Good Afternoon,

I just had the EMG test done yesterday and no longer got home and my doctor was on the phone letting me know he had the results back and I have extensive Nerve Damage in my feet.

He wants an MRI done right away and I asked him what this all meant and he said to wait for the results of the MRI.

Does anyone have Extensive Nerve Damage in their feet what does it all mean?

This has been since January 2014 and Dr. has me on Lyrica and Percocet, but just went for the test yesterday.

I would appreciate any insight into Extensive Nerve damage in the feet and what it means.

Also the test was uncomfortable and took 45 minutes not the best test but tolerable.

I answered your other post. I have nerve damage in my feet. I have CMT which is hereditary. There is no treatment/cure for it at this time. Over 70 types of there identified so far. Again, it is hereditary and also known as Hereditary Motor Sensory Neuropathy. (HMSN).

--really doesn't tell you much (but you know that).

It would be more useful if the doctor or technician can get you a copy of the report so you can see which nerves are most damage, whether the damage involves slowing of neural impulses or an actual conduction block, or whether the result pattern suggests demyelination (damage to the insulating sheath around the larger motor and sensory nerves) or damage to the axons (nerve fibers) themselves, as these can possibly point to causes.

What part of the body is the MRI to be done on? If it is your lower back, that implies the medical people suspect the damage to your nerves starts in the spine or at the spinal nerve roots (which can involve bulging discs, arthritic spurring of the vertebrae, etc. compressing nerves). The EMG patterns might reveal that by indicating where "blocks" or "slowdowns" appear to begin, if all parts of your leg and lower back were tested. But an MRI could be ordered for pelvis or hips, problems within which might also lead to lower extremity symptoms. Or, your spine/hips/pelvis may be fine and this may something more systemic. There are hundreds of causes of lower extremity neurologic symptoms and often the investigation into them is long and very process of elimination, as many different conditions may result in exactly the same symptoms.

Do get copies of the report (we're pretty good at deciphering them here).

Thank you for responding to my thread I really appreciate.
You seem to know so much about nerves.

I did ask for a copy of the report today and I am happy the support group and yourself know how to interpet them.

In late October, I told my Primary Dr. that I was having issues with my feet that they felt like electric currents, burned, felt like I was walking on water, sometimes felt like walking on marbles and plus a couple times I woke up from them having some kinds of spasm (don't have the spasms anymore)
The tops burn, feels like electrical currents and walking on marbles seem to be an every day occurrence.

My Primary Dr. tested the bottom of my foot and asked me if I felt it and I said yes and so he says to me you have Neuropathy from the diabetes and prescribed Lyrica.

I took one pill of the Lyrica and didn't care for it so I called and then he prescribed Gabapentin.

By this time I said I have had enough of this and made an appt with a Neurologist that was in February and the app is finally coming up April 18.

Last week I had an appt with my Primary for routine work and we talked about the medication and so forth I am on for the Neuropapthy and then he says why don't I have a test done before seeing the Neruologist the EMG test.

I had that done on Monday and the Dr. get the results right away and calls me a couple hours later.

What they tested was my right foot all the way up to my right hip with the machine that zaps then they tested the same areas with the needles.

The Dr. asked my if I had back problems and my back hurts off and on it has been that way since my 30's it's not unbearable but it is uncomfortable maybe I'm used to it.

What I don't understand is the Dr calls to let me know I have extensive nerve damage and asks about my back and lets get you in for an MRI

I ask him how extensive and that when he cuts me off and says lets wait for the MRI results for your back. That is scheduled already for the 1st week in April.

I just want to know what does extensive mean the way he originally brushed it aside in October (you have diabetic neuropathy take these pills and good bye)

Now I have the test done I know longer have it done he's on the phone with you have extensive nerve damage and lets get an MRI done. W

I knew I had Neuropathy he told me that I am on the Lyrica and take vitamins galore too many too mention plus the Percocet for pain.

It the way he handled this that has me really upset and concerned.

This extensive nerve damage isn't that what we all talk about the burning, walking on fire, electrical shock, zaps, feels like a glove on the area.

Is he talking about something I already know or is this a lot more serious.
What is the difference between Diabetic Neuropathy and Extensive Nerve Damage? Anyone have any thought about this situation.

The MRI for the back is lower part of the back.

What you described sounds very similar to my pain.
My guess they are going to used the MRI to determine how much of your pain is from your lower back (L3-4-5) and how much is from your nueropathy.

In my case I have had numerous epidurals for the pain from my back. Luckily these have given me much needed relief. I'm down to only having a shot less than twice a year.

My feet still burn & tingle but the electrical shocks and zaps you mentioned seem to be most when my back is at its worst.

I have tried a TENS unit at times to help, it seems like it provides me some relief. I try to use the serious pain meds (Percocet) only as a last resort.

Good Luck

Hi Glentta,

I did get a copy of the report emailed to me and it does not sound very good.
even though I don't know more than half of the words.

It says the constellation of findings is compatible with a sensorimotor polyneuropathy, axon loss in type, severe in degree electrically with regards to the sensory fibers of the lower extremities and moderate in degree electrically with regards to the motor fibers of the lower extremities. A superimposed right lumbosacral motor radiculopathy cannot be fully excluded.
Patient should return to the EMG lab to have the upper extremities examined.

It also says absent right sural and superficial peroneal sensory nerve responses.

absent right peroneal motor response recording at the extensor digitorum brevis muscle with absent tibial motor response recording at the abductor halluces muscle.

no motor unit action potentials seen in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle with chronic motor axon loss up to the distal forleg muscles. Patchy active denervation is limited to the abductor hallucis muscle.

If I read your post correctly, you have diabetes and probably something else going on. Thank you for the post.

The tens machine just aggravates my condition I gave up on it and I find I am better off with putting my feet in ice water.

Perocet I have had for a week I just got my test results back and am very upset so I will have another Percocet tonight.

That should be interesting since my back has never been mentioned before. I have had back pain and went for therapy years ago. I guess I just learned to live with it. It's not that it's unbearable but it aches at times.

I would have never thought this would be coming from the back area.

Thought this site was interesting concerning diabetic neuropathy.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-c...s/con-20033336