You might have misread about the EMG. EMG tests are checking for PNS (peripheral nervous system) disorders, while MRIs of the brain and spine are checking for CNS (central nervous system) disorders.

While it may not seem it, there's a huge difference between the two even if the symptoms appear identical. And it's more than simply peripheral nerves being those that run throughout the body, and the central obviously being the 'hub' through which they communicate.

The central nervous system has one additional factor being the blood/brain barrier which is supposed to protect it. Outside of traumatic injury, almost all CNS disorders are autoimmune.

The PNS doesn't have any protection so to speak, aches from a cold are in a way a PNS disorder, but so are pinched nerves, scarring and the like, and it does have some of its own autoimmune diseases.

But for the CNS, it pretty much has to be autoimmune, trauma or spinal meningitis and like viruses to cause, nervous system issues stemming from the CNS. If it's autoimmune the only way to dx a CNS disorder is through MRI, CT scan and/or blood tests including the ever popular spinal tap.

It's next to impossible to dx PNS disorders from an MRI or CT scan, so doctors use EMG tests to see the health of the muscles and the strength of their signal to the CNS.

ALS, MS, Parkinson's, even Alzheimer's are CNS disorders and will likely show on an MRI, sometimes small lesions in MS can hide between the cuts or are only present in the spine, but still can be found on MRIs.

Hope this helps some

ALS affects both upper and lower motor neurons. The three people that I have know that have had it all started with difficulty with their hands and speech and/or swallowing. Weakness and spasticity were also symptoms they had. For one, it was the slurring speech that finally made him go to the doctor. I think that your neuro would have identified some abnormalities during the neuro exam that would suggest ALS. There is an ALS forum on NT that you can check out and ask questions about the initial symptoms they had.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum6.html

Thanks for the insight everyone. I guess since my MRI waz good I shouldn't worry. After doing more research (I swear to god google is going to drive me insane) it seems like my leg symptoms may be BFS. I can see the twitches in my legs. From what I've read..with ALS you cannot see the twitches. I have twitching in both legs..my left leg is slightly weak/achy and ny right leg is twitching like crazy and weak/achy. Can anyone confirm that? I'm no longer having any serious range of motion issues in my neck after doing my therapy exercises for a week.

I can confirm Google driving you insane . It happens... But as far as BFS goes, well.. Something for the doctors to suss out. In my opinion as one who has been in and out of physical therapy for 30 years, I would say it sounds like the PT is working. You're using and stretching muscles that haven't received such treatment before. It causes them to act rather like children, they're tired, wondering why you suddenly expect so much of them and are throwing a temper tantrum.

Your therapist should have explained that, but sometimes they don't. It's perfectly normal for the muscles to be weak and fatigued and start twitching when you're doing PT, even if you are in excellent health. As a weight lifter I'm sure you're familiar with the major muscles and might know a few of the minor muscles, but the PT is focusing on all the little supporting muscles that most people have never heard of unless they've taken a medical course, and ones that are rarely given pressure to preform unless in a PT type setting.

Let them jump and twitch about, and be annoying little buggers when you're trying to sleep, but don't forget to let them rest. PT isn't a miracle cure that will have you set back to right immediately, it takes time, even more time than you'll have appts for and in the meantime your muscles will beg for their much needed rest in between PT exercises. Let them have it, stick with the exercises (avoid Google) and you should continue to see improvement. It might never reach 100% depending on the extent of your injuries, but it will get better. Hang in there.

Thanks Starznight. Yes..google is really driving me crazy. I went to my PCP yesterday. The one who blew me off several times when things were getting started. He was not very pleased to say the least with my neurologist and Orthopedic doctor. He suggested going to see a new neurologist and ordered blood work. He looked a little concerned and confused. He walked over to his nurse practitioner and had the information for my neurologist and orothpedic doctor listed. He said, " I want his records from these doctors immediately." Today I woke up early and had a line of numbness going down my right side of my face. From the eyebrow down. My right leg was a little achy.. but last night it was bad. I could barely walk on it. Today I'm feeling some numbness on the left side of my face and my shoulders feel heavy intermittently. Either I really do have MS or I have some major spinal or neck issues still occurring. I see the physical therapist later today. I'm crossing my fingers.

Dr. Google, Dr. Yahoo, Dr. Mayo, Dr. WebMD, Dr. Internet, etc. can all cause unnecessary anxiety. Use them with caution.

You have something going on but, unfortunately, the diagnosis of what is going on may take some time. Keeping a journal, as Nurse Nancy mentioned, is a great idea and will be so helpful during this process. Discuss with your doctors symptom management while you wait for a diagnosis, which really can take a long time.

Let us know what your next step is and how you are doing.

Thanks for all of the support everyone. I guess I can rest easy knowing there's a 98% chance it's not ALS..since it typically starts in one part of the body and progresses. It doesn't just "go away" for a while like symptoms do in certain parts. I probably wasn't completed "healed" in the beginning when working out and probably made matters worse.

Here's a link to a great and very informative site not only about MS and MS symptoms but it gives anatomy of the nervous system and how it works. I had to try to remember the name of it and remembered I posted it as a sticky once. This might help you out. There's a lot of information on this site and it may take you a while to go through but I think it will help you, especially the anatomy part.

http://my-ms.org/ms.htm

Hey everyone. I got a second opinion from another neuro, too. He suspected MS but said since my MRI was clean that rules it out. I asked him about ALS. He laughed and said, "We'll check for that but it's unlikely. He said ALS patients can experience pain..but that's when the disease has rapidly progressed and the muscle has weakened. He said he didn't see any normalities during my exam. He ordered an MRI on my lower back and an EMG to rule out anything major. I'm crossing my fingers.