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EMG IN NECK AND ARM PROBLEMS | PAGE 6
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  Arm pain due to pinched nerve in C6-C7  
       
  I have a pinched nerve in the C-6, C-7 area with pain radiating down my right arm. My doctor recommended Ibubuprofen 600 mg. every 8 hours. Why is the pain so much more severe at night when I'm relaxed and trying to sleep, and is there anything else I can do for relief (and sleep)? I've tried Flexaril 10 mg. and Benadryl 50 mg., which made me groggy, but did not affect the extreme night pain. I've also tried heat and ice, which didn't help much either.
 
       
  Answer This is usual that pain is worse at night as the brain is not busy or occupied with anything else except by one "activity"; the pain. Now, if the pain is still bad, you need to consult your doctor again. Pain clinic is also of help. However, the pain is usually self-limiting, but for variable period between individuals.  
       
  Comment Thanks so much for your response. I'm finally getting some sleep thanks to Vicodin and Trazodone, and the sleep is making a big difference in reducing the intensity of the pain. During the weeks that I was experiencing the worst pain, for the first time in my life, my blood pressure shot up, 150's-160/90-100. It seems to be coming down as the pain recedes. Could the hypertension be related to the pinched nerve?
MRI report: broad based protrusions at C3-4 and C4-5 and prominent C5-6 and C6-7 bilateral ulcinate spurring, most marked at C6-7 within region of exiting spinal nerve. I've never had any accidents, and have a very healthy lifestyle. Could my work as a dental hygienist (33 years) be a significant contributing factor in creating this condition, and would you recommend changing to a less physically demanding careers?
 
       
  Answer I am glad that you feel better. Regarding the high blood pressure, it could well be related to pain and stress. Although, it seems not bad. It is age related. However, you may consult an internist if needed. The other point whether your condition is work related, it does add strain to the neck. But, I cannot be certain.  
   
       
  Lost distal UL sensations with normal electrodiagnostic studies  
       
  My husband had an injury which left his right hand from the elbow down with no feelings and cannot use it. The Drs. have no idea what it is, all tests came back negative. It has been 6 months now and we are very frustrated. We just got back an EMG report which states all is normal except for a decreased interference pattern in the first dorsal int. muscle and a motor unit interference pattern with a normal firing rate in the right abductor pol. brevis muscle. Does this mean anything?  
     
  Answer EMG result would rule out "significant" nerve or muscle lesion that explain absence of sensation of the right arm. However, the reduced interference pattern is not specific and may be explained by weakness, pain or poor cooperation by patient. The weakness can be due to peripheral (nerve or muscle diseases) or a central lesion. The peripheral lesion seems to be out, supported by normal EMG (apart from reduced interference pattern). But it is not clear if the central lesion is excluded or not. This of course would need careful neurological consultation and appropriate radiological tests.  
       
  Comment Thank you so much for your reply, could you possibly recommend what tests he should have so far he had an cervical MRI, MRI of the upper and right arm (they originally thought a brachial plexus injury) a cat scan without contrast of the brain and will be having a MRI of the brain soon. He had a neurological exam, which was unremarkable except for loss of sensation in his arm, decreased sensation in his left leg and serve back pain. The neurosurgeon released him since there was nothing for him to fix. We are very frustrated with trying to find out what this is. Thanks for your time and reply.  
       
  Answer The sympathetic nervous system may have an abnormal function after an injury or trauma for unclear reasons. All investigations are normal. I must emphasize that is difficult for me to say that it is reflex sympathetic dystrophy, but because no clear diagnosis was made and some features may suggest it. Therefore, your treating physician must see, assess and document both history and, if present, clinical findings, in order to support the diagnosis, as he is looking at the patient himself in better position.  
       
  Comment Thank you, we will look into that.  
     
       
  EMG rules out Ulnar Groove entrapment?  
       
