How often can you safely have an EMG

[fallettap]

I went to my neuro yesterday and did as Wright suggested, asked questions. I was not impressed with his answers. All he said was you defintely do not have motor neuron disease but couldnt tell me what I do have. I am going to seek another opinion but probably will have to have another EMG. How long must you wait to have another EMG done without causing damage to your nerves/muscles.

[Lark2]

Fallettap,
My guess would be about a week -to allow for healing on any muscle soreness the test should not cause and nerve or muscle damage as I understand - I had my 2 a month apart,mainly due to getting the appt, the only problem is ck levels show up elevated after emg so unless you are not getting blood work this should not be a problem!!Good Luck......larry

[SandraD]

Hi falletap,

Just an FYI, if you are trying to determine if progressive muscle weakness is related to a neuromuscular disorder, it can make sense to wait at least 6 months or longer between EMGs. I had a normal EMG on two legs and an arm last June, but have had slowly progressive problems of muscle pain, twitching, and some weakness, among other symptoms.

my neurologist wants to repeat the EMG and some other tests, such as the brain MRI, but not until nearly a year has passed since the first one.

if you had an EMG done by a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular disorders at a well-regarded hospital certified by MDA/ALS and it was normal, you should not need to have another EMG so soon. these neuros are tops at administering the EMG and interpreting its results. if you had an EMG conducted by a general neurologist, I can understand wanting to get a second one from a specialist in ALS and other neuromuscular disorders.

Good luck-

Sandra

[AndyDJX]

fallettap--

1) Unless it's deemed necessary, I wouldn't have more than 1 EMG a year depending on your symptoms. I'm sure it's technically safe to have it done more than that, but it's not good for your mental health to keep having EMGs done. If your first EMG was fine and the doctor said "definitely not MND" be happy (psyched, thrilled, ecstatic) with that answer and accept it.

2) This is the more important one--- don't expect that doctors will be able to give you all of your answers. They're smart, but they're not all-knowing. Just because they can't say what it is, doesn't make their assessment of what it isn't any less valid. I have twitching, weakness and atrophy; but no doctor I have come across thinks it's ALS and I believe them. What is it? I don't know, they don't know. There are plenty of people who aren't sure why they get headaches, but if the brain scans don't show a brain tumor, then it's not a brain tumor. The cause is still unknown, but the list of potential causes is shorter. Be happy that you and your doctor can scratch ALS off the list.

[trfogey]

Just out of curiosity, what were the questions that you asked and the answers that your doctor gave?

[Zaphoon]

I had 2 EMG's within 3 weeks of each other by 2 different neurologists over 19 months ago and I can still see where they stuck me in the hip and calf muscles.

[fallettap]

trfogey,

My problem is wasting/weakness and pain after excersise in R arm/shoulder and L leg/hip. A few months ago I had normal neuro exam, EMG/NCV of L leg and R arm except for a high increased amplitude (12ms) and slightly increased Poly's (1+) in L thigh only. Physical therapist said the weakness is in my left hip and right shoulder blade/upper back area. These areas were not tested and neuro refuses to do any additional testing. The only additional test he ran was a shoulder MRI which was normal. He is a general neuro who could not or would not answer the following questions.

1. What is a normal amplitude if 12 ms is high.
2. Does this minor abnormalty in the thigh cause my symptoms
3. If you did not test the hip and shoulder blade area could we find something there with an EMG of these areas.
4. Is this a permanant injury to my left thigh (can it heal to a normal result on EMG).

I think I am going to try to seek a second opinion

[trfogey]

falletap,

Was this a new EMG, or is this the same EMG that Wright answered questions about last month?

Another piece of advice: you may be splitting hairs a bit too finely when you say that your left hip was not included in an EMG of the left leg. As I recall from my own EMGs, the doctor traced nerve pathways from the far end of the extremity all the way back to the spine. In the case of the leg, the hip would simply appear to be the part of the leg nearest to the spine, not a separate area needing its own testing.