| |
Use
of EMG in C Spine problem |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
need some advice, last year I had my c6-c7 disc removed
and fused with hip bone and metal plate. All was well
for one year now I have a herniated c5-c6 disc. My doctor
wants to do a c6 nerve root block, right now I'm doing
traction treatment but that's not working, I'm trying
to get some advice on weather a EMG would be a good idea
instead of the nerve root block. Don't want to do surgery
again only as last resort. They brought up the idea of
steroid injections to get rid of pain in neck and shoulder
so i can continue my career. Any advice please reply
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
In
situation like yours, I would want to know what is causing
the recurrent symptoms before I treat and an EMG (you
can't have an MRI because of the metal plate) would be
very helpful.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Nerve
injury due to bulged disc; is it reversible? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
If
a disc has caused nerve damage in an arm, will it be permanent
or can it be fixed? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
Nerve
damage is reversible when the nerve is still connected
(in continuity) and the cause of the damage has been removed.
Disc bulges usually leave the nerve connected, so when
the cause is eliminated (or gets better on its own) the
nerve regenerates. Nerve Growth is slow though, about
1 mm/day.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Mixed
median nerve neuropathy with demyelinating features |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
was tested two years ago and just advised today that I
have the above diagnosis. I would like more information
as I was told there is nothing to do since the damage
has been done, except pain control and seeing a neurologist.
Where do I find out more about this? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
That
does not sound like a very good EMG diagnosis because
it doesn't tell you much. Usually demyelinating lesions
of the peripheral nerves heal very quickly, unlike axonal
lesions, where the nerve fiber is cut, which take longer
to heal. I would have that report looked at by a qualified
EMGer, neurologist or physiatrist
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Posterior
Interosseous Nerve Syndrome (PIN) |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
just had an EMG a few weeks after a nerve conduction test
revealed concerns in my elbow to wrist area. The EMG Doctor
diagnosed me with PIN Syndrome on the spot. I have not
heard from my primary care physician yet with the complete
analysis; however, I don't know what caused this or what
to expect from here. Up till now there has been muscle
loss around the wrist area and slight weakness in the
hands. Is there a means to predict what I can expect in
the future or what possibly causes PIN? Thanks. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
Posterior
interosseous syndrome can be caused by elbow trauma, fibrous
or tendinous compression of the Radial Nerve in the forearm,
rheumatoid disease, cysts, etc. and usually consists of
the symptoms you describe. Most causes are easily treatable,
provided your doctor has determined the cause first. As
for predicting what will happen in the future, first thing
is to determine the cause and treat, and second thing
is to think of nerve lesions in the following manner:
A nerve is like a wire (the axon) covered by a sheath
(the myelin). When a lesion involves the myelin only,
the nerve heals very quickly (few weeks). When it involves
the axon or a combination of myelin and axons, then
healing is slower, months, provided the offending lesion
is removed.
So you need to know what is causing it and if it consists
of myelin, axon or myelin and axon lesion.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Comment |
Thanks
for the info. I have no recollection of any one event
that could have caused this. I have participated in a
lot of sports in the past but can never remember any injury
or event, etc. It does seem that the outside of my elbow
has slight discomfort when I rotate my hand and wrist
inward while making a fist. The joints in my hip and ankle
on the same side have been slightly bothering me from
time to time, especially when I run (about 4 miles per
day).
My question is how does one determine the cause you mentioned
in your response? Are there additional tests or other
means to determine the cause?
Thanks again for the information. It is really helpful. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
My
concern in your case is that you haven't heard from your
primary care physician yet with the complete analysis.
So wait until you find out and make sure you mention the
wasting and weakness. The questions you want to ask are:
Is this truly PIN and what is causing it? Could it
be something else? Is there anything else associated
with it?
Then you will have a better idea as to where you're
heading.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Arm-shoulder-neck
pain, with no gain from operation |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
At
first they thought it was carpel tunnel but then said
it disc C5&6. Oct 97 disc was removed and C5&6 fused and
removed 3 sets of bone spurs, however they were unable
to remove all sets of bone spurs. Perhaps this is why
I am unchanged with my pain? My pain is from my right
arm/hand all the way to my neck/head where I have mayofacial
pain. I have burning spots here& there up my arm and a
major knot in shoulder and occasional pain in left arm/hand
from overcompensating. I stepped down from my desk job
in '96 (unable to type/write) to a light duty job, which
only temporarily gave relief. I had the neck fusion operation
in hopes to get my (a) job back. Symptoms started / progressed
since '88. Any insight? Thank you. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer
1 |
Please
don't feel alone. Though I had carpal tunnel in my left
hand. Due to severe pain and numbness in fingers, arm
and now shoulder. They gave me an EMG and found my left
arm/wrist to be fine and my right hand to have moderate
TC. That’s the hand that is good. Then the EMG showed
nerve damage/problems in the neck. My spinal x-ray showed
c5, 6 &7 to be degenerative and numerous bone spurs.
Also, they said it looked like the area the nerve was
in was narrowing?? This came on to me like over night
after I worked real hard shoveling a long road area. I
also had fallen the day before and maybe that jolted the
spine. I know there is help out there. We just need to
find it.. I am searching all the sights. I can't handle
night time.. I cry myself to sleep. It hurts so badly.