  I recently had a EMG, ordered by my PCP, to rule out causes of a peculiar 'cold' feeling on the pinky side of my right hand. No pain, no tingling, no weakness, no apparent loss of sensation. The neuro did what I thought was a pretty exhaustive study of sensory and motor conductions all up and down both arms. She did needle exams in several places: deltoid, biceps, pronater teres, triceps, opponens pollicis, dorsal interosseous, flexor carpi ulnaris and cervical paraspinals. The EMG came back 'fairly' clean. There was minimal slowing of ulnar sensory conductions across the right wrist, no motor slowing. The needle test was clean with two exceptions.... 1) The Neuro stuck my right dorsal interosseous once and got some insertion activity, 1+ on both pos waves and fibs. She stuck it several more times and was not able to reproduce the effect. On each of the several re-tries, it was clean. She theorized she may have hit a nerve end plate the first time, causing the insertion activity. 2) Left side cervical paraspinals/posterior rami showed +/- insertion activity +/- pos waves and +/- fibs. Right side was clean. She attributed this to a possible old nerve irritations, or possible mild lower cervical radiculopathy w/o any affect on the upper extremity muscles. My PCP seemed pretty unconcerned about this EMG/NCV result. In large part, I guess so am I? I have had clean needle exams on lower extremities in the past, except for mild irritation in the bottoms of feet, which I understand is quit common. However the insertion activity on the left paraspinal does bother me. I have been diagnosed with Benign Fasciculation Syndrome in the past. A few questions; 1) What is cervical radiculopathy? 2) What, if anything, would you recommend I do to follow up on that finding? 3) Is it common to find minor abnormalities in otherwise healthy 48 yr old males?  
     
  Answer 1. Cervical radiculopathy is pinching of nerve close to spinal cord, after its exit from spinal cord. It is called nerve root. It is commonly caused by spondylosis or protruding disc.
2. Regular physio/exercises.
3. This is hard question, but in careful way, "yes" possible in the feet, as in your case (in selected muscles), and "no" for the changes in your arm. However, the management depends on how much symptoms and signs are there. Thank you.

Regarding title question. Yes EMG is used to exclude ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow.

 
       
  Comment Very interesting....

I wonder if those paraspinal insertion noises could be a result of my recent training for a 300-mile Appalachian Trail Backpacking trip. I've been carrying a backpack weighing around 50 lbs. I have no other symptoms of a spinal problem. I am quite active, physically.... swimming, running, hiking, setups, pushups, etc.... I also carry my golf clubs over my back around 12 miles/week.

Oh well, as long as it's not indicative or some serious MND and I feel fine, I'm inclined to ignore it.

still trying to get a clearer indication on what I should do regarding the 'old nerve irritations' or 'mild cervical radiculopathy' on my left side paraspinals. As I've noted, I have no symptoms of any spinal problem, with the possible exception of occasional lower back pain, for which I already do a 'set' of exercises.

You indicate a set of 'physio/exercise'. I'm very active anyways.

- Can you be more specific re: exercise?
- What other possible causes, if not radiculopathy, spring to mind?

Thanks for your reply and this wonderful web site,

 
       
  Answer Well, I cannot be more specific, sorry, the exercise, its quality usually recommended by physiotherapist. The other causes, such as trauma, fractures, tumors. Of course radiological investigation would show that  
     
       
  Regarding hand and shoulder numbness with imbalance  
       
  My life mate seems to have trouble, numbness in hands, and shoulder, and recently I witnessed the results from this problem. He told me this morning when he woke he felt as though his leg was going to break. I watched as my husband walked toward a small female goat and he both lost his balance and could not hold on to this female goat that did not put up a fight he fell sideways and barely could hold on. I could not believe my eyes and realized. He must be looked at immediately. What is the first step to helping him? He is one of the finest saxophone players I have ever heard and he fears that he will not be able to play, because he has lost feeling playing as well. Its always there now but at different evels of numbness. Please any advice would be helpful.  
     
  Answer 1 From your email, I gathered that he has balance problem in addition to numbness hand and shoulder. It is not clear how long the symptoms are going on. He needs to see neurologist soon to sort out this from peripheral to central nervous system disease. He could need urgent management.  
       
  Answer 2 From your email, I gathered that he has balance problem in addition to numbness hand and shoulder. It is not clear how long the symptoms are going on. He needs to see neurologist soon to sort out this from peripheral to central nervous system disease. He could need urgent management.
 
     
       
  Ulnar nerve entrapment operated  
       
  I have been experiencing numb, cold, muscle loss and pain in my right hand for years. I have had 4 EMG, XRAYS, MRI SCAN BLOOD TESTS, seen numerous Specialists. It has been over a year ago since I had an operation on my ulnar nerve to release it??? Since then the pain has progressively increased and on my last two EMG they have found that I have it in my left arm. Please can anybody offer any advice, I am only 22 and trying to study photography which is proving impossible. I would really like to talk with someone who has or is going through a similar situation as I am finding dealing with my life very hard.  
     
  Answer Ulnar nerve entrapment at elbow can cause weakness and muscle loss in the hand. Try to avoid leaning on your elbows. Keep them straightened particularly during sleep. Finally, I would recommend consulting a neurologist to make sure nothing else is wrong, if you have not seen one yet.
 
