EMG Today and a Question
 

Hi, I had a EMG today that was not to much fun to say the least.......
They put the needles in my RSD arm, hand and in my neck OUCH!. My question is this.. As soon as i walked out of the Dr's i noticed this HUGE lump on my forearm..... This was 3 hours ago and its still there, (it has gone down a little but not much) and it hurts like HE(*^*%&&*
Anyone know what this might be?
And yes my whole arm, even fingers are stiffer now then they were before... SO i dont think i will be getting anymore EMG's! Esp after she told me today that it showed No nerve damage and she also thought it was RSD
sandy

I don't know the answer to your question, but I wanted to send you some soft hugs!! ((hugs)) :hug: :hug: :hug:

This is SO ROUGH to get through. You are in my thoughts and prayers, Sandy.


BTW, is that you and your baby in your avatar? ;)

thanks
 

Thanks or the hugs. And the picture is me and my grandson (kaden)
sandy

I refused EMG's
 

I was at the Mayo Clinic many years ago and a requirement to get into the pain clinic was an EMG. Knowing that I was highly sensitive to even "touch" I knew that would really do me in. Thus I refused. Later saw a neurologist there who said I did the correct thing considering my high level of sensitivity. Then just a few years ago another to specialist insisted on an EMG> Once again I refused and I haven't seen him since.
I have a hyperactive nervous system and know those needles would trigger off more pain.
I am so sorry that you are experiencing difficult with your arm. I do hope it subsides. Perhaps you could call and ask for their advice on what to do about it. By the way - why did they want to do this to you if they even suspected RSD.
Best wishes
Sydney

Why
 

Well after I have had the test today I ask myself the same question.. Why oh Why did I ask for this test....
The reason was..I had shoulder surgery on Dec6th, My surgeon since then has been very "Un friendly" ad not wating to do anything for me except send me to a PM dr....I wanted to make sure something did not happen in my shoulder during surgery that made me like this, because the pain and swelling started 2 days after surgery.. Or maybe i just did not want to believe it was the RSD? Well Now i think i finally no and should now just start believing it...I go for a Nerve block in my Neck on May 30th (not looking farward to that either) But oping it helps so i can finally get rid of the swelling in my hand, the purple color and be able to move my shoulder once again and MAYBE go back to work before i lose my job
sandy

Aww!! Very sweet picture. Is he your first/ only grandchild?



On the EMG (Sydney) -my PM Dr has offered me to get one done but I didn't know if the pain would be worth it and for the past 2 months or so I have been debating it... no one knows if I "actually do have a nerve injury". I believe I do- because I smashed my finger real bad in the car door (that started my RSD), but I don't know if if I have a small nerve injury it will show up on the EMG. I believe that usually they only pick up the larger nerves (especially if the EMG machine is old)?! Recently I have opted against getting the EMG at least for now- I am in too much pain already and the treatment I get for RSD will be the same whether or not I have a identifiable nerve injury.

I also have a lot of sensitivity issues and for that reason I think an EMG for me would be sheer tortue. I know just what you mean.

yep
 

Yes my first and only grandbaby..... LOL
And i still have this hard lump on my arm and it hurts terrible, SO im thinking im going to call the dr and see what they say
sandy

sandy,

get that thing checked soon....it could be a small ruptured blood vessel under the skin....whatever it is, u need to know.

i'm sorry u had to go thru the emg.....i know that sometimes they do them to rule out other possibilities but it's still torture.....i simply won't allow them to do an emg on me again.....my family doc sent me to a new neuro recently and he mentioned emg and i told him that unless there's something in it for me (like a promising treatment he wouldn't otherwise consider), he'd have to hog-tie me to do it......the funny thing is that the neuro thought about what i said and replied 'no, it wouldn't change anything....i'd just like to know what's happening'.......however, he did agree that an emg isn't needed right now.....so, refuse to have it if anyone suggests this test again because emg's are what neuros DO and sometimes they're operating on auto-pilot....
make them convince u that this is necessary.

i hope u start feeling better quickly.

liz

p.s......congrats on the grandson.....isn't being a grandmom great!!!

Hi Everyone~ this is an interesting topic, and raises a few questions in my mind about undergoing an EMG. Well, I too had EMGs early on, and they were torture...at that time, I was showing some signs of RSD, but it had not been diagnosed. The EMGs did show that I had moderately severe bilateral carpal tunnel and also very severe bilateral unlnar nerve compressions that required rather prompt surgery, as I was rapidly losing hand function.

