2nd EMG Test Tomorrow - Scared
 

I have been struggling for a diagnosis and was suspected to have TOS. Now Neuro wants to re-test EMG to rule out Auto Immune Disorders, namely CIPD. Have the test scheduled first thing in the AM and am pretty scared it will reveal bad news.

I have some weird neuropahty in my arms which is bilateral, hoping it is not something more scary. TOS seems (is) bad enough, but to add more on top of it is just awful to think about. My poor wife has been through a lot this year as I've struggled with these issues. Hoping for a little good news for once.

I don't have any noticeable loss of strength, though I do have tingling and burning in my arms and lower legs. No trouble walking that I can perceive. No loss of reflexes at last evaluation. Hoping my lower nerve issues are related to sciatica issues and not chronic peripheral neuropathy or worse.

Sending good vibes to everyone and have found support on these boards through the last 6 mos. I wish I was never prompted to find such a site (if that makes sense) but I am very thankful I have.

(fingers crossed) that I •just• have TOS - as weird as it sounds to even say that.

I hope everything went well today. hopeful

Thanks. EMG was... Normal. Which leaves me :confused:

The tingling is driving me CRAZY, and I am sensing the Neuro thinks it's more anxiety than literal neurological issues. Have an evoked potentials test coming up to see if that reveals anything. The search continues.

I am happy your EMG was normal. Tingling can be from many causes including vascular, endocrine, allergy etc.

EMGs do not pick up sensory PN.

Geeze, my neuromuscular doc told me that I did not have sensory PN because it did not show up on my peripheral nerves during my EMG. She told me this as she was doing my feet. I wish I knew this at the time.:confused::confused:

I did not know this. I see her this am. I have sensory symptoms and I would like her to offer me an answer other than don't worry.

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

Basically it is a test of exclusion....EMG typically is to distinguish motor issues from sensory.

Many people with just tingling and numbness etc, show normal EMGs.
This is a good read too.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/980215ap/poncelet.html

In the past 2 or so years more people here are getting the skin biopsy instead.

In sum--
 

--while some sensory issues of the larger, myelinated nerves that subsume the sensory impressions of mechanical touch, vibration, and positional sense may be hinted at through abnormal EMG or nerve conduction studies, problems with the smaller, thinly myelinated or unmyelinated nerves that subsume the sensations of pain and temperature cannot be tested by these studies--such nerves are simply to small to isolate in this way.

For those, qualitative sensory testing, sudomotor reflex axon testing, or skin biopsy, especially, may reveal disorders of small-fiber nerves.

Thanks, Glenn. You are so much better than I am in the testing area of PN. You are a treasure here for us! ;)