       
  Comment Thank you very much for such a quick response; I have received an appointment to see a neurologist next week. If I have the problem in both my arms could it occur in my legs? I have not that I can remember, knocked or damaged both my elbows to cause the entrapment of the nerves. If there is anybody who has or is going through a similar situation please leave a message. Thank you  
       
  Answer Not necessarily so, I mean you may not get anything in the legs. However, it depends whether there is underlying disease. As a matter of fact, that is why I advised a neurological consultation. Please keep us updated after seeing the neurologist. All the best.  
       
  Comment
from another
Patient
Hi: I had both elbows done (ulnar nerve release, decompression & transposition) and a couple of years later the problems got worse. Both hands and feet. Part of the problem turned out to be cervical disc problems. I had 3 level fusion and most of the problems seemed to go away but there still seemed to be nerve problems. The nerves may never regenerate I am told and to add to all this, they say I have a polyneuropathy, probably attributed to diabetes. I guess the point of this note is that it can be a very complex problem with symptoms & findings masking other underlying causes. Good luck, feel free to email and ask any questions  
     
       
  Lost arm sensory function after C. fusion with normal EMG  
       
  About 9 Months ago I went thru Cervical Fusion on C-6, C-7 after a job injury. I am still dealing with headaches, shoulder pain and motion restriction and numbness in my left forearm, which after an MRI shows a mild rotator cuff tear. I was sent for an EMG, which took all of 30 minutes for both tests on my left shoulder and arm, which by the way went numb during the test, which came up negative. My question is, is it normal for the tester not to get a reading and if it is how do they base the results? The Ortho say my symptoms are related to nerve root compression. The neurologist says all nerves are intact but I drop things with my left hand and have lost sensory function down the arm. When the Neurologist said the nerves are fine, my wife asked if that was an arm-to-arm comparison, which was not but a comparison to what he termed "standards". What does that mean?  
     
  Answer The "EMG" studies are divided into 2 parts; the nerve conduction studies part need taking readings and calculations, thus obtaining the results based on those numbers and calculations. Second part is the Needle Electrode Examination. By this the examiner would also take certain "readings" and make an impression, although it may not appear to patient as clear readings as in the first part. This may explain your first query. Regarding the last point; the standards mean that we follow the results in comparison to previously done studies on normal persons matching the age and sex. However, your wife point is quite valid and important because we frequently use the "healthy" or non-symptomatic arm as a control (or standard) to compare with the "sick" or symptomatic arm. The doctor should be able to decide on this matter.
 
     
       
  Tingling hand and feet with weak legs  
       
  I am a 44-year-old male, 140 lbs, 5'6". For the past few years, I have experienced weird symptoms. My hands and feet intermittently tingle and hurt, my arms feel like they are sunburned, I get random pin-prick sensations about anywhere on my body. My legs are weak as I find myself standing with my knees locked. My vision is almost foggy, for lack a a description and images with repeating patterns "shimmer". My memory has been real poor and I tend to flip words around in sentences. Sometimes when I wake in the morning, I can't tell where my arms are. I have seen a Neurologist in 1998 and had an MRI and some reflex tests. Came back fine. He said, "not to worry". I am very worried.  
       
  Answer According to your description (not all symptoms though), peripheral neuropathy should be ruled out. You had MRI and have seen neurologist in 98, MS was out, I guess. Anyway, EMG is needed in your case and I would recommend seeing a neurologist again. Please keep us updated.  
       
  Comment
from another
Patient
I'm not a physician but have similar symptoms.
Have them evaluate you for a small fiber sensory neuropathy.
(Some helpful diagnosis tests for this are the quantitative sensory testing and the small fiber skin punch biopsy) EMG and Nerve conduction studies and routine Neuro exams will not diagnose this. Also when you mentioned shimmering in the eyes thought this site would be useful. www.geocities.com/quinolones/
Many on this site have experienced long term (as in years) visual problems, paresthesias, and sensory disturbances, memory and brainfog muscle weakness etc.
I assume your Neuro has done differential diagnosis ruling out things like: Lyme Disease, MS, Lupus, Hepatitis, Autoimmune diseases, B12 deficiency, vasculitis, diabetis, viral and infectious etiologies like Histoplasmosis, Toxoplasmosis, paraneoplastic syndrome, Cytomeglovirus, ME, etc.
Often times Physicians assume someone just has a post viral syndrome and labels the cases idiopathic and does no further testing. However treatable things should be ruled out first.
Some useful sites may be
Massachusetts General Hospital Neurology Forums
Cleveland Clinic Neurology Forums
Neuropathy Trust website
Neuropathy Association website
and www.geocities.com/quinolones/
 
