EMG Posting

[Evenrude]

I am sorry for the delay in responding here. It has a been a hectic few weeks to say the least. Per my previous thread my wife has been diagnosed with "Probable ALS". Here are the EMG results:

This was the initial one done by our local neurologist:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/rwmxppjiuaw1cfh/Neurology Associates Nerve Conduction Blocked.pdf?dl=0

This was the later one done at Mayo Clinic:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pqwbmxecjwbbleu/Mayo EMG blocked3.pdf?dl=0

As you can see it is looking like ALS is what we are stuck with, but we are still looking at her neck. One of the issues that is so hard to explain is that she has a ruptured/herniated disc at C6-C7 and a bulging disc at C5-C6. Right now the question the spine specialist and neurologists are going over is "should she have surgery potentially reduce her pain and possible reduce some symptoms?" It's an evil coincidence if she has this major neck issue, worse on the left side that just correlates with weakness and loss of motor skills in her arms, worse on the left side.

Meanwhile she has completed 12 doses of IVIG... with no real improvement in strength or motor skills. They did reduce her twitching and her overall energy and stamina have improved. Her legs, core muscles, breathing, speech and swallowing have all remained unaffected. We have signed up with our local ALS chapter and will be meeting with the ALS specialist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in June. We are still hoping for the best but preparing as best we can for the worst.

 

[Jhettinger]

I have experienced slower healing even from a cut since my ALS started. I would be concerned with wounds healing and the complications that operations present.

 

[lgelb]

Regardless of what the recommendation is about the surgery, get a second opinion with someone not in the institution of where the surgery would be done.

My husband had several herniated disks, including C5/6, that were diagnosed before ALS. Surgery was recommended. Because such surgeries are often unsuccessful in terms of improving life over baseline and he had competing risks, we declined. He had some PT and got weekly massages for a few years [that helped a good deal] until his ALS progression prevented it. Not doing that surgery (he had plenty of others) is one decision I don't regret.

Best,
Laurie

 

[KimT]

In 2000 I was in a very serious car accident. The car was totaled and I landed in the ED. An MRI showed a herniation at c5/c6. My local neuro followed it and it got worse by 2005. He sent me to a neurosurgeon who wanted to operate immediately and said I was at risk. I ended up putting it off even though it caused a lot of pain when I played golf or did other sports-related activities.

Fast forward to 2014. It is entirely resolved and no longer shows up on the MRI.

Make sure you get more than one opinion before you let anyone do surgery. I used a home traction machine (which I would never recommend) and improved my posture. That and time resolved what was deemed "dangerous and critical."

 

[Evenrude]

All great information. We are not doing surgery, but continuing with PT and OT which seems to really be helping her pain. Some of her strength numbers are up so we are going for another round of IVIG. The neurologist thinks there is enough of a chance that we are trying it again. Thanks again for the input!