After the surgeries, RSD was confirmed. BUT, even after the ulnar surgeries, I guess I developed scar tissue, and the ulnar compression started becoming a problem, with increased "ulnar clawing" of the hand.

The hand surgeon said NO MORE SURGERY, for either the Carpal tunnel or the ulnar issues, because of the RSD.

The insurance company doc said to do ANOTHER EMG and do MORE surgery...

Well, the Pain Management Doc said NO SURGERY. Fortunately, I have a wonderful rapport with my Pain Doc. So I just looked at him and said "Ya know, Doc, if surgery is NOT recommended with RSD, then WHY should I even have an EMG in the FIRST place? All the test, for ME, is going to confirm is what we already KNOW--the ulnar nerves are shot, and the surgery is only going to make the RSD worse!" No more EMGS were done.

But, I can see where this could be a problem if someone DOESN'T have RSD. RSD can be pretty tricky to diagnose, and there are times when the symptoms are NOT RSD, so in that case, it would be important to rule out OTHER causes.

For me personally, now that I have RSD, I personally don't want anyone touching my arms with either a needle or a knife. The RSD causes its own set of "limitations", and those "limitations" are pretty much the same, regardless if the carpal tunnel or the ulnar nerve problems are involved.
It has been a "long haul" to get my RSD somewhat "status quo"!

So, it just boils down to weighing the "risks" versus the "benefits" of an EMG, and discussing this very, very thoroughly with our Doctors. Only you and your Doctor can determine what the best decision is.

Just wanted to say that I've had now maybe 5 or 6 EMG/NCS (Nerve Conduction Study) and each has been quite different. The first one was so vigourous that the young neurologist literally dislocated my knee while attempting to induce a charlie-horse while the needle was several inches into my calf. (But he got some very good data.) The next one at the Mayo Clinic tried to induce a spasm with a computer controlled series of short bursts through the stun gun that I still remember 5 years on. But then I had one done last week by a relatively senior professor of medicine at UCLA and it was almost as gentle as a baby's breath. And he still got good data!

Moral of the story: I would error on the side of having it done - if it must be done - by someone whose been doing it for a very long time, recognizing that in many hospitals, it's an entry level job for staff neurologists.

Mike

Wow!
 

Man Mike that is a lot of electrocution for one person :)

After having only 1 emg done I am dead set against another lol. They did get good info though, showing that the H reflex in the right ankle is absent, and the velocities in the right leg were slower that the left.

But I think that is enough to go for the rest of my life lol.

Hi Sandy!! I am so sorry you had to go through all of this!! Please get this checked out.. run.. do NOT walk! I don't mean to alarm you, but this is not normal after they put those needles in your RSD arm. ((Big Hugs ))and prayers going out to you!! Your grand baby is beautiful and so are you!! Love, Desi :)

emg, shoulder surgery, nerve block
 

hi sand,

my name is jennifer and i'm new here but i was just reading one of your posts regarding the emg you had. actually, your scenario sounds quite a bit like mine and i guess i'm looking for a little advice? i had shoulder surgery also to repair a torn rotator cuff and then a second surgery to remove scar tissue. a year later i am just being diagnosed with rsd. anyway, my pm wants me to have an emg because i've never had one and he wants to rule out nerve entrapment? also i had a stellate ganglion block done almost two weeks ago and it was horrendous. did your pm use fluoroscopy? did your eye droop and become red and did you have warm sensation in arm and hand? sorry for all the questions-but i'm trying to decide whether or not to go somewhere else to be treated. my pm doesn't want to another stellate block, instead he wants to do a cervical sympathetic nerve block. anyway, thanks for your time and i hope to hear back from you. :winky:

shoulder pain
 

hey desi,

Thanks for welcome. i appreciate it. when i hurt my shoulder they did an mri but the mri did not show the tear. since it didn't show the tear they treated for a shoulder impingement initially. i was given several steroid injections(ouch) and physical therapy (big ouch)! none of it helped, so my ortho doc went in and scoped my shoulder(arthroscope) while he was in there he found a medium size almost full thickness tear and he shaved off a bone spur and depbrided a tendon and performed an acromioplasty. my ortho doc told me there are two types of mri machines, one is called open mri and the other is called closed mri and basically he told me that one of them isn't worth a crap and that's the one i had. for the life of me i can't remember which one i had right now(stupid memory loss)! i will think about it and let you know if i remember. anyway the moral of this story is....rotator cuff tears do not always show up on mri! ok, now i was wondering about emg. why did you have yours done? my pm wants me to have one cuz he thinks i might have nerve entrapment. also, when you had your stellate ganglion block was it done with fluoroscopy? did it hurt like a you know what? trying to decide wheter or not to find new pm cuz mine did not use fluoroscopy and it was a 9 on pain scale and i don't think he got it in right place. well, i should quit blabbering now, sorry. i tend to go on and on and on.....hope to hear from you soon and have a peaceful weekend. jen