     
       
  EMG Results with ulnar neuropathy in Guyon’s canal  
       
  I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in Dec. of 2000, and have had pain at the right wrist and hand ever since. Surgery was suggested after a EMG was done. I decided to wait to see if it would get any better without surgery. The results of the EMG were mild to moderate, acute and chronic, ulnar neuropathy at the wrist on the right. The lesions are most likely a Guyon's type 1 at the proximal wrist on the right. I am still having some pain in that area, and wonder after six months if I should expect to see any more improvement without surgery. Will this be a chronic problem or will it continue to improve over time?  
       
  Answer What usually happens after a traumatic nerve lesion is that the surgeon would wait for several months before embarking or deciding for surgery. I am not expecting further improvement following this kind of lesion after 6 months. However, see your doctor to discuss this further.  
     
       
  Peripheral neuropathy and EMG  
       
  My wife had an EMG performed and was told she had a PN. She is experiencing numbness/tingling in her feet and hands along with some in her face. Her sugar level was tested (negative) and spinal fluids were tested (High protein). She has a hard time walking, etc......She has swam in a pool a couple of times, and each time, has felt better for a while afterwards.... Can anyone help?? She has also had an MRI and CT scans which were negative......She also has very cold feet and legs  
       
  Answer The neurologist would try to find a cause for the peripheral neuropathy. However, it is not always easy task. I think she should continue the swimming exercises and attend the neurologist for close follow up.
 
     
       
  Numb hand - please help!  
       
  I have one numb left hand. I guess I should start at the beginning... I am 52, and in relatively good health. I am a budget analyst, where I do moderate computer work, and bartend about 8 hours per week. About four years ago, I experienced numbness in both my feet and hands. Within a few weeks, the numbness in all extremities except the left hand disappeared. However, the left hand numbness bothered me a lot, especially because I'm left-handed. I saw a neurologist who could not diagnose it specifically. He did nerve conduction tests over the next few weeks. Many of them. He never did narrow down the cause, except to say that he suspected the ulnar nerve. He determined that I have no loss of strength. I just can't feel my hand. But that was it. No treatment was suggested. He pretty much said to learn to live with it. The numbness subsided (but never disappeared) over the years, and I therefore got used to it. (There is no pain associated with it.) Suddenly, however, the numbness came back with a vengeance about three days ago. My hand is almost completely numb. I can't feel anything in my hand, and drop things a lot. Typing this is difficult, because I can't feel the keys--I have to be very conscious of things in my hand. I therefore grip things too tightly sometimes, and smash them, and my handwriting is at best jerky. The numbness radiates upward along the outside of my arm to the elbow. I've just today noticed that I am also numb one the underside of my upper arm and a little down the back. All this only on the left. I also should say that the neurologist ruled out carpal tunnel syndrome because at the time the numbness radiated to the wrong fingers. Now the entire hand is numb. It's as if I've slept on it and just waken up, but the hand won't--feels sort of thick and clumsy. I hope I haven't been too wordy here. Just want to be very specific. I will admit that today I've gone into the panic mode. Don't know where to turn. Will acupuncture help? What shall I do about this? I see no point in going back to the doctor because I feel as though he'll just write it off as peripheral neuropathy again. I think that diagnosis is used sometimes as a garbage diagnosis when they can't figure out what's happening. Someone please help me out here. Any suggestions? I'm afraid this condition will soon affect my work  
       
  Answer First of all, seeing a neurologist is not that all bad, they do help. Not all neurologists similar to each other. So, you need to see, perhaps, another neurologist. The aim not only to diagnose your case (possibly the exact cause) but also to assess the severity. Then to find the best treatment modality. I must say that some nerve lesions are severe enough to need surgery. So, please seek another neurologist advice. Best of luck and keep us updated.
 
       
  Comment Thank you, Dr. I didn't mean to imply that visiting a neurologist is bad--only that I learned very little from my last experience. I do plan to make an appointment once again, and this time perhaps I'll be a little more demanding of answers. In the meantime, will you even hazard a guess as to what's going on?
Also, I've been thinking about the idea of acupuncture. What is your opinion of that providing relief?
 
       
  Answer I know that acupuncture does help, but in certain problems. I am not too sure about your case whether acupuncture would help or not.  
     
       
  Abnormal NCV in different situations  
       
  Can an NCV be abnormal and an EMG abnormal?
What does an abnormal NCV (peroneal) mean?
Can repetitive ankle sprains cause abnormal NCV?
 
