Hi folks--
I recently went to a hand doctor to take a look at the wasting of my thenar muscle and to discuss my fingers falling asleep at night, as well as my intermittently weak pinkie finger. He saw me very briefly and ordered an EMG to test for ulnar neuropathy. I saw him today and he discussed the EMG with me. The results said:
"Nerve conduction studies in the upper extremities and right leg are normal, with one possible exception: left ulnar ADM CMAP revealed conduction velocity across the elbow that was more than 10 m/s slower than the forearm segment. Left ulnar ADM inching across the elbow, however, did not reveal any segments with significant slowing (latency difference of >0.8 msec.) Concentric needle EMG of the right arm was normal.
Normal study with a single borderline result of uncertain significance. Clinical correlation is advised. There is no electrophysiologic evidence of brachial plexopathy on either side, or of a disorder affecting cervical roots or motor neurons on the right."
I know that none of us are doctors, but many people on here are more familiar with EMG results than I am. Is any of this what they look for in MND? The fact that it says "no sign of...disorder affecting cervical roots or motor neurons on the right" obviously makes me concerned about the left.
By and large this is a good report, but it's not great. The funny thing is my right side has been more symptomatic than the left; they even stuck a needle right where the muscle wasting/fasiculations always are in my right thenar muscle and that was fine. And the doctors said that my thenar atrophy is "minimal." He is also a hand doctor and said he has no idea what they look for on EMGs to indicate ALS.
Once again, no real answers. Problems are there, but they are subtle. Those doing the EMG initially said it was normal, and I basically decided to not worry anymore as best I could. But on the report they noted this issue and my doctor made note of it. Now I'm worried that this is an early sign of something worse, progressing slowly. My previous EMG of 1.5 years ago was clean.
I'm trying to figure out what to make of "minimal" atrophy, "borderline" normal EMG results with "one possible exception," weakness that comes and goes and of course, tons of fasiculations and twitches, both diffuse and focal.
Any input would be much appreciated.
Andy
I recently went to a hand doctor to take a look at the wasting of my thenar muscle and to discuss my fingers falling asleep at night, as well as my intermittently weak pinkie finger. He saw me very briefly and ordered an EMG to test for ulnar neuropathy. I saw him today and he discussed the EMG with me. The results said:
"Nerve conduction studies in the upper extremities and right leg are normal, with one possible exception: left ulnar ADM CMAP revealed conduction velocity across the elbow that was more than 10 m/s slower than the forearm segment. Left ulnar ADM inching across the elbow, however, did not reveal any segments with significant slowing (latency difference of >0.8 msec.) Concentric needle EMG of the right arm was normal.
Normal study with a single borderline result of uncertain significance. Clinical correlation is advised. There is no electrophysiologic evidence of brachial plexopathy on either side, or of a disorder affecting cervical roots or motor neurons on the right."
I know that none of us are doctors, but many people on here are more familiar with EMG results than I am. Is any of this what they look for in MND? The fact that it says "no sign of...disorder affecting cervical roots or motor neurons on the right" obviously makes me concerned about the left.
By and large this is a good report, but it's not great. The funny thing is my right side has been more symptomatic than the left; they even stuck a needle right where the muscle wasting/fasiculations always are in my right thenar muscle and that was fine. And the doctors said that my thenar atrophy is "minimal." He is also a hand doctor and said he has no idea what they look for on EMGs to indicate ALS.
Once again, no real answers. Problems are there, but they are subtle. Those doing the EMG initially said it was normal, and I basically decided to not worry anymore as best I could. But on the report they noted this issue and my doctor made note of it. Now I'm worried that this is an early sign of something worse, progressing slowly. My previous EMG of 1.5 years ago was clean.
I'm trying to figure out what to make of "minimal" atrophy, "borderline" normal EMG results with "one possible exception," weakness that comes and goes and of course, tons of fasiculations and twitches, both diffuse and focal.
Any input would be much appreciated.
Andy