During the day I can handle it. Take care.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer
2 |
I
am not quite sure where to begin. I guess the first thing
is to make sure that you do not have a carpal tunnel and
the second is to see if your nerve roots (C5-6 and/or
others) are not still compressed. An EMG would help answer
both. Of course an MRI of the neck would also help to
see how the fusion is doing.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Comment |
Dear
doctor, Thank you for your reply. I have an EMG scheduled
now 4/20. My C5-6 fusion (Oct97) is healed per my postoperative
x-rays every 4 weeks for 6 months and 1 MRI. I had another
MRI from a different doc 8/98, which said other disc is
starting to go. My doctor told me he removed 3 sets of
spurs. Six months later I found out, when he referred
to spurs still in my x-rays, that there were still spurs
there. He said that the ones still there had been too
dangerous to remove during the operation. If the operation
was unsuccessful in stopping my pain he said there was,
unfortunately, nothing more he could do. Did the EMG &
NCS procedures exist in 1996'97? If so, I wonder why my
doctors never thought of my having them before operating?
What is the difference between CERVICAL RADICULOPOTHY
and DEGENERATIVE DISC and CERVICAL STENOSIS. Also is a
slipped disc the same thing as a bulging disc? Thank you
again in advance. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
EMG
for CTS & Spinal Stenosis vs. Hip Replacement |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
My
mother broke her hip and her wrist in 1993. She has since
been diagnosed with CTS and Spinal Stenosis. She is in
quite a bit of pain and has just been referred for an
EMG for the arm and the leg. Is there any reason that
both could not be done on the same day? Also, will the
EMG help to resolve the question of whether the stenosis
or the hip is causing her pain? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
Usually the
EMG of the arm and leg are done in a single session. Also
the EMG will be able to determine whether or not the spinal
stenosis is causing nerve damage which in turn causes
pain.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Cervical
spondylosis, bone spurs & traction |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
need your help, please tell me is there a site on help
for degenerative c5-c6 c6-c7 discs. I am 42 and I was
told that my discs have degenerated with bone spurs, which
are taking up the room where my nerve is and that is why
I am having the severe pain/tingle/numbness down my entire
left side. They wrote on my diagnose treatment for PT
- cervical radiculopathy -traction machine program. I
wish they wrote neater. Please explain this to me. I'm
afraid that traction might be the wrong thing?? This sounds
like something for a slipped disc. Not degenerative one??
Also thank you for all your prior help. You gave me the
courage to go through having these tests. They stated
that my x-ray showed great narrowing. Is there any thing
I can do? Such as an exercise or a special diet to dissolve
the bone spur matter or prevent more? Thanks again |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
There is
a wonderful patient
education site, which talks about bone spurs etc.
I think you'll find it useful. As for traction it is usually
prescribed for discs not bone spurs. If you don't find
it is helping you, you can stop it. There are no diet
exercise / programs that get rid of spurs, these form
over years and can only (if need be) removed surgically.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
EMG
with C disc “Shoulder, arm and neck pain” |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
am scheduled for an EMG upper extremity. An MRI shows
bulges at 5-6 and 6-7. At this time the pain is excessive.
It feels like someone has shoved a white-hot branding
iron under my scapula. What exactly will the EMG show?
And, how painful is the test? I am a surgical assistant;
will I be able to return to work the day of the test? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
The EMG
should tell you if the disc bulges are causing any nerve
damage which is causing your symptoms. The test is uncomfortable
(there are a couple of posts above which go into this)
and lasts about 30-45 minutes. Normally, you should be
able to go to work afterwards because nothing is injected
or drawn during the test, but if you are in a good deal
of pain to begin with, you may be uncomfortable after
the test and my advice to you is to take the day off
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Cervical
disc with severe UL pain |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
have nerve damage in arm from a cervical disc. Later,
both arms been killing me and feeling dead and cramping
up. What's going on? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
Your problem
could be related to the cervical disc, perhaps unusual
to be both sides. You should consult neurologist to diagnose
and help your pain. EMG should be valuable in your case
to point further to the nerve damage.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Tunnel
Syndromes |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
am a 51-year-old male and since the age of 35 I've had
several surgeries for nerve problems. First I had two
surgeries for Carpal Tunnel of the right wrist, then Radial
Tunnel Surgery of the right arm, and this month I will
be going in for Tarsal Tunnel surgery. My health is good
out side of this I have no major health problems. I did
notice within the past few years I've suffered with sever
sweating (hot Flashes). My question is, all these nerve
problems seem to be occurring on the right side of my
body. Included in these problems I've had sever spasms
in my right ribs and sever pain on the right side of my
neck and shoulder. Why does this seem to be happening
to me and have there been any other cases similar to this?
This is almost like a chain reaction of nerves, one problem
after another. Can you help? |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
I
am not quite sure why you've had all these surgeries.
While Carpal Tunnel is a common one to have, I must admit
that I haven't heard of too many patients having Radial
Tunnel surgery. Tarsal Tunnel is another uncommon one.
