EMG Results - Polyphasic MUPs

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itsnotrequired

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yesterday I had my last Emg and it showed polyphasic motor unit potentials in both legs(mainly on left side) I had a period of fatigue in left leg for one month and i decided to have another emg.i had 3 before,all of them were clean.the report says that it would be good to repeat Emg in six months.on the otherhand docs say that it isn't related to ALS because my neurological exam is normal and it could be other things.but what I have read on the Internet says its the early sign for ALS.I can't believe this is happening to me.I'm just 28. :crying:
 
hi try not to determine your future by looking for answers on medical sites etc on the net.i understand your concerns but if you have been told by a neuro that its not a mnd then go with that. 17 months ago i had slowed responses on my ncv test after the previous ones were normal,i then continued to seek my own diagnosis via the web ,the information i found on als sites frightened me. All this time later i am still going strong and in fact have just started a new job.sorri I cant write more My Computer is stuffed. Regards,Sharon.
 
Theo: Don't try to second guess your MD by what you read on the internet. Stay away from ALS sites. They won't do anything but cause unnecessary anxiety. At 28 it probably is really not related to ALS. If you doc said it isn't, accept that until you are told differently. I know its hard not to feel like you do, but ALS is not a disease of the young. Freaky things happen sometimes, but they are just that. Stay in touch here. It will help a lot. I know, because I thought I was dying until I came here. Now, I can believe and hope again. You will too.Good luck,Cindy
 
It's easy for me to say sitting here in the cheap seats (i.e. - not being you) when my own anxiety is out of control, but if your doctor says it's not ALS, then it's not ALS. They're looking at the same test results that you are and they have the experience to interpret them correctly. They know what they are looking for. The internet is in no way any kind of substitute for real education and experience. If he says you don't have ALS and that there are other causes, then you need to believe that. It's not over for you now. You don't have ALS. Joanne
 
Theo, I had a concern over a polyphasic that wasn't present in a prior EMG. Trust your physician - you don't have *LS. My neuromuscular specialist explained that there are several types of "polyphasic" units and each one tells a particular story. If you had a MND, the EMG would show a particular type of wave pattern - and that would correspond with a very suspect neurologic/physical exam. It is also likely the EMG would show other findings. Where did they find the polyphasic(s)? They are common in the feet and ankles.
 
thank you for replies.I am so scared and in a big shock.the Emg report says that I have long duration polyphasic motor units in my lower extremeties.(mainly left leg) I am having a bad fatigue in my left leg especially above my knee.also my legs ache and burn with a type of numb feeling at nights.it is so bad that I can't sleep at all.I am having aching and burning sensation in all my muscles but left leg is the worse.it gets fatigued just after standing for 10 seconds.there is mild weakness in left leg but nothing significant so far.Emg report notifies that there is something which is pointing to a chronic neurological condition going in leg muscles but docs tell they don't know what it means.I am lucky to contact 4 neuros for my Emg report and they all told me that the findings are not meaningful for a disease to identify.they want the test repeated but I am nearly sure something serious is on my way.the most scary thing is one of the doctors said that he can not rule out .ls with these findings but it could be other things while others telling me that they are not concerned about .ls.internet also points to .ls with these findings so I try to stay away from googling.I am a wreck now and planning to quit work too.don't know what to do.. :crying: :crying:
 
Theo: Don't give up and don't do anything drastic just yet. You are only 28. It would be EXTREMELY unlikely. If this helps any, I read a story about a man who was told he had ALS, but learned later that the weakness and atrophy in his arm were caused by a problem with his neck. Whatever is going on could be and likely is something else. I know you feel hopeless, but you are not. Don't concentrate on what the one dr said, think about what the other 3 said. Don't give up!!!Cindy
 
Theo, polyphasics on an EMG do not equal *LS. Whatever you are reading on the Internet is just simply not true. Long duration polyphasics can be found in neuropathies, "pinched" nerves, myositis, diabetic neuropathy and even leprosy. While they are also associated with *LS, they are not the only EMG finding in *LS. Not by a long shot. Again, if you had clinical weakness, which it sounds like you do not currently have, it would have shown up on the EMG. Additionally, the burning/pain you are describing points to something away from MND. A friend of mine has disc herniations...you should see her EMG. :eek: Also, seek out a neuromuscular specialist if you aren't already seeing one. They are the EMG experts.
 