Hi again, Jen! First of all, thanks for writing me back! about time, too LOL Just kidding, Lady:p .. Ok, first of all to answer your first question, I had my EMG done because my wrist and hand was hurting me so bad. Now, for the stellate ganglion block.. I had no fluoroscopy done at all. I requested 1 mg. of Xanax instead of the .05 xanax I am now taking. I also took a percocett incase of pain;) I felt the pinch of the needle, then pressure when the medicine(Lidocaine) went into the nerves. after wards I NEVER had the droopy bloodshot eye. no stuffiness in my right nostril(which you should have.. the droopy red bloodshot eye and the stuffiness) I also had no relief what so ever from that block. ok.. the 2nd. one.. I thought I had relief, I didn't. Also no droopy eye, stuffiness.. etc. now, for my 3rd. and final stellate ganglion block.. I had the droopy red eye, stuffiness in my right nostril and I also experienced complete numbness on top of my shoulder, right side of my face.. hoarsness(from all 3 blocks, by the way, and this hoarsness is normal, Jen.. as the block is done next to the voice box. I asked my PD before the procedure if I was going to have a anthestic to numb me first?? he said no, why should I use two needles, when I can just use the one to inject the medication?? Jen, don't worry about you going on and on.. hey, I tend to do the same LOL:D I hope you have a good and normal SGB done. Also, I hope you have a peaceful week end as well. I am so tired, as I have had only 2 hrs. sleep lastnight. The pain in my hand, wrist, now my shoulder is awful... so OUCH.. LOL :eek: sending hugs your way, Jen. Love, Desi:hug: :hug: (p.s.) the Ganglion blocks cost $189.00 a piece. I had a co pay of only $100.00 to pay. I think he is nuts to charge this much!!:rolleyes:

desi
 

Hey Desi.

my stellate ganglion cost $312.00!! I had to pay for it myself just like everything else becaused my work comp was discontinued about a month before I was diagnosed with rsd! I have an emergency hearing to get it reinstated 6/6. I really hope things go my way because i'm currently living on $600.00 a month and my house payment is 575! i also have an appointment for social security on the 30th. hope, hope, hope i get approved!! Anyway I'm sorry to hear that you didn't get much sleep. I know just how you feel. I was taking xanax also at bedtime (.5) but my dr. didn't want to give it to me anymore so they gave me lunesta instead and it doesn't work for me. I feel like a zombie today. The reason i was asking about stellat block is because i think the pain i experienced was not normal. Like I said, now he wants to do a cervical sympathetic block but i don't think i'm gonna let him. Think I'm going to find a new pm. Have you had an mri of shoulder? Do you think it's rsd? it's possible to have a shoulder impingement without a tear and if you do they could give you injections and physical therapy. When I had a torn rotator cuff the only thing that helped besides the pain meds was a heating pad. Well Desi my 10yr. old is whining so i better get goin. talk to ya later:winky:

emg
 

hey desi,

I forgot to ask you if the emg made your rsd flare up? thanks again, jen

my first thought was a rupture blood vesssel from one of the needles ... i would tell the doctor.
i also agree with not having any treatments, tests, or medications that i do not want. i had a very partial emg to prove my nerve damage to myself and it was used for my legal issues too. but i have refused more than i have been offered that is for sure. i feel with rsd no one really knows what to do and i am my best judge. i get my choices, do my own research and then discuss it with my pcp .... joan

"Hey, Jen! Wow..$312.00 for a stellate ganglion block?? highway robbery, is what that is!! darn!:mad: Jen, I hope and pray that you do get approved for SSI too! Did your Dr. wean you off your xanax? that is a really tough benzo to get off of! I was on the 1 mg. and I asked my Dr. to put me on the 0.5 mg. So, I am on that 3 times a day. I also take Vicoprofen(for pain) and EffexorXr75mg. once a night. all the hype of that lunesta and here it's making ya groggy. boy, they sure do lie on their commercials, hu??:rolleyes: Jen, excatly what kind of pain did you experience from your SGB? Maybe your P.D. didn't get it in the right spot!! did you get the droopy eye? stuffy nose?? Yes, I had a MRI of my head, and neck I also had a bone scan of my wrist, hand and shoulder. I am being sent to another specialist for another MRI of my shoulder. I believe this pain in my shoulder is caused by the herniated disk. Could be RSd/ combo of both. Oh, man, I use my heating pad too all the time!!:D And A good hot bath of epsom salts. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..:) Well, I am going to go and veg out for a while. take care and have a great weekend, Jen Love, Desi

