Twitching for 2.5 Months - No ALS

[Daddylord.Lonewolf]

Hello all,I've been twitching for 2.5 months. I've been to two neuros, had several MRI's (normal), and they both felt confident that I do NOT have MS. They also feel confident I don't have ALS ...BUT...the neuro i'm currently seeing (who is top notch), doesn't think i need to do an EMG test at this point because he sees no sign of weakness or atrophy. My question is...does anyone know how long a person with fasciculations needs to wait it out before they can be confident it's not ALS? in other words, how long before ALS can be ruled out?Also---can any of you that have done an EMG test weigh in on how painful it is? My neuro said it's painful and not pleasant. Is it unbearable?And...it is in my best interest to wait a certain amount of months before doing an EMG test so that it's most effective?Any feedback is appreciated! Thank you.

 

[SharonSmoove]

hi,personally i dont mind the emg because thats just a little *beep* with a needle here and there. the ncv part is a zap, if they work up slowly and don't hit ya with a big zap to start it' better. all in all i wouldn't be worried, child birth is worse nah seriously it's nothing to worry about.take caresharon.

 

[SharonSmoove]

ok so you aren't allowed to say the word that starts with p and ends in k. so i shall rephrase that and say 'jab', sharp jab in fact.sharon

 

[beanphile]

It took me about 45 minutes for the test which included the lower limbs and back. Some pain and the first few shock and jolts will make you jump, but you will know when to brace for it as the doc puts pressure on the area before it comes. I would say its very unpleasant, but the peace of mind you get from the test afterwards greatly outweighs anything else. Expect the doc to be measuring your limbs, wiping some blood off from the needle pricks and light taser like shocks from the test.

 

[bluestarman]

Yeah, I just had one. The NCV part with the shocks is mostly difficult because of anticipation for the next shock, but they are plenty bearable without ill effect. The EMG portion with the needles into muscles either doesn't hurt at all or can really ring your bells depending on the muscle being probed. I had no problem on my quads or triceps at all. The thumb muscles and one calf rang my chimes with quick white hot "see stars" pain about on par with a bee sting. The discomfort doesn't last, though, and is very short-lived. You might have a bit of bruising, but no more discomfort than being very lightly sore for a couple of days.My test, which covered points on my arm and leg, took maybe 30 minutes. The test will move faster if you can relax the muscles being needled quicklyIt is a hurdle you have to get over, but in ruling out certain disorders, the peace of mind will obscure the discomfort, and like all of us here who have had an EMG, you gain some perverse bragging rights.You want an uncomfortable diagnostic? Esophageal manometry! When the nurse brought over this small tube along with a barf bucket, I asked why the bucket? How hard can swallowing this tube be? I found out after the tube made it through the back of my nose and hit the vocal cord area. The bucket was a comfort as I struggled not to disgrace myself.-Dave

 

[cindyandco]

Hey folks, I can even beat that one. Anyone ever had a sigmoidoscopy???? I thought "surely not" when I went into the room, I've called it the rotorooter test.Talk about disgraceCindy

 

[bluestarman]

Sigmoidoscopy? Unless you weren't sedated, the whole exhaust pipe (colonoscopy) test has got to be worse. Of course, I don't remember a thing past the anesthetic...-Dave

 

[beanphile]

Funny you guys bring that up. I had a colonscopy, sigmoidscopy and endoscopy done already and im only 28 so far

 

[cindyandco]

No I wasn't sedated and it hurt like @&#^! They only examine the lower 10 inches of the colon, but darn, that was enough. Needless to say, I haven't rushed back for another.Cindy

 

[boysGrandmaof3boys]

I found the EMG to be unpleasant, but it certainly wasn't all that painful. I've felt much worse pain in my life...child birth being one, breaking an arm being another, among other things. The "pain" was worth it to me (the peace of mind). I was told by my neuro that it is never too early to have an emg because the twitching in a** patients is caused by nerves that are dying and that's what causes the twitching...if you have any twitching at all, the emg would pick up on a** if that's what it was, so it's never too early.It sounds like you are 100% ok, and if your neuro doesn't think you need an emg, then maybe you shouldn't have one... butif it gives you the peace of mind, I'd have one done. I did, and it helped a lot.

 

[ZekesTraveller]

I was given a bottle of Vodka a piece of would to bite down on and the good book before the procedure. I saw the needle and bit down on the wood. The neuro proceeded but it did not hurt at all.