Thank you all.whichtwich I guess you have some knowledge on the subject.I thought an Emg would show the differnce between a possible neuropathy or benign diseases and .LS.i am afraid if they know that its .ls and not telling me.docs are telling me that they don't know what it is for now.isn't it weird?wouldn't they know with these findings?thank you again.I really appreciate your answers.
 
Hang in there Theo: I don't know you, but you have been on my mind. I truly do not believe you have ALS. I do believe you are letting the fear get the best of you. Keep the faith. Continue seeing you drs. Know that its not over for you. Not now and maybe not ever with this problem. I hope to see a smilie :) at the end of your next post. Warm thought toward you,Cindy
 
Sounds like my left leg. I am sure it is weaker than it was when I first noticed a problem with it.But what bothers me these days is pain, not twitching, I don't seem to be able to walk far or carry much without it.ALS is not supposed to be painful, so I should see the pain as a good sign.
 
Theo-Hey man I completely relate. I have had the whole worry about what an EMG said and I had read BAD things about my NCV having large amplitudes and decreased latencies and that IS the start of ALS. Here is the thing and maybe you should consider this...please do. My neuros told me that they DO NOT typically test in feet/legs because of the constant strain and they will almost ALWAYS find denervation (polyplastic units) and it would send me into a panic (and I am thinking this is what is going on with you). To my last neuro I said "hey the last two emgs were just in my right arm...is that enough"...she said "yes I agree that without clinical weakness ALS is not even considered. There really is no need for an EMG unless the Neurologist is pursuing other conditions". And I said...so even though sometimes it feels like I have extreme tightness in my legs and I cant lift my legs up and it almost feels like I need to use my arms to lift my legs...I should not be concerned" She said "Nope not at all....BFS has all types of symptoms and none that you have described are of ANY concern to me with negative clinical exam". I beleive the thinking behind this is that IF you had EMG changes by that time you would have DEFINATE strength problems in certain limbs and also reflex changes (actually my first neuro told me this). I am very sorry you are going through all of this but I have been down almost the EXACT same path. I never feel like me anymore, but I know I dont have ALS. Two neuros have told me that regardless of how bad you feel weak, how much your twitch/cramp or tremor it makes no difference. So hang in there man! I will be rooting for you, but I know you are going to be fine. The reason why they said "well we dont know what it is now" is because like my neuro said "WE DONT KNOW WHAT THIS IS"....but "WE KNOW WHAT ITS NOT" and that ALS. So everything is going to be fine. If you need to talk about testing and EMG/NCV results I have all of my paperwork right here by my computer....and am more than willing to trade stats =)Sean
 
Thanks to all of you so much for your support. Cindy, Trying to be positive i have no clinical weakness or atrophy going on for now. Just brisk reflexes which docs don't worry about. And docs telling me they don't think that it's .LS. So i just try to hold on.On the otherside the weird pain and burning esp. in my left leg goes on non stop.I wouldn't worry this much if it stopped just for a moment but it does not. According to my EMG, my nerves are sending signals to the muscle, but interference happens and more signal has to be sent. You don't get them unless you have some sort of nerve damage..That's all i understand..But why?? Wish i could know more..Sean, it is the biggest relief i ever had to hear a similar experience.Thanks. But isn't NCV tets are normal if someone has .LS. My NCV test are normal.Correct me if i am wrong but that's what i know. Did you have polyphasic motor unit potentials too ?? I hope i am not bothering you but i am so scared..Thank you again..Theo.
 
Theo: I have brisk reflexes too. They are normal, especially if you are experiencing anxiety. Both of my docs have told me this. My pscyh md is a doctor who treats mind AND body. He checked my reflexes and told me that I did NOT have ALS. He showed me what my reflexes would be like if I DID have ALS. Believe it or not, they can get a good idea of this thing from just that alone. As for the burning sensations, I have that all the time too.Mine does leave for a time, and yours probably will too. When I am really freaking out, I feel like I am on fire. This week I have had burning feelings on the inside of both my lower legs. I have had it for weeks on end in both arms. The body reacts in many strange ways to the mind. There was a link on this site that I visited last week on anxiety and it had every one of the symptoms I have experienced. If you see it pop up here again read it. It will be very reassuring. Cindy
 
Theo,The pain and burning down your left leg sounds like a pinched nerve in your back. I completely ruptured my L5-S1 disk around 8 years ago and had tremendous pain and burning down my leg...especially in my butt and calf. I had some minor foot drop as well. It could also be piriformis syndrome which is irritation or damage to the sciatic nerve. All of the above can cause screwey EMG's.Don't panic and listen to your doctor, ask about disk and back problems.Paul
 

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