normal EMG/NCV but numb feet
 

Just finished my EMG/NCV and the neurologist tells me that everything is normal. That, along with the following labs are all normal:

serum immunoelectrophoresis
ANA
ESR
fasting blood sugar
heavy metals
serum B12 (612)
CRP
Lyme (though I know there are some issues with the standard testing)

I am waiting for the results of a lumbar MRI. I'm a little confused... if a nerve was pinched, wouldn't it show up during the nerve studies? The doctor was in a rush as it was just a test, not a normal appointment, he basically said that at the follow-up (end of this month) we can see how things are going and see if any further testing is warranted. At this point he's not too concerned.

I feel.... odd.... because basically I'm being told not to worry, there's nothing "wrong" with my nerves, yet I still have numbness in my feet! I even had absent achilles heel tendon reflexes at my initial appt.

What other questions do I need to be asking this (or another) doctor? Any ideas where I go from here? I think that the physical therapy might be helping, but I'm not sure.

Any insight would be appreciated!

Did you have thyroid testing?

Were you tested for Celiac/gluten intolerance?
Did you have antibiotics prior to this developing?
How long have you had this? Did it happen suddenly or slowly?

Were you tested for Charot Marie Tooth (hereditary nerve disorder)?

Do you have any symptoms in your hands? (hypothyroidism will affect the hands as well as the feet.)

The MRI may show something.

Do your feet get more numb with shoes on? Or do they bother you at night? Are they both affected about equally?

Have you had Xrays of the feet showing the sesamoid bones?

Do you participate in sports that could have damaged your feet? Track, running, Jumping, or ballet?

Sometimes you have to look a the little details to find an
answer that is elusive.

I found out I have small fiber neuropathy when they did the skin punch biopsy....'epidermal nerve fiber density test'. Up to that point, my issues were in my head or fibro. If you get a skin punch and it is negative, then likely you are free from PN. You will have to look for a facility to do this.

Emg/ncv
 

I agree with cyclelops, if the doc hasn't done a skin punch biopsy or even quanitive sensory testing he can't say there is nothing wrong with your nerves,
emg & nct do not show up small fibre damage.

Brian :)

I read your other post too. Have you had an injuries latley or other health conditions or sickness?I joined this board when I was 28 and have PN,rsd, and am still looking into auto immune. I have another repeat of my brain mri tomorrow. Anyhow when I first had my emg/nc it showed nothing and then the repeat it showed PN. Do you have any other problems going on like infections,do you get sick often etc?I am asking cause I have a lot of infections and things like dry eye etc and for my age I feel this may or may not be connected to my PN etc but it is something to investigate. Also have you been to other doctors like endocronolgist to see about bone and mineral issue? Sorry I am just trying to think outside of the box and somethings I went to. If you want an email buddy or I can help in any way I am here.
Don't let your doctor rush you. I know being young I feel they often don't take me serious or rush me though older people have this too. This is not right and my health has become so out of control with problems since the start of this and with that I have seen so many doctors and I know now to take my time with them and not feel threatened.

:DThe emg is actually used to eliminate large fiber nerve problems and expose small fiber nerve problems. Have the exact same numbness in my feet (along with joint pain) and shooting pain as well. My right hand is also numb and burn thru pain as well. Left hand is going numb and was diagnosed with SFN at the Cleveland clinic.
As Brian said, I will be going thru the biopsy soon to see how far long the small fiber damage is.
I also had to insist that my primary care doc send me to a neurologist and he knew that the problem was beyond him and he sent me to the clinic.
I think that all of us with small fiber problems question our "sanity" about whether this is all in your mind or psychosomatic. It is not - hang in there to all who have these thoughts. I also found that an anti anxiety med helped me deal with this as well as 3600mg of gabapentin per day.

Thank you everyone for your replies, I have been sooo out of it. I was excited that things were going better and then I had a bad relapse. I have two kids under 3 and work and study part time so I am extremely busy.

With this relapse the numbness went up through the leg, into the pelvis, both front and back. I could feel the numbness into my rectum and in the front as well. It practically appeared overnight and worsened over a few days. My month of physical therapy,down the drain: I could barely balance myself and my left leg strength was shot.

I had a delay in doing any more tests since I was out of town as this all happened. Saw a neuro out of town who said he suspects spinal cord involvement as the numbness was up until the waist. I have also now lost all reflexes in both legs, knees down. Said it was unlikely to be CMT as the progression was too fast. His thoughts are either CIDP or MS, although I don't have the "classic" MS symptoms. However since I have relapsing and remitting symptoms and am a young (25 y.o.) female, MS is definitely a possibility. Now that I'm back in town my neuro agrees and we're doing brain & cervical spine MRIs, evoked potentials, and an LP.

I'm also going to have my thyroid rechecked and do some gluten intolerance blood tests.

Haven't recently done any sports, no rigorous exercise, but a recent pregnancy, which, according to one neuro who looked at my file, can cause PN...still unclear on this, and I haven't found much info on it.

Thanks to anyone who's made it this far... I'll be on pins and needles (ok no PN related pun intended) till I get these tests done. :o