I just got home from the neurologist. He has ordered another MRI and a muscle biopsy. I was wondering if anyone could share their experience, so I will know what to expect for the biopsy. Thanks ~ Melanie

Hey hon! Why do they want to do an MRI and biopsy? What are they looking for? When do they plan on doing it? Sorry to be so nosy, but I worry about you!

I konw there are quite a few people on this site that have had it done recently, so hopefully they'll add some info soon!

Big, big hugs!
Erin

Hi Melanie,

I'm sorry I can't help you on that, but I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you. The ones that have had it done will be able to give you info. Hope you are feeling well. Take care.

Hugs,
Pat

There are two types of muscle biopsy. A needle biopsy and an open biopsy. With the needle kind they insert a hollow needle into your muscle and remove a sample.

With an open biopsy they give you a local anesthetic and cut down to the muscle and take samples. You feel tugging to get to the muscle then a sharp pain when they take the sample. They took about four pieces from my leg. The sharp pain is bad but not intolerable. It definitely doesn't even come close to childbirth, so if you can make it through that you can handle a muscle biopsy.

For me it was the tugging feeling was so irritating I wanted to scream! The sharp pains were tough but they didn't take long. They will want to take the sample from a large muscle that is most affected by your symptoms. They did my leg because my legs get weak faster than anywhere else. I wish they would have done somewhere else though because walking as difficult for quite a while.

I will have a scar forever from it, which doesn't bother me, it's just one line about three inches long on my right thigh, no big deal.

I think the stress I let myself feel leading up to the biopsy was worse than the biopsy itself. You will need someone to help you for a few days though. I had to go home and take care of my kids that night and wish I would have had someone who could have helped me out. But my hubby had to work.

MRI's aren't bad for me at all, just loud.

So like Erin said, why are they doing both?

I know for me they do MRI's because I have MS and they did the biopsy to try and find an answer to my other problems.

I hope you get your answer soon.

Kristie

I had the open biopsy as well. Mine was my upper left thigh. I concur with Kristie in regards to pain.

I have about a 3 inch scar now, and all I felt was a lot of tugging, not really pain. It was stitched up at several levels too and it took about 45 minutes.

Afterwards, I got two "complementary" ace bandages to keep it wrapped up and to try to keep the swelling down. I was able to walk, but I did not want to keep weight on the leg for very long. So do not plan on being able to stand on it, but you can hobble to places quickly. Make sure you keep the bandages on.

Mine was done right before new years, and my family wanted me to come to the family dinner - so I did, trying very carefully to stay away from everyone and sit a lot. All this worked out well until my husband's cousin - his cousin who who was trying to demonstrate to her kids who were goofing around and sitting on each other that they were silly - who suddenly decided to come over and SAT on my leg. I screamed. That ended the party. I am such a party pooper.

Melanie, I had mine in the deltoid (upper arm). They can numb the skin but not the muscle. There is skin, then fat, then muscle. They have to cut through the first two layers before they even get to the muscle. I can't compare to the thigh biopsy but I can tell you that my biopsy was very painful. They did lots of cutting and took more samples than what these guys had taken. It was pretty awful.

Afterwards, I put a cold pack on it and took Tylenol for a couple days. It ached pretty bad. It's doable but just be prepared for pain. And ask the doctor who is doing it to tell you when he is going to cut. It helps to know when the pain is going to happen!

Annie

I would say this is something you should definitely get 2 or more opinions on. AFTER I had mine done, the next 2 doctors who saw me said it hadn't been necessary. They could have found out the info another way. I have a scar on my calf about 1 inch by half an inch and it still bothers me, many years later.


If you decide to go ahead with it, I would ask the doctor to see how it could be made less painful. (voice of experience-I wish someone would have warned me)