Emg question

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LCW

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Hello,
I'm a 65 year old female and have posted my EMG. Do you see any signs of ALS in this? I'm concerned because the needle part was done only on my arms and very quickly. Thank you for taking the time to look.
 
Hello I have moved your post to a new thread. Please use this thread for any follow up questions or concerns. I do not see an emg report . Please try again and make sure you have blocked any identifying information
 
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Thank you, Nikki,
I've added screenshots. Please let me know if you don't see these or I need to simply attach them.

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screenshots. Please let me know if you don't seem them.
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That is a completely normal emg with no indication of ALS. Burning, neck pain and generalized weakness all do not sound like ALS. It is unclear from the note whether the weakness is something you feel or is true clinical weakness determined by the doctor on exam. ALS weakness is clinical not feeling but even clinical weakness has many more likely causes. Please work with your doctor to get a diagnosis but it does not seem like it will be ALS
 
Hi, Nikki,

Thank you for the response and I apologize that it’s long overdue. I don’t trust this Nuero and the EMG results. He only tested about 4 muscles and never had me flex. So why does it show 14 here? He did tell me I don’t have ALS, but he is not a specialist, he’s a vascular nuero. I have an appointment with Dent Neurology (Buffalo, NY) in mid October with a neuromuscular specialist. I’m sure she will want to redue the EMG.

The first appointment this nuero said my arm was weak, then he said it was OK when I had the EMG, so I’m confused. The Nuero PA also said no weakness and so did my rheumatologist. I did not go in there reporting weakness like he wrote, I complained of nerve pain and thought I had Parkinson’s or ALS. He said no on both.

This all started in January 2021. My initial symptoms were burning nerve pain down my arms to my hands. I thought I was having a heart attack. Now I have twitching in my left arm and occasionally in my legs. I get electric shock feelings in my legs and sometimes torso. Some days are worse than others. Very quick jolt as if I’d gotten stung. My legs have knee and thigh pain and feel stiff with pins and needles. They will also vibrate/buzz and that comes and goes. Doesn’t hurt but makes me anxious like I want to jump out of my skin.

Right now my arms are burning and my feet are buzzing.

I do have osteoarthritis in neck and back, and severe cervical stenosis and was told by a neurosurgeon that I need triple fusion, however the neurologist doesn’t agree. I am holding off on surgery.

I have fatigue and get winded especially when in a lot of pain. This is frustrating as I was always so active, however I find I can do more than I give myself credit for. In general, I feel sick everyday.

I am having trouble swallowing. Pills, food, and liquids are no problem, but it feels like it doesn’t finish the swallow when it’s just salvia. The spine surgeon asked me if I was having swallowing problems before I was and he was surprised I wasn’t. The nuero said my voice is fine so not to worry about ALS.

I get these brief “tickles” in my face, and if I touch the spot it goes away, very strange!

I am very depressed and anxious! I am having problems sleeping, getting up every 2-3 hours but can go back to sleep with melatonin. Have a horrible time getting out of bed in the mornings, but pain gets better when moving.

My hair is falling out (stress?) and my right eye droops sometimes. I feel like I’ve aged 10 years in 8 months! MG, LEMS, and autoimmune have been ruled out.

Doctors have given me Prozac, Lyrica, Lexapro, Cymbalta, and Gabapentin. I had bad side effects with all except the last. ERs gave me Hydrocodone and that helped the pain. The Gabapentin helps with pain and anxiety but I only take it as needed and I know that’s not correct, but it works. I’m afraid of addiction. I drink too and that helps!

I read the sticky about 50 times! I have no failures and can do everything I normally to do.

In rereading this, wow, I’m a mess! We lost a great friend 3 years ago to ALS and even had the funeral dinner at our house. I also know of someone who was recently diagnosed by the same doctor that I’m going to at Dent which is too close for comfort. Doesn’t seem that rare and it’s always on my mind! For example, we went to see Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd cover) and I planned my funeral music the whole time. I pray every night for one of two things – wake up healed or take me in my sleep. Does this sound like ALS?

Thank you!
Lynne
 
Hello-

With an all clear from the neurologist and a clean EMG, there's not much more this forum can do for you. Your experience with many other non-ALS symptoms indicates you must look in some other direction and keep working with your doctors. If you don't trust your doctors or the EMG, you will need to find someone you do trust.

Unfortunately, this forum is really limited in what it can do for you with regards to your non ALS symptoms other than recommend continued visits with doctors. It might also be a good idea to seek some anxiety support while you look for answers- it is really helpful to be able to talk to someone objective and experienced in therapeutic support and who can advocate for you should you need it.

I hope you will be able to find someone you can trust soon and who will be able to provide you some answers.
Take care
 
Thank you, ShiftKicker,
I appreciate your prompt reply. I will trust the neuromuscular specialist at Dent. If I read between the lines, can I assume that you do see ALS symptoms? I know that swallowing problems and twitches would be two, do you see any others? Has anyone else with ALS experienced some of my symptoms other than these two? Should I be looking at the whole picture of symptoms before I jump to ALS? Thanks, again!
Sincerely,
Lynne
 
Nope., Please read my reply again. I will highlight:

Your experience with many other non-ALS symptoms indicates you must look in some other direction and keep working with your doctor
 
I'll add a third senior member reply here - there is nothing at all to indicate ALS. Please work with your doctor and stay off google and this forum so that you can allow yourself to be medically, not anxiety, led in this process. I wish you the very best health and recovery.
 
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