New to this forum
 

Hi, I am new to this forum and I am usually on the SCS forum and I posted introduction on the new members forum. I have to go for an EMG tomorrow and am very nervous about it! I saw a neurosurgeon a few months ago and he diagnosed me with RSD and I had to have a Sympathetic Nerve Block. That only made things worse. My pain doctor that implanted my stim has now sent me to a neurologist and he is doing my EMG tomorrow. I am really nervous because I have this horrible burning pain in my right leg and than it will go totally numb. And sometimes I fall due to this numbness which messes up my stim and the leads so it is important I get this nerve stuff checked out. I am back to using my walker and sometimes a wheelchair to keep me from falling and also from the pain. I just want some relief from this but I don't know if I will get any :(

Hi tchr012. Sorry that I'm probably too late, but I hope your EMG wasn't too bad. It's not an experience I'd volunteer for, but it's not the worst thing I've ever felt. Good luck to you!

Thanks for the reply!
 

:hug:Joan, thank you for writing me back! I just now got back to this thread myself. I am mainly on the SCS board since I have problems with mine right now. The EMG was incredibly painful and lasted for a few days! It was way worse then I thought it would be! I did have an EMG a few years ago and it did not feel this bad at all, it hurt but not like this one did :( I had to have a ct scan after that and I get my results on Tuesday! I am really mad because my current pain doctor (she implanted my neurostimulator and it is now messed up) has said that she gives up on trying to help me and I have to see a new doctor. This might be a good thing because she does not take me seriously and she does not help me anymore. I am now being sent to a new pain doctor but her office still has not sent my referral or records over so I cannot even make an appointment! I am so sick and tired of this but trying to be optimistic that once I do get the other doctor he will help me! Its just so confusing when everyone is saying different things and whatever is wrong keeps getting worse! Thank you for listening and responding!

tchr012,

So sorry for all your pain and frustration. I know how you feel going from doc to doc hoping the next one will be The One. Am in the same boat right now; my appointment is October 21. Just don't let up on getting you records sent over so that at least you'll be on the appointment book. If those responsible for "sending over the records" had just one hour of what you're experiencing, those records would be there in a New York minute.

Hang in there as best you can, but advocate for yourself because nobody else will.

Keep us posted!

Sheltiemom

Hi tchr ~ I just wanted to tell you that DON'T be surprised if the EMG comes back NEGATIVE for nerve damage. This silly test is not very accurate at all. If in actuality you have nerve damage, it will come back negative, and if you don't have it, it comes back positive. :confused:

I've had severe sciatica for 24 YEARS, so obviously the sciatic nerve is damaged, right? So says the doctor too. Well, the dumb EMG comes back NEGATIVE every single time. :confused: Go figure. My leg is numb, I can't tell if the bath water is cold or hot ~ so what gives here?

So like I said, don't depend on that test. I wish they'd come up with something more accurate than that thing. That's enough to give you gray hair! :rolleyes:

Best of luck and Take care. Hugs, Lee

Sorry that it was so painful for you! I feel bad now for saying that it wouldn't be.

I know all about searching for The One doctor too. I'm on my fourth neurologist now and still haven't had one iota of relief. Hope we all find what we need sometime soon.