Hi all, I'm back to whinge about my shrinking muscles again! :-) Seriously though, its becoming extremely distressing watching my lower body shrink like this. I have had the nerve conduction tests come back clear twice. Does this test identify problems with motor nerves? Are these large fibre nerves? I had the needle in one of the worst affected legs where the neuro determines damage to the muscle when you flex it and that was clear. But my legs are shrivelling beyond words. I recall Ken and others saying it can take time for the ncv test to show the damage. Is there any other way to measure or diagnose motor nerve damage?
My legs feel weaker and fragile but there is strength there.
I just need some acknowledgement of what's happening beyond the SFN from my neurologist.

Hi, an EMG [electromyogram] can test the motor nerves.
You may find this link interesting http://www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0215/p755.html
all the best
Brian

Brian
Thanks for that link - it's one of the most comprehensive diagnostic articles I've seen for neuropathy.

Joanna here's another link to a useful site:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/p...neuropathy.htm

Thanks both for the links, they are really informative ones. I have had the EMG, if that's where they put a needle into muscles to test muscle function then i have had that twice alongside the Nerve Conduction test. They both came back clear. I don't know how else to measure this when both tests come back clear. I am sure its muscle rather than fat as the loss is very disproportionate, my bum which is worst has lost all padding so that it's awful sat down on it, like sitting on skin and bone with awful sfn pain thrown in.
Does anyone know if there is any other way to show what's happening with the muscles? The links refer to emg and nerve conduction so is this all that can be tested do you know? :-(

The water can get very murky if you have thrown your body into survival mode. Losing muscle mass is expected if your caloric intake is severely restricted from the normal. I guess the proportions would be different for different people. Just a thought, Ken in Texas.

Thanks Ken, my body weight is lower than usual and my frame is now very petite when I had always been broad and curvier before this. I am now on a strict starch free eating regime which rules out a hell of alot of food. But, the leg thing started a long time ago as did weight loss. I remember looking at my legs and thinking what the hell is going on with my lower legs, ankles and feet about a year ago - even before the sfn pain set in.
Sorry if you have already told me Ken, but were you able to confirm atrophy in your case via a firm diagnosis such as emg or was it your own observations. I don't know what is happening to my legs and bum but something's going on above the sfn.

with an acute onset of wasting was what I was told by a new Neuro at the SW Medical Ctr in Dallas. No wires or needles but she knew her stuff. She examined me thoroughly and made me push and pull on her for physical testing. My falling started early on before I had a chance to lose very much weight. It took about a 8 months to reach bottom with leg strength and start improving. If I remember you are 2+ years? I wish I could give constructive info. Good Luck, Ken in Texas.