and how long should we wait inbetween restests, such as EMG's, Skin Biopsy's, blood work?

Please don't tell me I need another spinal tap........

I think it depends on the test and also one's symptoms. For myself since my initial testing showed very little,my pain increased,and then also I developed new health conditions/pain was why I had repeats of certain tests.

My doctor actually told me yesterday that tests don't ever need to be redone! I don't beleive him~

I have emgs done every couple of years. They always support the increase in symptoms that I am experiencing. I have sensorimotor axonal neuropathy. I have never had a nerve biopsy - no point really seeing all my damage is very evident on the emg.

I have regular bloodwork for my lupus - no set schedule though, it's on an as needed basis.

raglet

You really don't need an EMG/NCV redone. An expert neurologist in CMT told us that. It just shows that you are progressing as if I wouldn't know that already. It is for the benefit of the doctor. I believe him.

i agree with kitt. i started out with an emg/ncs in 2003 with mild to moderate and two years ago it progressed to severe on the emg/ncs. where else is there to go from there? ha! i dont see any point to that. i get get a full pulmonary function test every 3 months and that has been sinking steadily but its important to gauge that closely at this point so a testing i will go. for pn i dont think i need anymore emg/ncs's unless i improve and thats unlikely. i could see doing different tests if new symptoms develop or new breakthroughs are made.

it depends why you are having it done. I suddenly had trouble lifting my left leg, so I needed to have the nerves in my hip done to see if it was the neuropathy affecting my hip, or something else. It was the neuropathy. Also, having had my hands/arms done has indicated that the motor problems that I have with my hands at this stage are central rather than peripheral in nature. It has always shown that I am not far away from having neuropathy in my hands as my results are heading out of the normal range (sensorimotor axonal neuropathy).

So, sometimes it is more than just showing progression. Sometimes it is to dx what is going on, and this can need doing even once an initial dx of neuropathy has been made as not all issues can be blames on the neuropathy.

cheers
raglet

About the retest with the emg/nc to see if the PN has worsen. Why would that be done other then to just know if it is getting better or worse for knowledge? For me I had the restest because the 1st did not show. The 2nd did show PN but even after dx the treatment was the same as without one. That test just puts me in so much pain that lasts so why I was asking.