joan
 

hey joan,

don't know if i've talked to you before? this neurontin makes me goofy:eek:
also didn't get any sleep last night, i'm sure you know what i mean. anyway, first of all when i had the stellat ganglion block i wasn't in any pain at the time(i had already started tx with clonidine patch, etc and was having a "good day") i told the pm but he said he still reccomment that i have it done as scheduled. he didn't use fluoroscopy and when he did it i would rate the pain a 9. it just felt like he was digging around in my neck with an ice pick. i really can't explain it any better than that, he also hit the nerve to my hand twice and it hurt like hell!:mad: after he was done he looked at me and said my eye was droopy so he "got it" but i'll tell ya what, when i got home an hour later my eye was not droopy nor was it red, i did not get any warm feeling to arm, hand, did not get hoarse or stuffy. i really don't know whether he got it in right place and i was just diagnosed a month ago(even though i've had symptoms for at least a year) i know how important it is to get the block right. Now instead of doing another stellate ganglion block he wants to do a cervical sympathetic block, also without fluoroscopy and i just don't know if i trust him to do it. he keeps pushing scs but i think it's too soon. sorry to go on so long, hope you don't mind. well, thanks for the reply, any and all advice, support is appreciated. jen

desi
 

Desi, i agree about highway robbery and pharmaceutical commercials being a bunch of bull! just please keep in mind that even if your mri doesn't show a tear it can still be torn, i am living proof! although it sounds like you have a lot of other things going on that could cause it. it is hard for me to explain the pain that i had with stellate block. it honestly felt like he was digging in my neck, i would rate the pain a 9!:mad: he also hit the nerve to my hand twice and seemed surprised about it. he said my eye was droopy but desi when i got home an hour later it wasn't droopy or red, i wasn't stuffy, i wasn't hoarse and i didn't get any warm feeling in my arm or hand. also, i was having a "good day" and not in pain when he did the block, i told him this but he reccommended to go ahead as scheduled? now he wants to do a cervical sympathetic nerve block also without fluoroscopy and i just don't have a good feeling about it. he also bumped up my neurontin to four times a day and i don't think i'm tolerating it well. i am going to talk to him about xanax on tuesday because i'm a mess without it. i just need it at bedtime, i don't see what the big deal is! if only they could walk a mile in our shoes:D he also wants me to have emg to rule out nerve entrapment and if my work comp benefits are reinstated i'm sure i'll have to have one:eek: i had a nasty flare up after ganglion block and i figure the emg will do the same. well, i hope we both get some sleep tonigh, good luck and talk to ya soon, jen

Emg
 

I wouldnt put a whole lot of stock in the EMG really. When they did the EMG on me they wanted to see if there was nerve damage. They found plenty, and called it classic peripheral neuropathy. Then he did the needle test and said for sure I have L5 S1 compression. Classic case!

They sent me to the neurosurgeon for back surgery. The surgeon had an MRI done, and then told me that there was nothing wrong with my back. So no surgery. At this point the 2 doctors, neurosurgeon and neurologist were having it out about the different results.

Finally it was settled that it is RSD. The lack of blood to the leg for 7 days caused the nerve damage that looked like back problems on the EMG. MRI saw no problems what so ever.

So they can say after the EMG oh yes there is a pinched nerve, or whatever. But the MRI will prove it. RSD can and does act like nerve problems, even classic ones like PN.

Actually I was relieved to know it was something, cause I was really tired of the "it's all in your head" remarks. :D

Maybe I can help a bit?
 

Hey Jose,

Thanks for the reply and all the great info! I feel like I can use all the advice and information I can get! You're right about the fluoroscopy. I'm sure it would have made all the difference in the world. I live in a small town and they probably felt like they couldn't "afford" it! I went to the University of Chicago first and they basically accused me of self-mutilating myself with a heating pad and of being hysterical. I am definitely going to call around today though and see what my options are. One of the problems also is that I'm self pay right now and it was definitely cheaper to be treated here than up north. I have an emergency hearing on June 6 to hopefully get work comp reinstated and i go to social security tomorrow. I know he pm didn't get it in right place so i wasted $312.00 but more importantly, I lost time. Where do you have rsd? You sound very knowledgable so I'm going to assume you've had it a while? I was diagnosed a little over a month ago, but had some symptoms for at least a year. Well, Jose thanks again, I truly appreciate it!jen