well, he inspected my hand and said there is most likely atrophy of adipose tissue which could be caused by trauma. However he is not sure for 100%. He also mentioned that in the case of hypothenar, even with atrophy you would not notice weakness as these 3 muscles are used little as opposed to thenar muscles, which I suspected.To be more positive, he then spent 30 minutes with testing, he did everything from basic to very specific tests and manevouers to induce fasciculations - I passed with flying colours, he said it was even better than 1 year ago when he was able to induce fasciculations by tapping. He did say I have increased idiomuscular irritiabilty more on the upper part of body (after tapping, muscle stays contraced for a while before it releases) but this is nothing.So, regarding the hand, I will keep hoping it is really atrophy of that subcutaneous tissue and not muscle. Time will tell, which is the worst part.
 
sorry how long have u been twitching now????? please dont write that your still waiting to see if you have als after all these years of twitching...all u are doing by writing posts like this is frightening people who are new to this... :mad:
 
Shanny, this is support forum so please, do not tell me not to write here as I really needed and need support. Without that hypothenar atrophy (either fat pad or muscle - hope its really only the fat tissue atrophy) I would have no reason to write. But I do...you think I enjoy it? I would not wish this to my worst enemy..And you say "posts like that"? What the hell! I was asking for support and it is not my fault that after 5 years of twitching I developed this. I apologize that it happened...
 
Good to hear that after exams it seems that your overall condition is anyway better than before (as far as I understtod).Hope your hypothenar issue is really due to subcutaneous tissue damage. We usually seldom use hypothenars, as you mentioned, (unless we practice Far East martial arts) so probably it is more susceptable to such damage.to Shanny: hey, my friend, even being a years in the BFS does not mind that we all became completely unsusceptable to health fears. Practice on yourself in fighting anxiety and do not let it get over if you see somebody else struggling with it! Sometimes even a veteran needs our support, so let's be supportive - it helps us all.
 
I do not think I have ALS, at least I hope it is not. Lets hope its subcutaneous tissue atrophy and not muscle atrophy. I will let you know within month, if its muscle atrophy, it will progress.I sent the picture to few users but I do not want to sent it to public. Why? It would cause all of you to check you hypothenar muscles, compare and stuff. Believe me, you would notice that. It is not a dent, it is a dimple that makes the muscle to be not that convex.Thanks for your support
 
Ok apparently I'm a *beep*..but I'm just trying some tough love on u doc..after 5 years of twitching if u had ALS u would be dead, it's that simple...I'm sorry if I'm coming across harsh here but u have health anxiety obviously...so do I...read back thru your posts...I have dimples in my thenar muscles on my left hand...no two hands are symmetrical, my dr said it's because I broke that hand and it's not my dominant side...As most people know I try to be supportive of everyone on here, I'm sorry if I came across too harsh but I don't believe that u have atrophy, or ALS....and as u can see from other comments u have frightened people with what u wrote...are u getting any help for your anxiety?
 
Hey TwitchyMD, I hope it's not too serious. In my opinion, your doc would have told you right away if it looked really bad as most of them have zero tact when they are exposed to facts. As you say, time (and eventually an EMG) will tell. Hang in there!
 
@Twitchy Doc : Hast du denn bei der letzten Untersuchung ein EMG bekommen? weil du schreibst das alles besser war als beim letzten mal?@all the same :D)id you get that on the last study an EMG? because you write all this was better than last time?
 
Johny and others: It is atrophy recognized by doctor, I am not over-analysing, it is very noticeable. The thing is, it is not sure whether it is muscle atrophy or subcucatenous tissue atrophy. Of course I hope for the other possibility.No I did not have another EMG but thinking about getting one.I will report back in a few weeks..it will be tough but I hope I somehow damaged that area and hence the subcutaneous atrophy.
 
Docen,In my opinion, the dent your are seeing in your hand was caused by using that hand tool you were using. Its very similar to what I went through in November with weakness in my hand after pushing my snowblower around all afternoon. I've seen the pic of you using that hand tool and the dent you are referring to fits perfectly. Its way too coincidental. I'm 100% sure you will be fine. -Matt
 
Thanks Matt, I hope for the same. I too think it would be really large coincidence. The doc is not sure about it causing it as there are two dimples, but who knows.
 

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