Sweating on the right side of your body can be caused
by a problem in what we call the autonomic nervous system
and would be something you need to look into. My advice
to you is to seek a good neurologist and try to let him/her
sort these things out for you.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Comment |
Thank
you for responding. The sweats I'm having are through
out by body not just on the right side and have been sever.
It keeps me up all night. The Tarsal Tunnel surgery I'm
having this month is because I lost the feeling in my
heel, big toe and little toe and the ankle is painful.
I'm glad that there may be an association between these
nerve problems and these sweats this could narrow the
search down. I would have never thought of this. And thank
you again
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Puncture
to nerve in inner elbow area |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
I
was in for a routine physicial on March 29th. And upon
a blood draw I experienced intense pain shooting to my
left hand. I thought right away it was my nerve. The lady
that took the blood said she had never experienced that
either. I have been seeing an intern and he had his dad
who semi-retired and is a neurologist do a nerve conduction
test last Wednesday. The test came out negative. I have
numbness in my hand and fingers I have had what my therapist
call a lot of trigger points in all areas of my lower
and upper arm all the way to my underarm. I have been
going to therapy for three weeks being treated with heat
and electro therapy. Should I be as concerned as I'm on
Vioxx for the inflammation if I don't take it by the end
of the day my arm is clinched so close to my side because
my whole arm hurts. Is there another test I should have
done? Should I continue the therapy and give it time?
Would an MRI tell me what is going on in there, could
she have got a tendon also? I thought I should give you
all of my symptoms. It started with tingling in my hand
and fingers shortly after it happened. The tingling started
spreading up my arm and I started getting increased discomfort
in my elbow area. Within 5 day's the muscles in my arm
started hurting. Today my fingers are numb and are very
sore and stiff. My muscles in my underarm hurt a great
deal as well as my forearm and bicep. The discomfort in
my arm changes spots. The pain in my fingers is consistent
I'm sorry to post twice before a response but I just found
this forum and I have been searching for answers to insure
I am getting the right treatment. I have never had something
like this. It's been a month. I have been told it takes
a long time for nerves to heal. I guess I just want to
know how long, and is it my nerve. Will an MRI show what
it is or would you recommend an EMG? Thanks so much, I'm
scared! Thank you for any advises you can give me. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
According
to your symptoms, it seems like a nerve lesion by injury
or pressure, probably the median nerve was injured during
needle puncture. I wonder did you have an EMG needle examination
of the muscles or just nerve conduction studies. If it
is so, then I think you need to see your neurologist again
to do (or repeat) EMG needle examination of the muscles,
which should be helpful to exclude nerve lesion and its
degree. I think the EMG is more helpful in your case than
MRI
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Comment |
I
went to a Neurologist yesterday and was diagnosed with
a median nerve lesion. I have been treated for 6 weeks
for ulnar neuropathy. Lots of therapy and taking Vioxx
but I still had a lot of pain. You suggested I see a neurologist
and get an EMG. I found a sharp Dr. and the Dr. agrees,
he will be doing the test on the 22 of May.
My question is He gave me a prescription for Neurontin,
I was wondering if it will interfere with the test in
any way.
I am very thankful for this forum and for all your help.
I will keep you posted. I still have a great deal of pain
in my whole arm and I hope the Neurontin will help. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
I
hope all the best for you and to get well soon. About
the Neurontin, it does not interfere with EMG test at
all.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Comment |
Hello
Dr., I have appreciated all of your advise in the past.
I went to the Neurologist Wednesday he does believe I
have a Median Nerve lesion. He did a nerve conduction
test and told me it did not show any concerns of permanent
nerve damage or motor skill damage. He has me on Neurontin,
I am up to 4x/300mg per day. I was told He does believe
I have pain and that the nerve will take time to heal.
I was very relieved to hear that and left his office feeling
good, then when I got home I started thinking why did
nothing show up when I have so much pain.
The pain is mostly in my finger index, middle, and ring
finger. If I wait to long before I take the medicine I
have a lot of discomfort in my elbow and lower arm.
The Doctor said, “be patient”. Those nerves
heal an inch a Month.
I called the office back today and asked if he would send
me for an MRI and he had the nurse tell me he would not
OK it.
I was hoping I would have someone tell me exactly what
is happening in there.
Should I just give it time he wants me back in 2 Months.
Thank you in advance, |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
Thank
you. I am pleased that you feel better. All the best |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Treatment
for pinched nerve |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
My husband has been diagnosed by a general practitioner as having a pinched nerve. The pain starts in the neck and runs down the shoulder, elbow, arm and some of his fingers are numb and tingly. This all came on very suddenly. He has been in extreme pain. They did x-ray his neck to check for disc problems and said that everything was fine in that area. At this point he is on Percocet and several muscle relaxers.
Should he see a neurologist? I already made an appointment with my neurologist to see him next week, but was not sure if he should continue with the general practitioner first. Thanks for your advice. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Answer |
I
would agree with you to see a neurologist. He may have
more to offer. However, regarding the pain, it is usually
ease away with the time.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
home
about
us 
patient
forums
doctors
forums
online
store 
contact
us 