       
  Answer 1. Yes they can.
2. It would mean the nerve is affected or diseased. In case of peroneal nerve usually means affection at the level of the knee joint (at head of fibula). Sometimes, atrophy of the small muscle on the dorsum of the foot (Extensor digitorum brevis) would cause abnormal peroneal nerve study, although the nerve is fine "proximally".
3. Yes, I have seen it. Although, the changes are "mild" involve the EMG (needle electrode examination) rather than the NCV (nerve conduction studies).
 
     
       
  EMG for Elbow and failed Carpal Tunnel  
       
  Please explain which areas of the limb are tested for these problems, I need to be prepared.  
       
  Answer Presumably by failed Carpal Tunnel, you mean a failed Carpal Tunnel release (surgery). The carpal tunnel is located at the wrist, so if your doctor is planning an EMG for the elbow area, he must be looking into other causes for your pain/numbness. Typically an EMG for any arm/neck problems would involve shocks (nerve conduction studies) in the lower half of your arm, and needle examination (no shocks, but a "microphone" type needle to "listen" to electrical activity present in muscles) of the arm and possibly neck muscles. Discomfort felt during an EMG is quite dependant on the individual. Each exam is different for each patient. Skill of the technician or physician administering the test can also have a great deal to do with the degree of discomfort.
 
     
       
  Numbness is getting worse and spread to whole Lt. Side; now I'm scared  
       
  Since my last post from just last night, the numbness has spread. I'm now numb all the way down my left side, though not as severely as in my hand. From the shoulder down, down the left rib cage, all the way to my ankle (but only on the outside of both the arm and the leg.) I tried today to get an appointment with several area neurologists, and can't get one until mid-August! My family doctor will see me day after tomorrow, but I'm not sure what he can do, other than sympathize. At this point, I think I'd rather know what it is not, than to get rid of the symptoms. I'll deal with the symptoms later. But my imagination is going nuts, with thoughts of everything from MS to diabetes to stroke to heart attack. Again, I have no pain and no loss of strength (thank God.) But my fear alone is weakening me. Please help me drag myself out of this panic.  
       
  Answer Seek help, use the fear to find the advice about your problem, but do not let the fear control your mind please. It would be better to go to an emergency department in hospital or as you said see the family doctor, to be reassured, until your appointment with the neurologist.
 
       
  Comment
from another
Patient
Your family doctor might be able to get you in to see a neurologist sooner. The exact same thing happened to me- he got me in to see the neurologist the next day. Mine turned out to be nothing and eventually subsided (it has not completely gone away, but almost). The family doctor can test for diabetes. The neurologist tested for lupus and MS- they never did figure it out (that's a little unsettling but at least I am better). Apparently sometimes it can be some sort of a weird virus. I went for a second opinion and he thinks it maybe a very mild case of Guillain Barre.  
       
  Comment Thanks. Even typing this is such a consummate pain (not literally) in my rear. Just wanted to say that I saw the doc today, and he has ordered blood tests, nerve conductions/EMGs Monday at the neurologist, and a carotid study at the hospital in two weeks. (Can’t get a consult with the neurologist, but he'll do the tests, read them, and send their findings to my family doctor--go figure.) I hope mine disappears as well, but for now it's just getting more severe. He did rule out heart involvement and diabetes and says he suspects peripheral rather than central nervous system problems. This thing is screwing around with my mind now, and I’m fighting very hard to fight the fear of the unknown. I’ll let you know...  
     
       
  How accurate are the test results for spreading numbness in hand and feet?  
       
  I had Nerve conduction and EMG tests done last fall as a result of spreading numbness in my hands and feet. The results showed that I had "mild, symmetric, axonal, predominately motor polyneuropathy with loss of fast conduction fibers." The condition began to improve on its own, so the doctor said not to worry about it. (They do not know what could have caused it.) Because I still have intermittent, mild numbness I went for a second opinion (using the same test results). The second doctor said that the test is very subjective and that I may not, in fact, have nerve damage. How subjective are the test results? Should I be concerned if the tests reflect that I have mild nerve damage? .  
       
  Answer This is quite interesting question. Although, nerve conductions and EMG are "objective" tests. But certain factors must be well controlled such as temperature and distance measurement. As well as stimulus setup. Those are in a way "subjective". Anyway, the examiner is usually fully aware of those factors and they are standardized. If the abnormalities are really mild, they may be considered as insignificant. What matters is that you are clinically feeling better.
 
     
       
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