spreading.... ugh!
 

Hey guys,

So recently my pain has been spreading from my right arm to my left arm. And well today, it decided to go full out in RSD pain and I'm at the point where I am just crying and can't move it. The fire is blazing in my arms and I just want to scream. The pain seemed to go from zero to sixty in the spans of maybe 20 minutes. I have a EMG tomorrow and I was wondering, do they compare you two limbs? Because now that it has spread more, I doubt it will look that different if they compare both arms. Any advice? Also pleasing send healing thoughts and prayers my way, I feel like I'm in hell right now:Sob::Sob:

They generally don't compare sides during an EMG. An EMG measures underlying nerve damage. A spread of CRPS to another extremity would not make a positive EMG in that newly affected extremity. CRPS is in your brain (though you feel it in other parts of your body), so it does not cause an abnormal EMG. You can have an underlying nerve injury that triggers your CRPS which if fixed (in theory) may help improve CRPS symptoms.

Best wishes tomorrow.

Bring Lidocaine patches for after.

I would consider rescheduling.

BTW, I was not safe to drive myself home after my last EMG.

My doc had advised me not to have the test done, since it's considered invasive. It wasn't my first one, but it had been a few years since the last. It was ordered by a WC doc and I felt I had no choice after discussing it with my attorney. The tester actually didn't finish my dominant hand--the main site of my CRPS. I have mirroring in my other hand of other symptoms but not pain unless set off. The test did produce a flare in both sides, but between pain meds and Lidociane patches I was able to control it--it took a few days to get back to normal if I'm remembering correctly. Bring music to help you relax and remember to breath deeply.

I reacted much more strongly the last time compared to earlier EMGs, so you might not have a problem.

It's best to be prepared though, IMO.

Good luck.

And--if you're experiencing spread, it seems clear it's a CRPS problem, so an EMG should not be needed... If your doc isn't aware of the spread though...

If you explain your spreading to your doc he/she will jus look for a better place for a control measurement. There's little chance that both arms would be exact.
Best of luck to ya...

So sorry to hear your pain is worse. I don't know if this message is in time or if you'll delay appointment but NCS is not generally painful as they just use small electrodes on the skin. EMG with the fine needles is not always necessary and depends on what they find. I was able to just have NCS both times.

Sending Healing Love, :hug:

Hey guys,

So I ended up having to do both the EMG and the NCS test, and oh my gosh was that painful!! I had to actually be escorted by my boyfriend in a wheelchair off of the hospital campus. I was shaking and screaming in pain during the needle part of the test. It took about 2 hours to get back to my normal. Fortunately, the doctor only thought that he had to do one arm, THANK GOODNESS!! The good news is that it did seem to go pretty quickly. And they didn't find any nerve damage. Thanks for all the love and support that all of you sent my way. It has been an exhausting two days. Unfortunately I have to go on a plane tomorrow afternoon, :Noooo: but I finally get to see my mom after 5 months at school so at leas I have that to look forward to. Wish me luck on my flight! Hoping I don't flare too much. :grouphug: